Base44, answered honestly

    Every question founders ask before choosing Base44

    Straight answers on pricing and credits, whether it is worth it, code ownership, what is bundled, the Wix acquisition, and how it stacks up against Lovable and Bolt. No hype.

    Base44 is an all-in-one, no-code AI app builder, now owned by Wix, that turns a plain-English description into a working full-stack app with the database, authentication, and hosting bundled in. It has a free plan and paid tiers, and it is a real, well-backed product. It suits founders who want everything handled in one platform. Below are honest answers to the exact questions people ask before paying.

    Pricing & Credits

    Do unused Base44 credits roll over?

    No, unused Base44 credits do not roll over. They reset each month, so any message or integration credits you do not use expire at the end of your billing cycle rather than stacking into the next month.

    How do Base44 credits work?

    Base44 uses two credit types: message credits for AI build and edit work, and integration credits for built-in features like email, image generation, and LLM calls. Message credits are metered by how big the change is, not how long your prompt is, so small edits cost very little.

    How much does Base44 cost? Pricing plans explained

    Base44 has five tiers: a free $0 plan and four paid plans. On annual billing (as of 2026, confirm on the pricing page) they are Starter $16/mo, Builder $40/mo, Pro $80/mo, and Elite $160/mo. Paid plans add unlimited apps, GitHub integration, and a custom domain.

    Is the Base44 free plan enough, or do I need to pay?

    The free plan is genuinely enough to build and ship a small app and to learn whether Base44 fits your project. It gives you up to 5 credits a day capped at 25 a month plus 100 integration credits, so you can go from idea to a working app at $0 before deciding to pay.

    What does Base44 really cost per month once you factor in credits?

    For most people, Base44's real monthly cost is just the plan price, because credits are included in each tier rather than billed separately. Starter is $16/mo, Builder $40, Pro $80, and Elite $160 on annual billing (as of 2026, confirm on the pricing page). There are no surprise per-credit charges.

    ROI & Value

    What's Included

    Code & Ownership

    Use-Case Fit

    Can Base44 build a mobile app?

    Base44 is web-first, so it builds responsive web apps that work great on phones through the browser, but it does not produce native iOS or Android apps for the App Store or Play Store. If you need a true native app, a mobile-first builder is the better tool; if a mobile-friendly web app works, Base44 handles that well.

    Can Base44 build a real production app, or just prototypes?

    Base44 can build real, production-ready apps, not just prototypes. It ships apps on managed hosting with automatic HTTPS, custom domains, built-in auth, a managed database, and one-click Stripe, which is a genuine production stack for MVPs, internal tools, portals, and simpler SaaS.

    Can Base44 build an app with Stripe payments?

    Yes, Base44 supports one-click Stripe integration, so you can take payments and subscriptions in the app you build. Combined with its bundled auth, database, and hosting, that makes it a practical choice for simple ecommerce, paid portals, and subscription SaaS.

    Can I build and sell a SaaS product with Base44?

    Yes, you can build and sell a SaaS product with Base44. It bundles the database, authentication, hosting, and one-click Stripe payments you need, and it can ship real production apps, so it is well suited to MVPs and simpler SaaS with CRUD plus subscriptions.

    Is Base44 good for building an internal company tool?

    Yes, internal tools are one of Base44's strongest use cases. Dashboards, admin panels, and internal portals map perfectly to its bundled database, built-in auth with role-based access, and managed hosting, so you can stand up a working tool for your team quickly without wiring up infrastructure.

    Will a Base44 app scale as my user base grows?

    Base44 runs on managed infrastructure, a managed NoSQL database, serverless functions, and managed hosting, so it handles growth without you managing servers. It is proven at scale: the platform itself reached hundreds of thousands of users and is reported to have surpassed $100M ARR, and it is backed by Wix. It is a strong fit for MVPs and growing SaaS, with the honest note that the backend is platform-managed rather than fully portable.

    Comparisons

    Trust & Legitimacy

    Trial & Cancellation

    Want the all-in-one route?

    Base44 bundles the database, auth, and hosting so you can go from prompt to a working app in one platform, with a free plan to start.