Two platforms have captured significant attention in the vibe coding space: Bolt, the browser-based development agent built on StackBlitz's WebContainers technology, and Base44, the all-in-one app factory that was acquired by Wix for $80 million.

Both promise to turn your natural language descriptions into working applications. But they approach the problem differently, and the right choice depends heavily on what you're trying to build and how much technical involvement you want.

After testing both platforms extensively and analyzing hundreds of user reviews, here's everything you need to know to make the right decision.

What Is Bolt?

Bolt is an AI-powered, browser-based development agent created by StackBlitz. The company spent seven years building WebContainers, a technology that runs full development environments (including Node.js) entirely in your browser. No local setup, no installing dependencies on your machine, no configuration headaches.

Bolt reportedly grew to $40 million in annual recurring revenue within six months of launch, signaling massive demand for this type of tool in the vibe coding space.

What Is Base44?

Base44 launched in early 2025 with a different mission: let anyone build functional apps by describing what they want in plain English. Founded by solo developer Maor Shlomo, the platform was entirely bootstrapped and reached profitability with $189,000 in monthly profit before being acquired by Wix for $80 million in June 2025.

Base44 has also expanded into mobile app publishing with a built-in submission workflow. Directly from the app editor, you can scan your app against Apple and Google guidelines, use AI to fix any compliance issues, and generate store-ready IPA and AAB files for iOS and Android. You still need your own Apple Developer and Google Play Console accounts, but the entire prep process happens inside Base44. This feature requires the Builder plan or higher.

Under Wix's ownership, Base44 continues to operate as an independent product and is projected to generate $50 million in annual revenue.

Base44

Best For: All-in-one AI app builder with beautiful design. Plus, integrated database, authentication, and AI agents.

Visit Base44

Pricing Breakdown

Both platforms use credit or token-based systems, which means your actual costs depend on how much you build and how efficiently the AI handles your requests.

Bolt.new Pricing

Free Plan: 150,000 tokens per day. Enough to experiment and build simple projects, but you'll hit limits quickly on anything substantial.

Pro Plan ($20/month): Higher token limits, faster generation, priority support, and access to premium features. Most serious users land here.

Teams Plan: Designed for collaboration with shared workspaces and team management features. Pricing varies based on team size.

The token system is where Bolt.new gets controversial. Every AI generation consumes tokens, and complex projects or debugging sessions can burn through your allocation fast. Some users report spending millions of tokens just trying to fix bugs, and one developer mentioned needing to spend an extra $1,000 on professional help to fix problems with generated code.

Base44 Pricing

Base44 uses message credits rather than tokens. Prices shown are for annual billing, which saves 20%:

Free ($0/month): Limited message and integration credits. Good for testing but restrictive.

Starter ($16/month annual, $20 monthly): 100 message credits, 2,000 integration credits. Removes Base44 branding.

Builder ($40/month annual, $50 monthly): 250 message credits, 10,000 integration credits, priority support. Required for mobile app publishing.

Pro ($80/month annual, $100 monthly): 500 message credits, 20,000 integration credits, enhanced security.

Elite ($160/month annual, $200 monthly): 1,200 message credits, 50,000 integration credits, premium support, and early access to beta features.

Base44's pricing is more predictable because everything is included in your plan. Database storage, hosting, authentication, and AI assistance all come bundled. You're not paying separately for deployment or database services.

Feature Comparison

Code Access and Transparency

Bolt.new: Full visibility into generated code. You can see every file, edit anything manually, and understand exactly what the AI built. Great for learning or for projects where you need to customize beyond what the AI can do.

Base44: Code is abstracted away by default. You can export to GitHub (still in beta), but the typical workflow involves no code interaction. The platform manages everything behind the scenes.

Winner: Bolt.new if you want code access. Base44 if you prefer not to think about code at all.

Backend and Database

Bolt.new: Limited built-in backend support. You typically need to connect external services like Supabase or Firebase for database functionality. The AI can help set this up, but it requires additional configuration.

Base44: Database is built-in and fully managed. When you ask for features that need data storage, Base44 automatically creates the necessary database structure. No external services required.

Winner: Base44 for simplicity. Bolt.new if you want control over your database architecture.

Deployment

Bolt.new: One-click deployment to Netlify, Vercel, and other platforms. You can also download your code and host it anywhere. Full portability.

Base44: Built-in hosting on Base44's infrastructure. Custom domains supported. Less flexibility on where your app lives, but zero configuration required.

Winner: Bolt.new for flexibility. Base44 for simplicity.

Mobile Apps

Bolt.new: No native mobile app support. You're building web applications that can be made responsive, but there's no direct path to the App Store or Google Play.

Base44: Built-in workflow for mobile app publishing. Scan your app against store guidelines, fix compliance issues with AI assistance, and generate IPA/AAB files directly from the editor. Submit to Apple and Google through your developer accounts.

Winner: Base44, clearly. If mobile apps matter to you, this is a significant differentiator.

Framework Support

Bolt.new: Supports multiple frameworks including React, Vue, Angular, Astro, Next.js, Remix, and more. You can choose the stack that fits your needs.

Base44: Single opinionated stack. You work with what Base44 provides, which is optimized for rapid app development but offers less flexibility.

Winner: Bolt for framework choice. Base44 if you don't care about the underlying technology.

Where Each Platform Excels

Choose Bolt When:

You have some technical background: If you're comfortable looking at code, debugging errors, and understanding what's happening under the hood, Bolt.new gives you that transparency. You're not flying blind.

You need framework flexibility: Building with a specific stack like Next.js, Astro, or Vue? Bolt.new supports your choice rather than forcing you into a single approach.

You want code ownership: Full GitHub integration and the ability to download your entire codebase means you can leave anytime. No vendor lock-in.

You're prototyping for developers: If your app will eventually be handed off to a development team or you need to integrate with existing systems, having actual code makes that transition smoother.

You're learning to code: Watching the AI write code and being able to modify it yourself is a great way to learn how to build AI apps.

Choose Base44 When:

You have zero coding interest: If you never want to see a code file and just want working software, Base44's abstraction layer is exactly what you need.

You want everything included: No signing up for Supabase, no configuring Stripe separately, no deployment headaches. Database, auth, hosting, email, payments. All built-in.

You need mobile apps: Base44's built-in App Store and Google Play submission workflow is a major advantage if you want to reach mobile users.

You're building internal tools or MVPs: Customer portals, admin dashboards, booking systems, inventory managers. Base44 excels at structured business applications where you need something functional fast.

Predictable costs matter: While credits can still run out, Base44's all-inclusive pricing means fewer surprise bills from external services. For a deeper look at the platform, check out this Base44 review.

The Bottom Line

Choose Bolt.new if:

• You want to see and potentially edit the code
• You need flexibility in frameworks and deployment options
• You plan to eventually work with developers or maintain the code yourself
• You're comfortable with a more technical environment
• Code portability and ownership are priorities

Choose Base44 if:

• You want the fastest path from idea to working app
• Mobile app publishing is important to you
• You prefer an all-in-one solution with no external services
• You're building straightforward business applications
• You never want to think about code, hosting, or databases

The vibe coding space is evolving quickly. What's limited today might be solved next month. Both Bolt.new and Base44 represent genuine innovations in how software gets built, even if neither has fully delivered on the promise of effortless app creation.

The best tool is the one that matches your skills, your project requirements, and your tolerance for working through AI limitations. Test both with their free tiers before committing to a paid plan, and don't expect perfection from either.

Base44

Best For: All-in-one AI app builder with beautiful design. Plus, integrated database, authentication, and AI agents.

Visit Base44

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