Why we built builder77 differently from base44
base44 is a well-known AI app builder. Here's an honest look at where builder77 takes a different approach — and how to decide which one fits you.
We get asked this a lot, so here's a straight answer. base44 is an established AI app builder: you describe a web app in chat and it builds it with a built-in backend. builder77 is in the same category and shares that core idea. We're a newer company, and we've made a few deliberate choices that make us different. This post explains them as fairly as we can.
A note on accuracy: we can speak in detail about our own product. For base44, we only reference its public pricing and what's generally known about it. Products change quickly, so please check their site for the latest.
1. Mobile: PWA plus native Flutter
This is our biggest difference. On builder77 you can choose to build a mobile app specifically. It's designed as a phone app, installs as a PWA once it's published, and converts to a native Flutter project in one click (3 credits). The Flutter app uses the same cloud database as the web version.
On Plus plans and above you can even run a real server-side flutter build web inside the builder to see the native version before you download it. If getting into the App Store or Google Play is part of your plan, this is the main reason to choose builder77.
2. Websites and apps in one place
builder77 treats websites (landing pages, portfolios, restaurants, events) as a first-class kind of project alongside web apps, with SEO settings and forms that save to the database. If you need a marketing site and the app behind it, you can build both in one tool.
3. Pricing
Pricing is where the comparison is clearest, because both companies publish it. As listed publicly in October 2026:
- Free: builder77 30 welcome credits + 5 per month (try without sign-up) · base44 25 / 100.
- Starter: builder77 $12/mo ($10 yearly) for 60 / 2,000 · base44 $20/mo ($16 yearly) for 100 / 2,000.
- Plus (base44: Builder): builder77 $29/mo ($23 yearly) for 175 / 8,000 · base44 $50/mo ($40 yearly) for 250 / 10,000.
- Pro: builder77 $59/mo ($47 yearly) for 400 / 20,000 · base44 $100/mo ($80 yearly) for 500 / 20,000.
- Elite: builder77 $119/mo ($95 yearly) for 900 / 50,000 · base44 $200/mo ($160 yearly) for 1,200 / 50,000.
On builder77, database reads and writes, authentication and hosting don't use credits, and custom domains are included from Starter. Credit definitions differ between products, so the best comparison is to build the same small app on both and see how far your credits go.
4. Ownership and export
Every builder77 project has a full code editor, and you can export the web project as a ZIP and mobile apps as a Flutter project. The code is plain HTML, Tailwind and JavaScript, so it's readable and portable. We think your work should never be stuck on our platform.
5. Editing workflow
Both products are chat-first. On builder77 we've focused on tight iteration: click-to-select an element in the preview and describe the change, automatic error capture with Fix with AI, a Discuss mode for planning without changing code, and unlimited version history with preview and restore.
Where base44 may be the better fit
We'd rather you pick the right tool than the one we sell. base44 has been on the market longer, so you'll find more existing tutorials and community content for it. Its higher plans list features such as backend functions and GitHub integration; on builder77, GitHub sync and custom backend functions are on our public roadmap but not shipped yet. If those are must-haves today, factor that in.
How to decide
- Need a native mobile app or want to ship to the stores? Try builder77.
- Want the most credits per dollar at each tier? Compare the numbers above for your usage.
- Need features that are only on our roadmap today? Check base44, and vote for them on our roadmap.
- Not sure? Both have free plans. Build the same small app on each and compare the result.
Competition is good for builders. We'll keep shipping, keep our pricing public, and keep our roadmap open so you can hold us to it.
This post is the story behind our choices. For a side-by-side table of plans, credits and features, see the comparison page at builder77.com/compare/base44.