Base44
Base44 (Describe an app in plain English and Base44 builds it, backend, database, auth and hosting included) is an AI platform that builds fully functioning apps, websites, and AI agents from plain-language descriptions, with no coding required.
Its signature is being genuinely all-in-one: the backend, database, user authentication, hosting, analytics, and common integrations are built in, so you do not have to wire up separate services to ship a working product. Base44 was founded in 2025 by solo founder Maor Shlomo and grew so fast that Wix acquired it only months after launch, in June 2025, in a deal valued at up to 80 million US dollars. By mid-2026 Base44 was reported to have reached around 150 million US dollars in annual recurring revenue.
This page explains what Base44 is, how it works, its full pricing, honest pros and cons, and how it compares with the best-known rival, Lovable.
Overview
What is Base44?
Base44 is an AI app builder. You describe what you want in plain English, for example "an internal CRM with a contacts database, a kanban pipeline, and email login," and Base44 generates a working application you can use and share in minutes. What sets it apart from most "vibe coding" tools is that it is all-in-one. Rather than asking you to connect a separate database, auth provider, and host, Base44 ships those built in, so a non-technical person can go from idea to a live, working app without touching infrastructure. It is used to build internal tools, dashboards, customer portals, simple SaaS products, websites, and AI agents.
The company has an unusual backstory. Base44 was built by a single founder, Maor Shlomo, in 2025, shortly after a long stretch of military reserve duty, and it grew so quickly that Wix bought it within months of launch. It now operates as a Wix company, which gives it the backing and reach of a large web-platform business while keeping its own product and brand.
Base44 company information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Product | Base44 (AI app builder) |
| Founder | Maor Shlomo (solo founder) |
| Founded | 2025 |
| Owner | Wix.com Ltd (acquired June 2025) |
| Acquisition value | Up to $80 million (earn-out milestones through 2029) |
| Revenue | About $150 million ARR (reported mid-2026) |
| Category | AI app builder / no-code development |
| Website | base44.com |
How Base44 works
You start by typing a description of the app you want. Base44 generates the interface, sets up a database for your data, and wires in authentication so users can log in, all automatically. You refine it by chatting ("add a status column," "only admins can delete"), preview it live, and publish it on Base44's hosting with a click, or connect your own custom domain. Because the backend and database are part of the platform, there is no separate setup step, which is the main reason beginners find it approachable. For more advanced users, Base44 supports in-app code edits, AI model selection, and GitHub integration on higher tiers, so you are not locked out of the code.
Key Base44 features
Base44 covers the whole stack so you do not have to assemble it yourself. The pieces below are what make it usable by someone who has never deployed an app before.
- Prompt to full app: describe an app, website, or AI agent in plain English and get a working result in minutes.
- Built-in backend and database: data storage is included, with no separate service to configure.
- Authentication included: user login and access control come built in.
- Hosting and custom domains: publish on Base44 and connect your own domain on paid plans.
- Integrations and analytics: common integrations and usage analytics are part of the platform.
- In-app code edits, GitHub and AI model choice: available on higher tiers for more control.
Base44 pricing
Base44 uses a freemium, credit-based model. Work is measured in message credits (your chats with the AI) and integration credits (calls to connected services). Annual billing saves about 20 percent. The current plans are below.
| Plan | Price (billed annually) | Message credits / mo | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 25 | Up to 5 apps, core features, auth, database, analytics |
| Starter | $16/mo | 100 | Unlimited apps, in-app code edits, custom domain (free for 1 year) |
| Builder (Popular) | $40/mo | 250 | AI model selection, GitHub integration |
| Pro | $80/mo | 500 | Early access to beta features |
| Elite | $160/mo | 1,200 | Premium support |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Dedicated architect, SSO, advanced security, account team |
As with every credit-based AI builder, the practical cost depends on how much back-and-forth your app needs, since debugging and changes consume message credits. Prices change, so confirm the latest on base44.com before subscribing.
Base44 reviews: pros and cons
The praise for Base44 is consistent: it is one of the most beginner-friendly AI builders because everything is included, so a non-technical person really can ship a working internal tool or simple app without learning infrastructure. The speed from idea to live app is the headline, and the Wix acquisition and roughly 150 million US dollars in ARR show real traction. The honest caveats mirror the category. First, it is credit-based, so heavy iteration and debugging can get expensive. Second, it is best suited to internal tools, dashboards, portals, and MVPs rather than large, highly custom production systems, where a dedicated engineering stack still wins. Third, because the backend and hosting are part of the platform, you are more tied to the Base44 and Wix ecosystem than with tools that export portable code, though higher tiers do add in-app code edits and GitHub. For its target use, shipping working apps fast without a developer, it is one of the strongest options available.
Base44 links
| Channel | Link |
|---|---|
| Website | base44.com |
| Documentation | docs.base44.com |
| Careers | careers.base44.com |
| X (Twitter) | x.com/base44 |
| linkedin.com/company/base44 |
Base44 vs Lovable
Base44 and Lovable are the two names people compare most in the AI web-app builder space, and they suit slightly different users. Base44 is the all-in-one, beginner-first option: backend, database, auth, and hosting are built in, so non-technical users ship fastest, and it has the backing of Wix. Lovable leans more developer-friendly: it generates React and Tailwind apps backed by Supabase and exports clean code to GitHub, which gives engineers more portability and control but asks a little more of them. Both are credit-based with free tiers, and both are fast for the first version of an app. Choose Base44 if you want the simplest path to a working app with nothing to wire up, and Lovable if code ownership and a familiar React stack matter more. The table sums it up.
Who should use Base44
Base44 fits non-technical founders and operators who need an internal tool, dashboard, portal, or MVP without hiring a developer, and teams that want to prototype quickly. It is less suited to large, performance-critical, or highly bespoke production systems, where a full engineering stack is the better long-term home. For getting a real, working app live fast with no infrastructure to manage, Base44 is among the easiest tools in the category, and its Wix backing makes it a safe bet to keep improving.
History
Base44 was founded in 2025 in Israel (a Wix company) by Maor Shlomo (Founder).
Base44 features
Base44 offers the following capabilities:
- Prompt to full app. Describe an app, website, or AI agent in plain English and get a working result in minutes.
- Built-in backend and database. Data storage is part of the platform, with no separate service to set up or connect.
- Authentication included. User login and access control come built in, so your app is secure from the start.
- Hosting and custom domains. Publish on Base44 with one click and connect your own domain on paid plans.
- Integrations and analytics. Common integrations and usage analytics are built into the platform.
- Code edits, GitHub and model choice. Higher tiers add in-app code edits, GitHub integration, and AI model selection for more control.
Use cases of Base44
- Build internal tools (Operators and teams). Create CRMs, trackers, and admin dashboards without engineering, with database and login included.
- Ship an MVP fast (Non-technical founders). Go from idea to a live, working app in minutes to validate a product before investing further.
- Customer portals and websites (Small businesses). Spin up portals, forms, and websites with authentication and hosting handled for you.
- Build AI agents (Makers). Create simple AI agents and AI-powered apps using the platform's built-in model access.
Base44 pricing
Base44 uses a freemium pricing model, starting at Free; paid from $16/mo. The product offers a free version.
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 /forever | 25 message credits and 100 integration credits a month, up to 5 apps, with core features, authentication, database, and analytics. No credit card to start.
|
| Starter | $16/mo /billed annually | 100 message credits and 2,000 integration credits a month, unlimited apps, in-app code edits, and a custom domain (free domain for the first year).
|
| Builder | $40/mo /billed annually | Marked "Popular." 250 message credits and 10,000 integration credits a month, plus AI model selection and GitHub integration.
|
| Pro | $80/mo /billed annually | 500 message credits and 20,000 integration credits a month, plus early access to beta features.
|
| Elite | $160/mo /billed annually | 1,200 message credits and 50,000 integration credits a month, plus premium support.
|
| Enterprise | Custom /contact sales | Custom credits, a dedicated solutions architect, SSO, advanced security controls, and a named account team.
|
Base44 vs Lovable
The table below contrasts Base44 with Lovable (lovable.dev) on a few key dimensions.
| Dimension | Base44 | Lovable |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | All-in-one, beginner-first | Developer-friendly, code-first |
| Backend | Built in (database, auth, hosting) | Supabase (connected) |
| Tech stack | Managed platform | React + Tailwind + Supabase |
| Code portability | In-app edits + GitHub on higher tiers | Clean code export to GitHub |
| Backing | A Wix company | Independent (VC-backed) |
| Best for | Fastest path, nothing to wire up | Code ownership and React stack |
Platforms & tech
- Supported platforms: Web browser.
- Deployment: cloud.
Awards & recognition
- Acquired by Wix within months of launch — Founded in 2025 by solo founder Maor Shlomo, Base44 grew so fast that Wix acquired it in June 2025 in a deal valued at up to $80 million, and it reached around $150 million in annual recurring revenue by mid-2026.
See also
- Rork — An AI builder focused on native iOS and Android apps, the better pick when you need a mobile app rather than a web app.
- Lovable — The best-known web-first AI app builder, strong for React web products with clean code export to GitHub.
- Bolt.new — StackBlitz's in-browser AI builder for full-stack web apps, popular for fast web prototyping.
References
- "Base44 official website". base44.com.
- "Base44 pricing". base44.com.
- "Wix acquires Base44 for up to $80M". Calcalist.
- "Base44 AI platform hits $150M ARR". Shopifreaks.
External links
Frequently asked questions
- What is Base44?
- Base44 is an AI platform that builds fully functioning apps, websites, and AI agents from plain-language descriptions, with no coding required. Its distinguishing feature is being all-in-one: the backend, database, authentication, hosting, analytics, and common integrations are built in, so you do not need to connect separate services to ship a working app. It was founded in 2025 by Maor Shlomo and is now a Wix company.
- How much does Base44 cost?
- Base44 is freemium and credit-based. The Free plan is 0 US dollars with 25 message credits a month and up to 5 apps. Paid plans billed annually are Starter at 16 US dollars a month, Builder at 40, Pro at 80, and Elite at 160, each adding more message and integration credits plus features like custom domains, GitHub integration, AI model selection, beta access, and premium support. Enterprise is custom. Annual billing saves about 20 percent, and real cost depends on how much you iterate, since changes use message credits.
- Is Base44 free?
- Yes, Base44 has a free plan. It gives you 25 message credits and 100 integration credits a month, up to 5 apps, and the core features including authentication, database, and analytics, with no credit card required to start. It is enough to build and try a small app. For unlimited apps, a custom domain, and more credits you move to a paid plan starting at 16 US dollars a month billed annually.
- Who owns Base44?
- Base44 is owned by Wix.com. It was founded in 2025 by solo founder Maor Shlomo and grew so quickly that Wix acquired it in June 2025 in a deal valued at up to 80 million US dollars, with the final amount tied to performance milestones through 2029. Reports in 2026 said Shlomo's total payout had climbed well above that as milestones were hit, and that Base44 reached around 150 million US dollars in annual recurring revenue.
- Base44 vs Lovable: which is better?
- Base44 is the all-in-one, beginner-first choice, with backend, database, auth, and hosting built in, plus the backing of Wix, so non-technical users ship fastest with nothing to wire up. Lovable is more developer-friendly, generating React and Tailwind apps backed by Supabase with clean code export to GitHub, which gives engineers more portability and control. Both are credit-based with free tiers. Choose Base44 for the simplest path to a working app, and Lovable if code ownership and a familiar React stack matter more.
- What can you build with Base44?
- Base44 is used to build internal tools like CRMs and trackers, admin dashboards, customer portals, forms, simple SaaS products, websites, and AI agents. Because the database, authentication, and hosting are included, it is especially good for apps that need a login and stored data without you setting up infrastructure. It is best for internal tools and MVPs rather than large, highly custom production systems.
- Do I need to know how to code to use Base44?
- No. Base44 is designed for non-technical users: you describe the app in plain English and the platform builds the interface, database, and login for you. You refine it by chatting. For users who do want more control, higher tiers add in-app code edits, GitHub integration, and AI model selection, so developers are not locked out, but coding is not required to get a working app.
- What are message credits and integration credits?
- Base44 measures usage in two kinds of credits. Message credits are consumed when you chat with the AI to build or change your app, so more iteration uses more of them. Integration credits are consumed by calls to connected services and integrations your app uses. Each plan includes a monthly allowance of both, and heavier building or debugging uses credits faster, which is the main thing to watch on the cost side.
- Can I use my own domain and export my app?
- Yes to a custom domain: from the Starter plan up you can connect your own domain, and Starter includes a free domain for the first year. On exporting, Base44 is a managed all-in-one platform, so you are more tied to its hosting than with tools that hand you fully portable code, but higher tiers add in-app code edits and GitHub integration, which give you more access to and control over the code behind your app.
- What are the best Base44 alternatives?
- For web apps, the closest alternative is Lovable, which is more code-first with GitHub export, and Bolt.new, StackBlitz's in-browser full-stack builder. If you need a native mobile app rather than a web app, Rork is a better fit because it builds native iOS and Android apps with React Native, Expo, and Swift. The right choice depends on whether you want the simplest all-in-one path (Base44), portable code (Lovable), or native mobile output (Rork).