Base44 has exploded in popularity as one of the leading AI app builders in 2026. It's the tool that lets anyone build full-stack applications using just natural language prompts—no coding required.

But before you dive in, you need to understand the pricing structure. Base44's credit-based system can be confusing at first, and choosing the wrong plan could cost you hundreds of dollars or leave you stuck mid-project when credits run out.

I've spent months testing Base44 and building real applications with it. In this guide, I'll break down every plan, explain exactly how credits work, reveal the hidden costs most reviews don't mention, and help you pick the right tier for your needs.

Base44 Pricing Plans at a Glance (February 2026)

Here's the complete breakdown of Base44's current pricing structure:

Note: Annual billing saves you 20% compared to monthly payments. I recommend starting monthly until you're sure Base44 fits your workflow, then switching to annual once committed.

Understanding Base44's Credit System

Base44 uses two types of credits that work differently. Understanding this is crucial before choosing a plan.

Message Credits (For Building)

Message credits are what you use when interacting with Base44's AI to build your app. Every time you send a prompt to modify, create, or debug something in your app, you use one message credit.

For example:

• "Add a user login page" = 1 message credit
• "Make the header blue" = 1 message credit
• "Fix the bug in the checkout flow" = 1 message credit

On the free plan, you get 25 messages per month with a daily cap of 5 messages. This is enough to explore the platform but not enough to build anything substantial.

Integration Credits (For Users)

Integration credits are consumed when your app's users trigger integrations. These include:

• LLM API calls (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.)
• File uploads
• Image generation
• Email sending
• SMS messaging
• Database queries

Each integration action costs 1 credit, regardless of which integration you're using. This is important: if you're building an AI-powered app that makes API calls for every user interaction, your integration credits will deplete fast.

For a complex app built with Base44, you might use 50-100 integration credits per active user per month, depending on how AI-heavy your features are.

Detailed Plan Breakdown

Free Plan ($0/month)

Best for: Testing the platform, exploring features, building a simple proof-of-concept

What you get:

• 25 message credits per month (5 per day max)
• 100 integration credits per month
• Core features: authentication, database, analytics
• Access to all integration types

Limitations:

• No custom domain
• No backend functions
• No in-app code editing
• No GitHub integration

The free plan is genuinely useful for exploring Base44. You can build a functional prototype and understand how the platform works. However, 25 messages won't get you far if you're building something real—expect to upgrade within your first week of serious development.

Starter Plan ($16-20/month)

Best for: Personal projects, learning to build, first-time app creators

What you get:

• 100 message credits per month
• 2,000 integration credits per month
• Unlimited apps
• In-app code editing

The Starter plan is where Base44 becomes actually usable. 100 messages per month lets you build and iterate on a simple app. The 2,000 integration credits are sufficient for a personal tool or an app with light AI features.

My take: This plan works if you're building something for yourself or learning. It's not enough for apps you want to ship to real users.

Builder Plan ($40-50/month) 🏆 Recommended

Best for: Serious builders, MVPs, internal business tools

What you get:

• 250 message credits per month
• 10,000 integration credits per month
• Everything in Starter, plus:
• Backend functions
• Custom domain connection
• Free domain for 1 year
• GitHub integration
• 25 credits to share with a friend

The Builder plan is the sweet spot for most users. The 250 message credits are enough to build and maintain 2-3 apps actively. The 10,000 integration credits can support a small user base without worrying about limits.

The GitHub integration is huge—it lets you export your code and continue development in tools like Cursor if you outgrow Base44's AI builder.

Pro Plan ($80-100/month)

Best for: Agencies, multiple active projects, apps with moderate traffic

What you get:

• 500 message credits per month
• 20,000 integration credits per month
• Everything in Builder, plus:
• AI model selection (choose which LLM to use)
• Early access to beta features

The Pro plan doubles your capacity across the board. The AI model selection is valuable if you need specific models for performance or cost reasons. The early beta access means you'll get new features before everyone else.

Elite Plan ($160-200/month)

Best for: Power users, teams, production apps with significant traffic

What you get:

• 1,200 message credits per month
• 50,000 integration credits per month
• Everything in Pro, plus:
• Premium support

The Elite plan is for serious production use. The 50,000 integration credits can support hundreds of active users on an AI-powered app. The premium support is worth it when you have real users depending on your app.

Base44 vs Competitors: Pricing Comparison

How does Base44 stack up against other vibe coding tools?

Base44's pricing is competitive, especially at the entry level. The $16/month Starter plan is cheaper than most alternatives, and the generous free tier makes it easy to evaluate.

For a detailed comparison of features, check out our Base44 Review or comparison guides like Lovable vs Base44, V0 vs Base44, and Bubble vs Base44.

Hidden Costs to Consider

Base44's pricing page tells most of the story, but there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Integration Credits Can Deplete Fast

If you're building an AI-powered app (which is Base44's strength), every user interaction that calls an LLM burns integration credits. A chatbot that gets 100 users making 10 queries each = 1,000 credits gone.

On the Starter plan with 2,000 credits, that's half your monthly allowance from modest usage.

2. No Credit Rollover

Unused credits don't roll over to the next month. If you have a slow month of development, those message credits are lost. This is standard for credit-based platforms, but worth noting.

3. Domain Costs After Year One

Builder plans and above include a free domain for the first year. After that, you'll need to pay for domain renewal separately (typically $10-15/year) or bring your own domain.

4. External API Costs

While Base44 includes many integrations, if your app uses external APIs (like OpenAI directly), you'll still pay those API providers separately. Base44's integration credits cover the connection, not the underlying API costs.

Which Base44 Plan Should You Choose?

Here's my recommendation based on common use cases:

For most people reading this, the Builder plan at $40/month hits the sweet spot. It unlocks the features that matter (custom domains, GitHub, backend functions) without overcommitting. Start there and upgrade if you hit limits.

Tips for Maximizing Value on Base44

Based on my experience using Base44 for various projects, here are ways to get more from your subscription:

1. Write Better Prompts

Every prompt costs 1 credit, whether it's a vague request that fails or a precise one that works. Be specific upfront. Instead of "make it look better," say "change the header to blue (#4285f4), increase padding to 24px, and center the title."

For more guidance, read our Base44 Ultimate Guide.

2. Plan Your Features First

Before starting, outline exactly what you want to build. The AI app building hack we recommend is creating a detailed brief first. This prevents costly iterations mid-build.

3. Use the Visual Editor for Small Changes

Base44 includes a visual editor. Use it for minor UI tweaks instead of burning message credits on "move the button 10px left."

4. Export via GitHub for Major Refactors

If you need major changes to existing code, export to GitHub and use a tool like Cursor or Windsurf for bulk edits. Then push back to Base44. This saves credits on repetitive code changes.

5. Monitor Integration Usage

Keep an eye on your integration credit consumption. If you're building an AI feature, test it thoroughly before opening to users. A buggy loop could burn hundreds of credits in minutes.

Base44 Pricing for Specific Use Cases

Building an MVP

For a typical MVP, expect to spend 200-400 message credits over 2-4 weeks of development. The Builder plan ($40/month) is perfect—you get 250 credits and can roll into a second month if needed.

Total cost for MVP: $40-80

Compare this to hiring a developer ($5,000+) or using other MVP platforms.

Building Internal Tools

Internal tools typically need fewer integrations since you're not dealing with public AI features. The Builder plan works well here, with 10,000 integration credits supporting a small team.

Check our guide to building internal tools with AI for more details.

Building Mobile Apps

For mobile apps, Base44 is primarily web-focused. If you need native iOS/Android apps, consider Rork or other mobile app builders instead.

Pros and Cons of Base44 Pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Base44 free to use?

Yes, Base44 offers a completely free plan with 25 message credits and 100 integration credits per month. This is enough to test the platform and build a simple proof-of-concept. For serious development, you'll need to upgrade to a paid plan.

How much does Base44 cost per month?

Base44 paid plans range from $16/month (Starter) to $160/month (Elite) when billed annually. Monthly billing adds about 25% to the price. Most users find the Builder plan at $40/month offers the best value for building real applications.

What are Base44 message credits?

Message credits are used when you send prompts to Base44's AI to build your app. Each message you send (like "add a login page" or "fix this bug") costs one credit. They're essentially your AI conversation allowance for development.

What are Base44 integration credits?

Integration credits are consumed when your app's users trigger integrations like LLM calls, file uploads, image generation, emails, or SMS. Each integration action costs 1 credit. These credits determine how many users your app can actively support.

Does Base44 offer a student or nonprofit discount?

Base44 doesn't publicly advertise student or nonprofit discounts. However, you can contact their sales team for enterprise and custom pricing, which may include special arrangements for educational institutions.

Can I cancel my Base44 subscription anytime?

Yes, you can cancel your Base44 subscription at any time. If you're on a monthly plan, you'll retain access until the end of your billing period. Annual plans typically don't offer prorated refunds, so consider monthly billing until you're committed.

Is Base44 cheaper than Lovable or Bolt?

At the entry level, Base44's $16/month Starter plan is slightly cheaper than Lovable ($20/month) and Bolt ($20/month). However, pricing varies at higher tiers, and the right choice depends on features you need rather than price alone.

What happens when I run out of credits?

When you reach your monthly limit, you can either wait until your next billing cycle resets your credits or upgrade to a higher plan immediately. Your existing apps continue to work, but you won't be able to make new changes (for message credits) or serve new integration requests (for integration credits).

Final Verdict: Is Base44 Worth the Price?

Base44's pricing is competitive and transparent compared to other AI app builders. The free tier is genuinely useful for evaluation, and the paid plans offer good value for what you get.

My recommendation:

• Start with the free plan to see if Base44's approach works for you
• Upgrade to Builder ($40/month) when you're ready to build something real
• Move to Pro or Elite only when you hit integration credit limits or need premium support

For most solo builders and small teams, the Builder plan provides everything needed to go from idea to launched product. At $480/year, it's a fraction of the cost of traditional development.

Ready to get started? Check out our full Base44 review or jump into our step-by-step Base44 tutorial to build your first app.

Last updated: February 2026. Pricing verified directly from Base44's official pricing page. Prices may change—always verify on base44.com/pricing before purchasing.