Our verdict
Base44 — 7.5/10. The most batteries-included AI app builder we've scored — and the most locked-in. Best for: non-technical founders shipping a full-stack MVP inside 30 days.
Base44 at a glance
| Best for | Non-technical founders shipping a full-stack MVP inside 30 days |
| Price from | $16/mo |
| Generates | Hosted full-stack web + mobile app |
| Code ownership | Partial — frontend exports, backend stays on Base44 |
| Deploy | One-click (web, App Store, Google Play) |
Pros & cons from our testing
What impressed us
- True full-stack from one prompt — DB, auth, Stripe and hosting bundled
- One-click deploy to web plus Apple App Store & Google Play
- Cheapest paid entry in the category — $16/mo on annual billing
- 25+ native integrations (Stripe, Slack, Google, SendGrid)
What frustrated us
- Backend can't leave — export is the React shell, not the engine
- Database only comes out as per-collection CSV files
- Complex custom logic stays fragile beyond basic CRUD
- Credit burn is unpredictable when the AI gets stuck
Base44 pricing
| Plan | Price | Notes from our testing |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 25 message + 100 integration credits/mo; unlimited apps, no rollover |
| Starter | $16/mo | Annual ($20 monthly); 100 message + 2,000 integration credits/mo |
| Builder | $40/mo | Annual ($50 monthly); the first tier that survives a real project |
Full hands-on review
We reviewed Base44 hands-on against the same real-world brief — read the full breakdown, including where it falls short: Base44 review →