Base44 Review: AI Turns Your Ideas Into Real Apps Fast

I've recently been getting ads for something called Base44, which claims to build apps with AI in minutes.

As someone with a background in graphic design and experience using Sketch to build apps, I found the idea fascinating: describe the app in plain language and have it come to life. No wrestling with code or complex workflows.

Base44 was bootstrapped by its solo founder, Maor Shlomo. In just six months, it grew to over 300,000 users and was acquired by Wix for more than $80 million. If that's not a testament to the demand for fast AI app creation, I don't know what is.

In this Base44 review, I'll discuss the pros and cons, what it is, who it's best for, and its key features. Then, I'll show you how I used Base44 to generate a goal-tracking application in minutes.

I'll finish the article by comparing Base44 with my top three alternatives (Softr, Draftbit, and AppMySite). By the end, you'll know if Base44 is right for you!

Verdict

Base44 lets you build and launch apps quickly by describing your idea, while it takes care of the backend, design, and integrations. It works well for small to medium projects but may not handle complex customizations or very large apps.

What is Base44?

Base44 is a low-code AI platform that builds full web apps in minutes.

Just describe your idea, and Base44 creates the design, backend, database, and features. From there, you can get Base44 to make changes to the app for you through the chatbot, or make visual edits yourself directly in the app preview.

Base44 vs. Bubble & Webflow

Base44 is fundamentally different from platforms like Bubble or Webflow. With those tools, you still need to understand database relationships, API connections, and workflow logic. You're essentially coding with visual blocks instead of text.

Base44 eliminates that. You focus on describing the user experience, and the platform handles all the technical implementation.

Core Technology

The core technology behind Base44 is natural language processing that understands what you're trying to build. Rather than dragging and dropping components like you do in traditional no-code tools, you just tell Base44 what you want to create.

I gave Base44 the following prompt: “Develop a goal tracker – should help set and track personal or professional goals with progress visualization.” Immediately, the AI interpreted my description and automatically generated all the necessary pages, databases, user flows, and backend logic.

Compare that to a platform like Bubble, where you have to learn about database schemas and configure API endpoints. With Base44, you describe the concept in a few sentences and get a working prototype in minutes.

The AI behind Base44 understands context remarkably well. When creating my app, I asked Base44 to change the progress bars from black to green, and it executed my request perfectly. That kind of intelligence is what separates Base44 from simpler template-based builders.

Base44 has attracted over 300,000 users in six months, which tells you something about the demand for this approach. People are tired of learning complex development frameworks to solve simple business problems.

Base44 starts free to test ideas without commitment. You can then choose to upgrade when you're ready for more advanced features and higher usage limits.

Who is Base44 Best For?

Here's who Base44 is best for:

• Founders can use Base44 to quickly build MVPs and launch apps without coding.
• Small teams can use Base44 to collaborate in real-time and efficiently scale projects.
• Non-technical business users can use Base44 to create useful apps designed to improve and automate internal workflows and data management without coding.
• Entrepreneurs can use Base44 to quickly and easily prototype app ideas.
• Startups can use Base44 to develop apps, automate workflows, and test features without hiring developers.
• Agencies can use Base44 to build client apps quickly and easily customize them with plain language.
• Teachers can use Base44 to build educational apps without learning complex coding.
• Anyone wanting to create simple to moderately complex apps can use Base44 to turn ideas into live web applications with seamless deployment.

Base44 Key Features

Here are Base44's key features:

• Full-Stack App Creation: The AI builds the frontend, backend, and database automatically from your description.
• Chat Interface: After your app is built, you can keep refining it by chatting with the AI to update the design, logic, workflows, and more.
• AI Features: Add AI features like chatbots, predictions, and automation to your app.
• Built-In Backend: Handles databases, email, file storage, payments (via Stripe), and API endpoints automatically with no manual setup required.
• Visual Editor: Visually customize your app’s interface directly in the preview without any coding.
• User Management & Authentication: Set roles, permissions, email/password login, and email flows like onboarding and notifications.
• Hosting, Deployment, & Publishing: Deploy with one click, get built-in hosting and a public URL, and easily set up a custom domain.
• Code Access & Export: On paid plans, you can export the full code for self-hosting or customization and connect to GitHub for version control.
• Collaboration & Version Control: Tools for team management and version control make it easy to work together and scale projects.

How to Use Base44

Here's how I used Base44 to generate a goal tracking application in minutes:

1. Create a Base44 Account
2. Describe Your App
3. Generate App Ideas with Base44
4. Choose a UI Style
5. Generate the App
6. Get Base44 to Make Changes
7. Make Visual Edits
8. Discuss with Base44
9. Switch Between Desktop & Mobile Views
10. Adjust the Application Settings
11. Publish the Application

Step 1: Create a Base44 Account

I started by going to base44.com and selecting “Start Building” in the top right corner.

Step 2: Describe Your App

After creating an account, I was taken to the app builder. All I had to do was describe the app I wanted Base44 to build!

Step 3: Generate App Ideas with Base44

I had no idea where to start, so I went to the app categories below the empty field.

Here were the app categories I could choose from:

• CRM
• Dev productivity
• Educational
• Content Generation and Editing
• Personal Finance
• Health and Wellness
• Productivity
• Travel Planning
• Entertainment
• Environmental
• Home Management

I chose “Productivity,” which narrowed down my options even further:

• Pomodoro Timer
• To-Do List Organizer
• Mind Mapping Tool
• Goal Tracker
• Habit Formation Assistant

Between these options, I went with “Goal Tracker.” As soon as I selected it, Base44 added a prompt to the empty field:

“Develop a goal tracker – should help set and track personal or professional goals with progress visualization.”

Notice how the prompt doesn't mention dashboards, reports, or features. Base44 works best when you give it a clear, focused starting point.

Step 4: Choose a UI Style

Next was my favorite part: choosing the UI style for the app. To view my options, I just had to select “Styling Instructions” below my prompt.

There were five UI styles to choose from:

• Neo-Brutalism (bold colors with thick borders)
• Neumorphism (soft extruded elements)
• Glassmorphism (frosted glass with blur)
• Material design (grid-based layout)
• Claymorphism (soft, round elements in pastel colors)

There was a wide variety, and they all looked professional.

Step 5: Generate the App

I felt “Material Design” would suit my goal-tracking app most, so I went with that one. This added more detail to my prompt.

At this point, I felt confident about my app description, so I sent the prompt to Base44.

A few minutes later, Base44 created an entire app for me in the style I chose! It felt polished, and I loved that I didn’t have to touch a single line of code.

On the left was a chatbot that described Base44's entire process from start to finish.

I could continue chatting with Base44 to get it to make changes, or I could select “Visual Edit” to make my edits directly in the preview.

Step 6: Get Base44 to Make Changes

For example, I gave Base44 the following request: “Change the color of the progress bars from black to green.”

A few seconds later, the progress bars went from black to green, and Base44 laid out its process in the chatbot! Telling Base44 what to change is an excellent way to make edits without having to do them manually.

Step 7: Make Visual Edits

I also wanted to try making some visual edits, so I selected “Visual Edit” at the bottom of the chatbot. You'll know you're in the visual edit mode because the “Visual Edit” button will turn blue.

Hovering over the preview, every element in my app became clickable. I could easily tweak text and adjust colors without having to write a single line of code.

Step 8: Discuss with Base44

The final thing I'll mention about the chatbot is the “Discuss” option. Selecting this allowed me to chat with Base44 about anything without making any code changes. This made it easy to brainstorm ideas or ask questions without interrupting the build process.

Base44 offers the perfect blend of AI editing and manual visual editing. I found it incredibly easy to customize my app exactly how I wanted without any coding skills.

Step 9: Switch Between Desktop & Mobile Views

At the top, I could switch between the desktop and mobile view of my application. It was easy for me to see how my changes looked across different devices instantly.

Step 10: Adjust the Application Settings

The “Dashboard” was where I could access the following information about my application:

• An overview of my application (name, description, logo, visibility, etc.)
• Manage users and their roles.
• Edit the application's data.
• View visitor analytics.
• Add domains.
• Configure app security.
• Access and make changes to the code.
• Explore logs.
• Access the API.
• Access general settings.

Base44 made everything easy to find and edit in one place. I could easily update content, check performance, or dive into the backend.

Step 11: Publish the Application

Once I was happy with how my application looked and all of the settings were in place, I clicked “Publish” to push it live.

Base44 generated a link to make the app publicly accessible. Within your dashboard settings, you can always connect your domain to give your app a custom URL and make it feel fully branded.

Overall, Base44 made building my goal-tracking app fast, intuitive, and surprisingly fun. I went from idea to a fully functional app in minutes without touching a single line of code.

Top 3 Base44 Alternatives

Here are the best Base44 alternatives I'd recommend.

Softr

The first Base44 alternative I’d recommend is Softr. Softr is a no-code platform that helps anyone build no-code business apps. You can create web apps, client portals, inventory trackers, forms, and more by using data from Airtable, Google Sheets, etc. It has a simple drag-and-drop editor and 90+ templates that make app building quick and easy.

Both Base44 and Softr cater to those who want to build applications without writing code. However, they differ in some key ways.

On the one hand, Base44 focuses on using AI and natural language to create the entire app. This includes backend features like databases, authentication, email, and APIs. This makes Base44 perfect for quickly building MVPs and simple to moderately complex apps with little setup.

Meanwhile, Softr focuses more on visually building apps and connects well with external data like Airtable and Google Sheets. It’s great for managing data and creating dynamic apps with templates.

For fast app building with AI using simple text prompts, choose Base44. Otherwise, choose Softr for customizable apps with lots of templates. It works well with tools like Airtable.

Draftbit

The next Base44 alternative I recommend is Draftbit. It’s a no-code platform for visually building mobile apps. It has drag-and-drop UI, live previews, reusable parts, workflow automation, and easy publishing to app stores.

Both platforms are no-code/low-code visual app builders. However, Base44 focuses more on using AI and natural language prompts to quickly build full apps automatically.

Meanwhile, Draftbit uses AI mainly as a coding assistant to speed up visual development. It requires more manual design and logic configuration.

Draftbit offers full source code export so developers can customize and host apps independently. Base44 also offers code export on paid plans, but centers more on ongoing AI-driven refinement and hosted deployment.

Choose Base44 if you want an AI platform that builds web apps quickly using simple language and handles the backend for you. Otherwise, choose Draftbit to visually design mobile apps and publish them directly to app stores.

AppMySite

The last Base44 alternative I recommend is AppMySite. It’s a no-code platform that lets you turn existing websites (like WordPress or Shopify) into mobile apps or build apps from scratch without coding.

AppMySite is a simple drag-and-drop builder and includes integrations for push notifications, in-app purchases, offline access, and translation. AppMySite also makes it easy to publish apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Both Base44 and AppMySite let you build apps with no coding skills required.

Choose Base44 for an AI platform that builds web apps from plain language. Otherwise, choose AppMySite for the easiest way to turn your website into a mobile app.

Base44 Review: The Right Tool For You?

After building my goal tracker in minutes, I can confidently say Base44 delivers on its promise. It took my idea, turned it into a functional app, and made edits as easy as chatting with a friend.

The combination of AI automation and manual visual editing is a game-changer. You get to skip all the headaches of backend setup.

But the question remains: Is Base44 right for you?

If you want to launch web apps quickly without touching code, yes. But if you need deep custom logic or more specific integrations, you might feel its limits.

If you're interested in the best Base44 alternatives, here's what I'd recommend:

• Softr is best for quickly building business apps with Airtable, Google Sheets, or other data sources.
• Draftbit is best for creating mobile apps with full UI control and exportable source code.
• AppMySite is best for turning a website into a mobile app with push notifications, offline mode, and app store publishing.

Thanks for reading my Base44 review! I hope you found it helpful.

Base44 offers a free plan you can upgrade whenever you're ready. You'll get access to the core integration types to build fully functional apps, as well as 5 messages you can send daily. Try it for yourself and see how you like it!

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Base44 do?

Base44 lets you build full web apps using AI through prompts you provide. It handles backend setup and deployment automatically.

Who is the Founder of Base44?

The founder of Base44 is Maor Shlomo. He's a solo founder who built Base44 and quickly achieved significant success, including an $80 million acquisition by Wix within six months of launching.

Is Base44 safe?

Yes, Base44 is safe to use. It runs in the cloud, so your projects and data are stored securely with encryption and controlled access.

Is Base44 free to use?

Yes, Base44 offers a free plan to build apps without any cost. You can upgrade to paid plans for more features and higher usage limits as needed.

Does Base44 really work?

Yes, Base44 really works. It uses AI to quickly turn your ideas into fully functional web apps without any coding.