Base44Messy spreadsheet of leads
Your whole team works one shared pipeline instead of a messy spreadsheet — with logins, so everyone sees the same live data.
Track 4 · Intermediate
4.4
Base44
A no-code app builder — describe an app, get a full backend, database, auth and hosting
1Overview
A no-code full-stack app builder from Base44 (acquired by Wix, 2025). Describe an app and it generates the UI, a database, user auth and hosting — all managed for you, no separate backend.
Base44 builds the whole thing from a plain-English brief — UI, database, user accounts and hosting — with no code and no separate backend to wire up. One of its public templates, a study app called StudyBuddy, has been cloned over 2,000 times. Base44 (founded by Maor Shlomo, acquired by Wix in 2025) is the "backend baked in" end of the app-builder spectrum: the fastest route to a working, hosted app — at the cost of running on Base44's platform rather than code you export. → Unlike Lovable and v0 (which hand you a React codebase to own), Base44 keeps the app on its managed infrastructure: great to ship fast, a trade-off to weigh before you build something you'll later need to migrate.
1.1Before you start
1.2After this chapter you can
→Turn one plain-English description into a working full-stack app — data, auth and hosting included
→Use the built-in database, connectors and AI features without touching an API key
→Know the vendor-lock-in trade-off — and when GitHub sync is your exit
1.3When to reach for it
Reach for it when you want a working app today rather than a codebase to maintain — a Kanban tracker, an internal tool, a quiz app — built inside the free tier, no separate dev environment needed.
1.4Key parts
Built-in database + auth, no-code connectors (Google Calendar, Slack, Notion, HubSpot, Salesforce), built-in AI (text, images, speech), Automations and Analytics — and GitHub 2-way sync when you outgrow it.
2Lessons 11
2.1 Generate a full‑stack app from a description
Create a working front‑end, database, authentication and hosting by describing your app in Base44
Try
Build a conference-room booking app for our office. Staff can see room availability, book a room for a time slot, and the system must prevent double-booking. Admins can add or remove rooms.Type it in the AI chat. Use Discuss mode first if you want the AI to plan with you (Discuss costs ~0.3 credits and changes nothing); Default mode builds right away.
- Register on base44.com to enable project saving
- Enter your app description into the prompt box or switch to Discuss mode to plan before generation
- Observe the live preview generate a UI with automatically wired database, auth and hosting
- Refine the result by sending follow‑up messages or entering Edit mode and clicking elements to modify them
- You'll see A complete app with live UI and backend appears in the preview after a few minutes
- Takeaway Describing an idea instantly provisions both frontend and backend without manual configuration
- Check Why does a Base44 app have a working backend the moment you describe it, with no database to connect or key to paste?
- Cost Free = 25 message credits + 100 integration credits/month, unlimited apps, with auth, database and analytics included. Building costs ~0.5–4 message credits per change; manual edits and Discuss-mode planning are nearly free — so plan before you spray prompts.
2.2 Define your app's data using natural language
Do this first Generate a full‑stack app from a description
Reshape entities and fields by describing them instead of writing schema or SQL
Try
Each booking should record the room, the person's name and email, the date, start and end time, and a status (confirmed / cancelled). Add a 'capacity' number to each room.Base44 updates the built-in database entities directly. You can also open Dashboard → Data to edit tables by hand.
- Send a prompt describing new or changed fields, then open Dashboard → Data to watch entities update live
- In the Data tab, click More Actions → Import to upload a CSV file of records
- Select an entity and use the inline controls to add, modify or delete rows
- Adjust view or edit permissions for each entity via the permission settings in the Data tab
- You'll see The Data tab displays tables and columns that match your description, ready for editing
- Takeaway Natural‑language descriptions replace manual database‑connection steps
- Check Why does shaping your data in plain English in Base44 replace the whole connect-a-database step other tools force on you?
- Cost Shaping data via chat uses message credits; the database itself (reads/writes) costs no integration credits and is included free.
2.3 Enable authentication and set app visibility
Do this first Define your app's data using natural language
Activate user accounts, assign roles and choose whether the app is public, workspace‑only or private
Try
Add user login with Google. Give 'admin' users the ability to add or remove rooms; regular users can only book. Show a landing page to anyone who isn't logged in.Base44’s auth is native — no external provider, no keys. Live-app roles are Admin and User.
- 1 Share App link distribute app to others
- 2 Visibility settings control public/private status Why this exists →
- 3 Invite Users dialog add collaborators
Best viewed on desktop — tap Enlarge to read the numbered controls.
- Open Dashboard → Overview and pick an App Visibility option (Public, Workspace or Private)
- Go to Dashboard → Users, click Invite Users, and assign each invitee an Admin or User role
- Switch to a non‑admin view or use an incognito window to confirm that logged‑out users see the public landing page and non‑admins encounter restricted content
- You'll see The app displays a role‑gated interface that follows the selected visibility setting
- Takeaway Authentication, roles and access control are supplied as no‑code primitives with private apps requiring a paid plan
- Check Why test a Base44 app from the user view or an incognito window rather than trusting that your role and visibility settings are right?
- Cost Auth, roles and Public apps are free; Private (invite-only) apps need Starter+. Build prompts use message credits.
2.4 Add external services to your app
Do this first Enable authentication and set app visibility
Add integrations such as Stripe, Gmail or Slack to your app while the platform manages authentication
Try
Add the Stripe connector and put a checkout button on the booking confirmation page.Connectors are OAuth integrations — Base44 handles the keys. Browse them in Dashboard → Integrations → Browse.
- 1 Explore catalog find new connectors
- 2 Slack connector send notifications to Slack Why this exists →
- 3 Permission view see who can use integration Why this exists →
Best viewed on desktop — tap Enlarge to read the numbered controls.
- Open Dashboard → Integrations → Browse and select a connector from the catalogue
- Choose shared or per‑user mode and authorise the connection
- Prompt the AI to use the new integration, for example to create a Stripe checkout
- You'll see An external service appears under the My integrations tab and is ready for use in your app
- Takeaway Connectors let you link services without writing any plumbing code
- Check Why do Base44 Connectors let you integrate Stripe or Gmail through OAuth without ever pasting an API key yourself?
- Cost Using built-in services spends integration credits (free plan: 100/month). Connectors require the Builder plan or higher.
2.5 Add AI features to your Base44 app
Do this first Add external services to your app
Create text, image, speech and data‑extraction capabilities without entering API keys
Try
Add a button that uses AI to suggest the best free room for a given time and group size. And when a booking is confirmed, email the person a confirmation.Base44 ships AI as built-in functions — invokeLLM (text), GenerateImage, GenerateSpeech, SendEmail, and ExtractDataFromUploadedFile. No keys.
- Enter your prompt in the chat and click invokeLLM to generate a text response
- Choose GenerateImage to create an image from a description
- Select GenerateSpeech to convert text into audio and add the resulting voice button
- Upload a PDF, CSV or image and press ExtractDataFromUploadedFile to turn it into structured rows
- You'll see AI suggestions appear in the app together with a confirmation email after processing
- Takeaway Base44 connects AI services by description alone, using integration credits for each call
- Check Why should you watch your integration credits when each built-in AI call in Base44 quietly spends them?
- Cost Built-in AI/email/image features consume integration credits (free plan: 100/month). No external API keys or accounts.
2.6 Add an AI agent that can act on your app’s data
Do this first Add AI features to your Base44 app
Give your Base44 app an AI agent capable of updating records and triggering workflows from plain‑language commands
Try
Mark booking #5 as cancelled and free up that room.First create the agent in Dashboard → Agents and give it a tool to update records; then chat commands like this and it acts.
- Open Dashboard → Agents and click Create Agent
- Enter a description, select a model, and enable Tools such as “Update record” or “Trigger automation”
- Activate optional Skills, Memory, and channel connections like WhatsApp or Telegram, then save the agent
- You'll see An agent appears in the dashboard list and can modify data or start automations when you chat with it
- Takeaway In‑app agents turn user conversations into executable actions within the permissions you define
- Check Why is a Base44 agent scoped only to the tools you grant it rather than being fully autonomous?
- Cost Agent activity uses credits like other AI calls. (For a separate, cross-tool autonomous assistant, see Base44 Superagents — Gmail/Drive/Slack/WhatsApp with scheduled tasks.)
2.7 Run automated backend jobs
Do this first Add an AI agent that can act on your app’s data
Execute backend work automatically on a schedule or when data changes
Try
Every morning at 8am, email me a count of new bookings made in the last 24 hours.Automations live in Dashboard → Automations. Triggers: Scheduled, Data event, In-app agent, or Connector event (e.g. a new Gmail/Calendar item).
- Open Dashboard → Automations and click Create automation
- Select a trigger such as Schedule or Data change
- Choose an action like Send email, Update records or Call connector
- Configure the required parameters for the trigger and action
- Click Save to activate the automation
- You'll see A backend job runs without any user interaction
- Takeaway Automations act as the no‑code equivalent of cron jobs and webhook handlers
- Check Why are Base44 Automations the no-code stand‑in for a cron job or webhook handler running without anyone opening the app?
- Cost Each automation run costs 1 integration credit plus any nested actions. Automations require Builder+.
2.8 Check traffic and sales analytics of your published app
Do this first Run automated backend jobs
See who is using your live app and what is converting into sales
Try
Open **Dashboard → Analytics**, switch to the **Traffic** tab, and display the visits, unique visitors, average duration, and real‑time users for the past 7 days. Then go to the **Sales** tab and list total payments, number of transactions, and refunds received this week.Paste this into the Base44 command bar in Dashboard → Analytics. Verify that data appears only after your app has been published; otherwise the tables will be empty.
- 1 date range label shows selected analytics period
- 2 add event button creates custom analytics event
Best viewed on desktop — tap Enlarge to read the numbered controls.
- Publish your app, then open Dashboard → Analytics
- Select the Traffic tab to view visits, unique visitors, average duration, real‑time users and breakdowns by pages, geography, sources and devices
- Switch to the Sales tab (available for Stripe‑connected apps) to see payments, transactions, customers and refunds
- Create a Custom Event on a key action such as a completed booking and review its count in the analytics view the following day
- You'll see Real usage numbers for your live app, with optional custom events for the actions you care about
- Takeaway Base44 provides built‑in product analytics without extra wiring so you can verify actual usage
- Check When does Base44 start collecting analytics, and why does that mean you must publish before you can see any usage numbers?
- Cost Analytics is included; the free plan allows 3 custom events and 7-day retention (Starter+ unlocks unlimited events and longer history).
2.9 Create and publish AI-generated launch posts
Do this first Check traffic and sales analytics of your published app
Generate ready‑to‑post launch content and send it directly to social platforms
Try
Generate a launch announcement for my booking app for LinkedIn and X, in a friendly, concise tone.This lives in Dashboard → Marketing → Social content, which builds a promotion strategy and platform-specific posts.
- Open Dashboard → Marketing → Social content and click Get started
- Select up to three platforms such as Instagram, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook or Reddit
- Click the Publish button beside X, Reddit and LinkedIn to post directly
- You'll see A set of tailored launch posts with one‑click publishing to X, Reddit and LinkedIn
- Takeaway Base44 lets you generate and post social content from the same dashboard
- Check Why does Base44 generating and posting launch content matter beyond just building the app itself?
- Cost Generating content uses credits; direct publishing is available for X, Reddit and LinkedIn.
2.10 Secure your app by scanning for vulnerabilities and fixing them
Do this first Create and publish AI-generated launch posts
Execute Base44's automated security check and remediate all reported problems before users access the app
Try
Open Dashboard → Security and click **Run Security Scan**In the Base44 interface navigate to Dashboard, select the Security section, then press the Run Security Scan button. Watch the resulting categorized issue list and note any flagged items to address before publishing.
- Open Dashboard → Security and click Run Security Scan
- Expand each finding in Issues details, read the description and recommended fix, then apply the fix
- Click Run Security Scan again to verify that no issues remain
- You'll see A categorized list of security issues with suggested fixes, followed by a clean scan result after remediation
- Takeaway The built‑in vulnerability scanner should be run before every launch to keep your app safe
- Check Why run Base44's security scan before every launch rather than assuming the first clean scan keeps the app safe forever?
- Cost The security scan is free on all plans, including the free tier.
2.11 Synchronise a Base44 app with GitHub and publish it
Do this first Secure your app by scanning for vulnerabilities and fixing them
Connect the app to a GitHub repository for two‑way code sync and make it publicly accessible
Try
Click the **GitHub** icon, choose Connect, authorize, create a repo named myapp-sync, enable **2‑way sync**, then click **Publish**, set visibility to Public and copy the provided URL.Paste this into Base44’s editor top panel. After authorising, watch the warning that GitHub sync is permanent before confirming.
- Click the GitHub icon in the top panel, choose Connect, authorise, then select or create a repository
- Confirm the Export to GitHub option to enable two‑way sync of the full app source
- Click the Publish button, set visibility and copy the generated URL
- Add a Custom domain in the publish dialog, enter your domain name and save
- You'll see A GitHub repo containing the full source of your app and a live URL you can share
- Takeaway Base44 lets you export the generated code to your own repository so you can host or modify it anywhere
- Check Why should you be sure before turning on Base44's GitHub sync, given that it is permanent and can't be disconnected?
- Cost Publishing on a Base44 URL is free; GitHub sync and custom domains require Builder+.
3You’ll know it worked 76 checkable outcomes in this chapter
- ✓All teammates see the same lead status changes instantly without refreshing
- ✓Dashboard updates to show total outstanding revenue, monthly paid total, and an overdue invoice list as invoice statuses change
- ✓Organizers watch the dashboard update instantly as each ticket code is scanned during check-in
- ✓A customer-submitted job appears on the today view, progresses through Requested → Scheduled → Done → Invoiced states and produces an invoice without any paper forms
- ✓Affiliates log in to view their unique referral link, click and conversion counts, and the commission amount owed
- ✓Reps see only their assigned accounts; manager sees the full cross-territory pipeline
- ✓Staff view a dashboard showing open referrals by stage and owner
- ✓Rows from the CSV appear in the entity's record list
76 outcomes in all — one per recipe below.
4FAQ, Tips & How-to 113
one problem, one solution, one action
CRM & sales7
Investor introductions go cold
Run your raise like a sales pipeline so no warm intro goes cold.
Affiliates can’t view their performance
Runs a referral program transparently so partners trust their numbers.
Unsure which sales quotes are pending
No quote falls through the cracks and finance can forecast revenue from accepted proposals.
Want reps to see only their accounts but I need a full pipeline view
Each rep sees only their territory and the manager gets a cross-territory pipeline view for fair workload distribution.
Deal pipeline scattered across sheets
Your whole deal pipeline is in one searchable place instead of a spreadsheet no one trusts.
When your search team needs one shared pipeline
The whole search team works one shared pipeline so nothing drops and clients get consistent updates.
Internal tools & ops16
Shared inbox is a mess
Replaces a chaotic shared inbox with a tracked queue and accountability per agent.
Never know who has which laptop
Always know where every device is and who’s responsible for it.
New hires missing onboarding tasks
New hires ramp faster and nothing falls through the cracks across IT, HR, and their manager.
Messy staff reimbursements
Turns reimbursement chaos into a clean approval queue with an audit trail.
Need a single place to see who’s doing what
A shared source of truth for who’s doing what, tailored to your team’s exact workflow.
Running out of bestsellers or over‑ordering slow items
Stop running out of bestsellers and over-ordering slow movers.
Too many incoming support tickets
Deflects routine questions automatically while keeping a human in the loop for the tricky ones.
Need to pull data from PDFs without typing
Turns piles of documents into clean data without manual re-typing.
When meeting decisions get lost
Decisions and follow-ups actually get done because every action has an owner and a deadline.
Too many email chains for vacation requests
Replaces email chains for leave requests and gives managers a coverage view before they approve.
Appreciation gets buried in DMs
Appreciation is visible to the whole company instead of disappearing in a direct message.
Support tickets hide deadline risks
Support teams stop missing SLAs by accident because the breach risk is always visible.
Need a free meeting room that fits our group
Automates venue selection and notifications, cutting planning effort and minimizing scheduling mistakes.
Need to collect payment right after a booking
Enables seamless payment collection directly after booking, boosting conversion without extra navigation.
Want admins to add or delete rooms while regular users only book
Admins manage inventory securely while regular users see only booking options, streamlining permissions and enhancing the overall user experience.
Can't limit number of guests per room
Enables tracking how many guests each room can host, supporting booking limits automatically.
Research & data tools7
Can’t locate samples or know if they’re expired
No more lost samples or expired reagents discovered mid-experiment; the whole lab queries one searchable database.
Email juggling to recruit participants
Cuts the email back-and-forth of recruiting and scheduling a study cohort into one self-serve system.
Need a searchable, shareable record of experiments
A searchable, shareable record of every experiment that survives staff turnover.
Scattered PDFs across the lab
The whole lab’s reading becomes collective knowledge instead of scattered PDFs.
Can’t tell which papers are best
Runs a small conference’s review process without expensive dedicated software.
Hard to follow participant visit dates
Keeps a multi-visit study on schedule and flags participants who are overdue.
Paper field sheets become digital
Replaces paper field sheets with structured, instantly-shared data the whole team can analyze.
Trackers4
Can’t keep track of funding deadlines
Never miss a funding deadline again — the team sees every application’s stage at a glance.
Can't keep hiring steps and interview feedback together
Keeps every hire’s pipeline and interview notes in one accountable place.
Clients missing their weekly check‑ins
Keeps clients accountable between sessions and shows them their own progress over time.
Lost track of referral progress
Staff can see at a glance which referrals are stuck instead of losing track in a fax pile or shared inbox.
Marketplaces & directories4
Unsure if people want your local service
Validates a marketplace idea with real bookings and reviews before you invest in a custom build.
Need a niche gear‑rental platform that tracks dates
Stands up a niche rental marketplace with bookings and calendars handled for you.
Need an interactive property showcase that captures buyer inquiries
A branded listings portal with a captured-lead inbox instead of a static page.
Want a searchable member list that works as a community
Turns a list of members into a living, searchable network they keep coming back to.
Content & marketing4
Want a referral‑ranked pre‑launch waitlist
Builds pre-launch demand and a referral loop without stitching together third-party tools.
Coordinating multi‑channel publishing and approvals
Keeps a multi-channel content team aligned with one calendar and a clear approval gate.
Can’t locate the latest brand files
Everyone grabs the latest on-brand assets instead of digging through old chat threads.
Unsure which influencers deliver results
See which creators actually drive results before renewing a partnership.
Booking & scheduling5
Clients call to book and I end up double‑booking
Fills the calendar with self-serve bookings and stops double-booking, no phone tag required.
Customers book jobs online
Runs the whole day from request to invoice without paper job cards.
Scheduling volunteers is hard
Fills shifts with self-serve signups and shows exactly where you’re short-staffed.
Patients can’t book by phone
Fewer no-shows and less phone tag for reception — purely admin scheduling, no clinical logic involved.
Can't keep shift schedules up‑to‑date
Everyone sees the current rota and swap requests in one place instead of a shared spreadsheet that drifts out of date.
Commerce & payments1
Can't track who owes you without spreadsheets
Know exactly who owes you what without a spreadsheet that nobody updates.
Customer & client portals5
Fans need a login for posts
Owns your audience relationship directly instead of renting it from a platform.
Suppliers juggling emails for quotes
Replaces scattered supplier emails with one system of record for procurement.
Gives customers a self-serve home and cuts repetitive support requests.
Running a cohort class without an LMS
Run a cohort course with submissions and grading without paying for a heavy LMS.
Can't track returns via email
Support handles returns through a structured queue instead of a flood of one-off emails.
Forms, surveys & feedback6
Need a way for users to suggest and vote on ideas
Surfaces what users actually want and shows them you’re shipping it.
Need a real‑time view of who’s checked in at your event
Handles signups and day-of check-in in one place, with live attendance counts.
Need to see survey results as they come in
Own your survey data end to end with custom analysis instead of a locked-in form tool.
Performance reviews are scattered across PDFs
Every review is completed on time and in one place instead of scattered PDFs emailed to HR.
Need customer feedback after tickets are closed
Support quality is measured with real customer data instead of guesswork.
No patient history at check‑in
Front-desk and clinical staff walk into the visit with the intake already on file instead of a clipboard in the waiting room.
Dashboards & analytics4
Too many separate KPI sheets
Gives the leadership team one honest scoreboard instead of five conflicting spreadsheets.
Can’t tell which vendor invoices are past due
Finance knows exactly what is owed and when, so nothing slips past due and cash-flow forecasting is based on real numbers.
Can't track department budget vs spend without spreadsheet emails
Department heads log in to see how much of their budget remains, eliminating the monthly spreadsheet email cycle.
Collecting each startup’s monthly numbers is a pain
Portfolio monitoring shifts from chasing founders for spreadsheet updates to a self-serve dashboard with consistent numbers.
Need a personal workspace and free usage
You get a personal workspace and free message/integration credits to start building apps
Need to see how your generated app looks right away
You get immediate visual feedback as the generated app is deployed to a live URL
Can’t edit app fields without code
You can define and modify your app's entities and fields without writing schema or SQL
Changes made through chat appear immediately in the Dashboard → Data tab
Want to add lots of data from a CSV file
You can quickly populate a table by importing a CSV file
Link one entity to another
A Reference field creates a relationship between two tables
Need to decide who can view or change each record
You can set who can see or modify records for each entity
Adding bookings by hand
Adding a few records by hand lets you confirm the structure matches real-world usage
Need to control who opens your app
You can instantly control whether anyone, only workspace members, or invited users can access the app
You can verify that regular users see only the pages and data you allow them to
Visitors who aren’t logged in
Setting the app to Public lets anyone see a landing page without logging in
Not sure whether users should share one account or have their own
Selecting the correct mode determines whether one account is used for all users or each user connects their own account
Connectors use OAuth, so you never have to paste an API key into your app
Need a checkout button on my booking page
You can instruct the built-in AI to call the connected service directly from your app logic
All linked services are listed in one place for easy management
Need automatic confirmation emails from my app
Your app can send confirmation emails automatically without external services
Want to turn a text prompt into a picture inside your app
Create images from text prompts inside your app without external APIs
Need spoken audio from written text
Convert any text into spoken audio without third-party services
Uploaded PDF, CSV or image won’t give me usable data
Turn uploaded PDFs, CSVs, or images into structured rows automatically
Users can’t reach the AI outside the app
Connecting WhatsApp, Telegram or LINE lets external users interact with the same AI agent
Need to cancel a booking with plain text
A user can issue a natural language instruction and the agent will perform the scoped action
Need a backend task but don’t want to code
You can set up a backend job without writing code by creating an automation in the Dashboard
When a trigger fires, specify the exact action
You specify the work the automation performs, such as sending an email or updating records
Each automation run cannot exceed three minutes and must wait at least five minutes before running again
Running an automation consumes credits, so you can estimate usage costs
Automations are only available to projects with a Builder+ plan
Analytics data only starts recording after the app is published, so publishing is required to see usage
You can monitor visits, unique visitors, average session duration, real-time users and detailed breakdowns by page, geography, source and device
For apps connected to Stripe, the Sales tab summarizes payments, transactions, customers and refunds
Want to know each time a booking happens
You can define up to three custom events on the free plan to count specific actions like a completed booking
My launch post is dull
You can quickly enhance copy and regenerate images without leaving the dashboard
Can't post the same thing on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok
For platforms without direct integration you can still quickly copy the generated content
Need a launch announcement for LinkedIn and X
You can ask Base44 to draft a friendly, concise launch announcement for specific platforms
Unsure which vulnerabilities your app has
You can quickly identify and fix security problems before users see them
You can see exactly why an issue was flagged and how to resolve it
App not connected to GitHub
Enables two-way synchronization of your Base44 app's source code with GitHub
Edits in my note tool never reach my code repo
Changes made in either environment automatically propagate to the other
Once enabled, the project remains tied to GitHub and cannot be moved back to a standalone Base44 app
What the acquisition means for users — pricing and support changes
Wix acquired Base44 in 2025. The core product and brand stayed intact, and the platform has continued to grow to hundreds of thousands of users. Some users have reported pricing increases and slower support after the acquisition. On balance it is well-funded and not going away soon, but factor the post-acquisition changes into your decision.
Who owns my data and my app — does Base44 have rights to what I build?
According to Base44's terms, you own your apps and your data. Base44 does not claim ownership of what you create and lets you request a copy of or delete your data. One caveat: servers are in the United States by default, and EU data residency is only on higher plans — relevant if you handle EU personal data.
Is there vendor lock-in — what happens to my app if I stop paying?
There is significant lock-in. Your backend runs on Base44's proprietary infrastructure, and while the frontend code can be exported to GitHub, the backend cannot be self-hosted without a rewrite. If you cancel, your apps go offline at the end of the billing period. For a low-stakes project this is fine; for anything long-term or customer-facing, weigh the risk.
What kinds of apps can I build with Base44?
Any web app that needs a database and user accounts — for example a lab data tracker, a survey/form tool that stores responses, a literature-review organizer, a shared protocol library with role-based access, or a class quiz app. The AI generates the full app from a plain-English description, so you describe what you need the way you'd explain it to a colleague.
What are 'integration credits' — are those separate from message credits?
Yes, they are a separate pool. Integration credits are consumed not when you build, but when your live app's users trigger Base44's built-in services — sending an email, an AI/LLM call, generating an image. If your app emails users frequently, these can run out independently of your message credits.
Can I export my code or take my app elsewhere if I want to leave Base44?
Partially. The GitHub integration lets you push your frontend code to a repo and edit it locally, but the backend — your database connections, authentication, and business rules — is wrapped inside Base44's proprietary SDK and runs on their servers. You can't export a fully independent, self-hostable app: leaving Base44 means rebuilding the backend elsewhere.
Does Base44 include a built-in database and user authentication?
Yes, both are fully built-in with zero setup. When you describe your app, Base44 automatically creates database tables, relationships, and permissions, plus user registration, login, and role-based access — no external service like Supabase or Firebase needed. This all-in-one approach is Base44's main selling point over tools like v0, which only generate frontend code.
Can I connect a custom domain to my Base44 app?
Yes, but it requires a higher paid plan — it is not available on the free or entry tier. You can buy a domain through Base44 (SSL handled automatically) or connect one you already own by adding a DNS record at your provider. Free SSL is included; DNS propagation can take up to 72 hours.
What integrations does Base44 support — can my app send emails or call an AI?
Several integrations are available out-of-the-box on all plans, including AI/LLM calls, sending email, file upload, image generation, and data extraction from files. Paid plans add OAuth connectors to services like Slack, Notion, and Google Workspace, and any service with an OpenAPI spec can be added as a custom integration.
How does Base44 compare to Lovable — which should a beginner pick?
Base44 works better out-of-the-box for non-technical users: it handles the full stack (frontend, backend, database, auth) automatically with the fewest decisions. Lovable generates real exportable React/TypeScript code you own and can deploy anywhere, but requires a bit more setup. Short version: Base44 for speed and simplicity; Lovable if you care about code ownership and long-term flexibility.
How does Base44 compare to v0 (Vercel)?
They serve different purposes. v0 is a frontend-only UI generator for developers who already know React — it does not handle databases, authentication, or hosting. Base44 builds a complete working app including backend, database, and auth from plain-language descriptions, with no coding needed. With no coding background, v0 alone cannot build a deployable app; Base44 can.
message credit — a unit spent per prompt
Know how many credits you use for each change to manage your budget
The same set on /recipes, filtered by tool and role.
5Videos 1
Build and deploy a full app with Base44 in 2026 (full tutorial)
The shortest credible 'I built a thing' video for Base44. Pair with the independent review below if you want a non-sponsored counterweight.
6FAQ 11
What the acquisition means for users — pricing and support changes
Wix acquired Base44 in 2025. The core product and brand stayed intact, and the platform has continued to grow to hundreds of thousands of users. Some users have reported pricing increases and slower support after the acquisition. On balance it is well-funded and not going away soon, but factor the post-acquisition changes into your decision.
Who owns my data and my app — does Base44 have rights to what I build?
According to Base44's terms, you own your apps and your data. Base44 does not claim ownership of what you create and lets you request a copy of or delete your data. One caveat: servers are in the United States by default, and EU data residency is only on higher plans — relevant if you handle EU personal data.
Is there vendor lock-in — what happens to my app if I stop paying?
There is significant lock-in. Your backend runs on Base44's proprietary infrastructure, and while the frontend code can be exported to GitHub, the backend cannot be self-hosted without a rewrite. If you cancel, your apps go offline at the end of the billing period. For a low-stakes project this is fine; for anything long-term or customer-facing, weigh the risk.
What kinds of apps can I build with Base44?
Any web app that needs a database and user accounts — for example a lab data tracker, a survey/form tool that stores responses, a literature-review organizer, a shared protocol library with role-based access, or a class quiz app. The AI generates the full app from a plain-English description, so you describe what you need the way you'd explain it to a colleague.
What are 'integration credits' — are those separate from message credits?
Yes, they are a separate pool. Integration credits are consumed not when you build, but when your live app's users trigger Base44's built-in services — sending an email, an AI/LLM call, generating an image. If your app emails users frequently, these can run out independently of your message credits.
Can I export my code or take my app elsewhere if I want to leave Base44?
Partially. The GitHub integration lets you push your frontend code to a repo and edit it locally, but the backend — your database connections, authentication, and business rules — is wrapped inside Base44's proprietary SDK and runs on their servers. You can't export a fully independent, self-hostable app: leaving Base44 means rebuilding the backend elsewhere.
Does Base44 include a built-in database and user authentication?
Yes, both are fully built-in with zero setup. When you describe your app, Base44 automatically creates database tables, relationships, and permissions, plus user registration, login, and role-based access — no external service like Supabase or Firebase needed. This all-in-one approach is Base44's main selling point over tools like v0, which only generate frontend code.
Can I connect a custom domain to my Base44 app?
Yes, but it requires a higher paid plan — it is not available on the free or entry tier. You can buy a domain through Base44 (SSL handled automatically) or connect one you already own by adding a DNS record at your provider. Free SSL is included; DNS propagation can take up to 72 hours.
What integrations does Base44 support — can my app send emails or call an AI?
Several integrations are available out-of-the-box on all plans, including AI/LLM calls, sending email, file upload, image generation, and data extraction from files. Paid plans add OAuth connectors to services like Slack, Notion, and Google Workspace, and any service with an OpenAPI spec can be added as a custom integration.
How does Base44 compare to Lovable — which should a beginner pick?
Base44 works better out-of-the-box for non-technical users: it handles the full stack (frontend, backend, database, auth) automatically with the fewest decisions. Lovable generates real exportable React/TypeScript code you own and can deploy anywhere, but requires a bit more setup. Short version: Base44 for speed and simplicity; Lovable if you care about code ownership and long-term flexibility.
How does Base44 compare to v0 (Vercel)?
They serve different purposes. v0 is a frontend-only UI generator for developers who already know React — it does not handle databases, authentication, or hosting. Base44 builds a complete working app including backend, database, and auth from plain-language descriptions, with no coding needed. With no coding background, v0 alone cannot build a deployable app; Base44 can.
7Glossary 11 terms
Show the 11 terms
Base44
invokeLLM- A built-in Base44 function that runs an AI language model from inside your app, letting you add features like summarization, classification, or a chat assistant without managing any external API keys.
GenerateImage- A built-in Base44 function that creates an image from a text description, so your app can produce cover photos, thumbnails, or marketing visuals on demand.
GenerateSpeech- A built-in Base44 function that converts text into spoken audio and returns a URL to an MP3 file, supporting 30 languages and five voice styles (river, honey, sunny, storm, spark).
SendEmail- A built-in Base44 function that sends an email (such as a confirmation, alert, or notification) to registered users of your app without needing a separate email service account.
ExtractDataFromUploadedFile- A built-in Base44 function that reads an uploaded document (CSV, PDF, or image) and extracts its contents into structured records your app can store and query.
npm install- A standard command that downloads and adds a JavaScript library from the public npm registry into your project so your code can use it.
App Visibility- A dashboard setting that controls who can reach your published app: public to anyone, your workspace, or private/invited users only.
Connectors- Base44 integrations with services like Stripe, Gmail, and Slack that authorise via OAuth, so no API key sits in your code.
integration credits- The unit consumed by Base44's built-in AI and connector actions (roughly a few per LLM call, about one per email), drawn from your plan's monthly allowance.
Automations- Base44's scheduler for backend jobs that run on a time schedule or on a data change, with no user needing to open the app.
Security Scan- Base44's automated check that grades your app's data-permission rules and endpoints and flags issues to fix before publishing.
8See also
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