These three sit on a clear spectrum of how much backend you get and how much it costs: Hostinger AI Builder (formerly Horizons) bundles AI credits into cheap hosting but has no native database, Base44 ships a full backend under Wix's umbrella but locks the runtime, and Lovable auto-configures a real Supabase backend you can export. The right pick depends on whether you value price, bundled simplicity, or long-term code ownership most. This comparison keeps coming up because all three market themselves as 'describe it, get an app,' but the August 2026 Hostinger merger and Base44's Wix-owned backend model make the actual trade-offs less obvious than the marketing suggests.
From our builds
Base44 rebuilds we've seen usually hit the backend wall first — the frontend exports cleanly, but the logic that ran on Base44's own runtime has to be rewritten against a real database. Hostinger AI Builder projects rarely need that kind of rescue because they were never much more than a front end to begin with; the fix there is usually adding a proper backend from scratch, not migrating one. Lovable's Supabase-based apps are the easiest of the three to hand off as-is, since the schema, policies, and functions are already sitting in a repo we can open directly.
How we picked
Whether a real backend is included
Hostinger AI Builder has no native database, so anything beyond a simple site needs an external service like Supabase bolted on.
Backend lock-in on migration
Base44's backend logic runs on its own infrastructure, so moving off it later means rebuilding, not exporting.
True monthly cost including hosting
Hostinger's headline price looks lowest, but it's a 48-month hosting term, and neither it nor Base44 include Lovable's build-time credit depth.
Code ownership and export
Lovable's two-way GitHub/GitLab sync ships the whole app, including backend schema; Base44 only exports the frontend.
Ecosystem maturity
Lovable's integration catalog and community are far larger than either Base44's or Hostinger AI Builder's as of 2026.
How far the app is likely to grow
A landing page or brochure site rarely outgrows Hostinger AI Builder, but anything with accounts, payments, or real workflows tends to outgrow both Hostinger and Base44 faster than founders expect — worth planning for up front rather than migrating under pressure later.
The contenders, ranked
Lovable
AI App Builder (full-stack, code ownership)Browser-based AI app builder that generates a React frontend with a managed Supabase backend from chat prompts.
- Best for
- Founders who want the deepest backend automation and real code ownership they can hand to a developer.
- Pricing from
- $25/mo (Pro)
- Free tier
- 5 daily credits (max 30/mo), public projects only
Pros
- Auto-configures a full Supabase backend — database, auth, RLS, and Edge Functions
- Two-way GitHub and GitLab sync — the code, including the backend, is genuinely yours
- Unified credit system (Aug 2026) covers build, Cloud, and AI usage in one balance
- Far more mature ecosystem and integration catalog than either alternative
Cons
- Starts at $25/mo versus Hostinger's sub-$3/mo bundled entry point
- The '~70% problem' — the last 20-30% of a build often needs manual work
- No native payments/email bundled as tightly as Base44's all-in-one backend
- Doesn't include domain, business email, or hosting bundling the way Hostinger's plans do
Our verdict: The strongest all-around pick when backend depth and code ownership matter more than the lowest possible price.
Base44
AI App Builder (prompt-first, bundled backend)Prompt-first AI app builder with a built-in backend (managed Postgres, auth, storage, payments), owned by Wix since June 2025.
- Best for
- Non-technical users who want an all-in-one builder with the backend handled and no external accounts to configure.
- Pricing from
- $16/mo (Starter, annual)
- Free tier
- 25 message credits + 100 integration credits/mo, daily cap 5 message credits, no rollover
Pros
- All-in-one backend — managed Postgres, auth, file storage, email, and payments with no external accounts needed
- Functional CRUD apps in 4-6 minutes thanks to multi-model AI
- Frontend code is exportable via GitHub
- Backed by Wix's distribution, resources, and ecosystem
Cons
- Backend logic stays locked inside Base44's infrastructure — 'the runtime you don't own'
- Two separate credit types (message + integration) make cost harder to predict
- Free tier's 25 message credits cover barely a couple of iterations
- Newer and less proven long-term than Lovable, with per-tier feature limits that are still shifting under Wix
Our verdict: A strong choice if you want a backend bundled in with zero setup and don't mind the runtime lock-in.
Hostinger AI Builder (formerly Horizons)
AI App Builder (budget, hosting-bundled)Hostinger's AI website/app builder, merged from the standalone Hostinger Horizons product on August 18, 2026, with credits bundled into hosting plans.
- Best for
- Budget-conscious builders who want a simple site or light app with hosting, domain, and email already bundled in.
- Pricing from
- $2.99/mo (Premium hosting plan, 48-month term)
- Free tier
- None documented — credits are bundled into paid hosting plans
Pros
- AI credits bundled directly into Hostinger hosting from $2.99/mo, with domain, email, and hosting included
- Agentic mode (AI-led) plus a manual drag-and-drop mode in one product since the August 2026 merger
- Node.js/React/Vite stack with a select-and-edit visual editor and 100+ templates
- Lowest all-in monthly cost of the three by a wide margin
Cons
- No native database or backend — needs Supabase or similar for real app logic
- Premium plan renews at $10.99/mo after the introductory 48-month term
- Reliability criticism in 2026 reviews (one tester reported '68 prompts and no app')
- Stack limited to Node.js/React/Vite — no PHP, Python, Ruby, or native mobile output
Our verdict: The cheapest entry point by far, but the weakest of the three for anything beyond a simple site or light app.
Compare side by side
| Aspect | Lovable | Base44 | Hostinger AI Builder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backend set up for you | Yes — Supabase auto-config | Yes — built-in Postgres, auth, payments | No — bring your own (e.g. Supabase) |
| Entry price | $25/mo | $16/mo (Starter, annual) | $2.99/mo (bundled hosting) |
| Free tier | Yes (5 daily credits) | Yes (25 message + 100 integration credits/mo) | None documented |
| Code export | Full repo via GitHub/GitLab sync | Frontend via GitHub; backend locked in | Limited — no native backend to export |
| Best for non-tech founders | Excellent | Very good | Good for simple sites only |
| Payments built in | Native Stripe/Resend-style connectors | Yes — built-in payment processing | No — needs external setup |
| Primary strength | Backend depth + code ownership | Bundled backend simplicity | Cheapest bundled hosting |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Quick pick
Short on time? Jump straight to the right choice for your situation.
You want the deepest backend automation and code you can hand to a developer
Auto-configured Supabase plus two-way GitHub/GitLab sync gives you a real, exportable repo.
You want a backend bundled in with zero external accounts to configure
Managed Postgres, auth, storage, and payments all ship built-in, with no Supabase setup required.
You want the cheapest possible monthly cost and already have hosting needs
AI credits are bundled into hosting plans starting at $2.99/mo, with domain and email included.
You're building a real full-stack app with meaningful logic
Its Supabase automation and mature integration catalog handle complexity Base44 and Hostinger AI Builder can't.
You want fast CRUD apps with minimal setup and don't mind the lock-in
Functional apps in 4-6 minutes thanks to multi-model AI and a fully bundled backend.
How we compare: We ranked these three on backend depth, code ownership, and real monthly cost rather than headline pricing alone. Hostinger AI Builder wins on raw price but has no native backend; Base44 bundles a backend but locks the runtime; Lovable costs more up front but gives you the most portable, developer-ready result. If a Base44 or Hostinger build has outgrown its platform, RapidDev can rebuild the backend on Supabase — most founders are better served choosing Lovable from the start if the app is going to grow.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Hostinger Horizons?
On August 18, 2026, Hostinger merged its standalone Horizons product into a single 'Hostinger AI Builder,' combining the old conversational agentic mode with a manual drag-and-drop mode. AI credits are now bundled into regular Hostinger hosting plans instead of sold as separate Horizons tiers.
Is Base44 owned by Wix?
Yes. Wix acquired Base44 in June 2025 for roughly $80M and now uses it to extend Wix into business software, while Base44 still runs as a standalone all-in-one app builder with its own built-in backend.
Which is cheapest: Hostinger AI Builder, Base44, or Lovable?
Hostinger AI Builder, with AI credits bundled into hosting plans starting at $2.99/mo on a 48-month term. Base44's Starter plan is $16/mo annual, and Lovable's Pro plan starts at $25/mo — but Hostinger's low price comes without a native database or backend.
Does Base44 lock you into its backend?
Yes, partially. Base44's frontend code is exportable via GitHub, but backend logic built on its managed Postgres, auth, and payment services stays inside Base44's infrastructure — critics call it 'the runtime you don't own.'
Can Hostinger AI Builder build a real full-stack app?
Not on its own. It has no native database or backend — you need an external service like Supabase for real app logic, which makes it a better fit for simple sites and light apps than for full-stack products.
Which one gives me code I can hand to a developer?
Lovable, clearly. Its two-way GitHub and GitLab sync exports the whole app — frontend and Supabase-backed schema — as a real repo. Base44 only exports the frontend, and Hostinger AI Builder doesn't have a backend to export in the first place. If you're stuck with any of the three, RapidDev can pick up the project.
Is Base44 fast for building simple apps?
Yes — reviewers report functional CRUD apps in 4-6 minutes thanks to its multi-model AI and bundled backend, which makes it genuinely fast for straightforward data-driven apps.
Which one should I pick if I already host with Hostinger?
If your app is genuinely simple — a marketing site, a landing page with a form — Hostinger AI Builder's bundled pricing makes sense since you're already paying for the hosting. The moment you need real logic, user accounts, or a database, you'll outgrow it fast and should look at Lovable or Base44 instead.
Still weighing your options?
- We build on all of these platforms
- Honest advice on which fits your build
- Fixed price, you own 100% of the code
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