VibeKit vs Lovable
Both ship apps from a prompt. The difference is what you get after: a persistent AI agent for each app that remembers it, native iPhone apps as well as web apps, and control from the iOS app, the web, the CLI or MCP.
At a glance
| Feature | VibeKit | Lovable |
|---|---|---|
| Where the code lives | A GitHub repo per app: on your account for apps created after you connect GitHub, otherwise a private repo VibeKit keeps for you that you can copy out. Each deploy is a normal commit. | A Lovable project with two-way GitHub sync to a repo on your account, on every plan. |
| AI pricing | BYOK (your Anthropic or OpenAI account, no markup) or AI credits: $3/mo included on Starter, $20 on Builder, $25 on Pro. | Credits included in each plan (100/mo on the $25 Pro tier), plus 5 daily build credits. |
| Entry paid tier | Starter $9.99/mo, $3 AI credit, 3 workspaces, 1 always-on app, unlimited custom domains. | Pro $25/mo, 100 monthly credits, custom domains. |
| Next tiers up | Builder $24.99/mo, $20 AI credit, 5 workspaces, 2 always-on apps. Pro $49.99/mo, $25 AI credit, 10 workspaces, 3 always-on apps. | Business $50/mo, 100 monthly credits, adds SSO and design templates. |
| Persistent AI agent | One per app on an always-on gateway. Remembers decisions (MEMORY.md plus one ongoing session) and runs the schedules you set. | Per-project chat history, plus Knowledge instructions it reads on every prompt. |
| Build from | Web, iOS app, CLI, MCP, REST API. | Web, plus iOS and Android apps. |
| Native mobile apps | Yes. Native iPhone apps (Expo) built from your phone: open them in Expo Go, or ship to the App Store with your own Apple developer and Expo accounts. | No. Web apps only; installable as a PWA, and wrapping one for the App Store (Capacitor) is up to you. |
| Databases | Managed Postgres, included on every paid plan ($3/mo add-on on Free). | Built-in backend with managed Postgres, or connect your own Supabase. |
| Custom domains | Connect one or buy one in chat (unlimited on every paid plan). | Connect one or buy one inside Lovable (paid plans). |
Why the repo matters
Connect GitHub before you create an app and every VibeKit deploy pushes its code to a repo on your account as a normal git commit. (An app created before that keeps its code in a private repo in VibeKit's GitHub organization; Export to my GitHub copies it to your account, and the live app keeps deploying from the original.) Lovable's two-way Git sync gives you a repo too, so the code is portable with either. With VibeKit:
- You can edit in VS Code, Cursor, or any editor and push: a push to the default branch redeploys the app.
- You can invite teammates, open PRs, run CI, or fork it.
- If you ever leave VibeKit, your code is already where code is supposed to be.
Why BYOK matters
Bring your own key means your AI spend goes directly to Anthropic or OpenAI at their prices, through an API key or a Claude Pro/Max or ChatGPT Plus/Pro sign-in, with no VibeKit markup. Without your own key, AI runs on VibeKit credits billed at OpenRouter's price plus 20%: Starter includes $3 a month, Builder $20, Pro $25, and credits you buy never expire. Lovable instead includes a set number of credits with each plan and sells top-ups when they run out.
Lovable pricing verified 2026-10-29. Lovable Pro is $25/mo with 100 monthly credits, Business is $50/mo with 100 monthly credits plus SSO; plans with more credits cost more.
Why a persistent agent matters
A first build from one prompt is the easy part. What matters on day 30 is an agent that remembers why you chose that auth library and what it fixed last week, so you don't re-explain the codebase every time. VibeKit gives every app its own agent on an always-on gateway, with one ongoing session per app and a MEMORY.md file where it records decisions. Ask it for recurring work, like checking the site every morning, and it runs on that schedule and reports back.
When Lovable might fit better
If you build web apps at a desk and want a polished browser editor with a built-in backend and team workspaces, Lovable is simpler to get started with. VibeKit fits better when you want to build and run the app from your phone, native iPhone apps included, with an agent per app that remembers it, at the cost of a slightly more technical onboarding.
FAQ
What's the difference between VibeKit and Lovable?
Both build and host apps from a prompt. Lovable is a browser editor for web apps, with iOS and Android apps for building on the go. VibeKit gives every app its own persistent AI agent that remembers the project, builds native iPhone apps as well as web apps, lets you bring your own Anthropic or OpenAI key, and runs from the iOS app, the web, the CLI or MCP.
Do I own the code with VibeKit and with Lovable?
Yes, with both. Connect GitHub before you create an app and its code lives in a repo on your account, with every deploy pushed as a normal git commit. An app created before that keeps its code in a private repo in VibeKit's GitHub organization: Export to my GitHub gives you your own copy, and the live app keeps deploying from the original. Lovable syncs each project two ways with a repo on your GitHub account, on every plan. Either way you can clone it, fork it or open it in any IDE.
How does BYOK change my Lovable-vs-VibeKit cost?
Lovable includes a set number of credits with each plan (100 a month on the $25 Pro tier, plus 5 daily build credits); on monthly plans, unused plan credits roll over and expire two months after they are issued. VibeKit Starter includes $3 of AI credit a month, Builder $20 and Pro $25. Past that, bring your own Anthropic or OpenAI key and AI spend goes directly to the provider at their rates with no VibeKit markup, or buy credits that never expire.
When does Lovable make more sense?
If you build web apps at a desk and want a polished browser editor with a built-in backend and team workspaces, Lovable is simpler to start with. VibeKit fits better when you want to build and run the app from your phone, native iPhone apps included, with an agent per app that remembers it.
Can I migrate a Lovable project to VibeKit?
Yes. Sync the Lovable project to a GitHub repo, connect the same GitHub account in VibeKit, and deploy from that repo. From there you get the persistent agent, hosting at yourapp.vibekit.bot or your own domain, and control from iOS, web, CLI or MCP. Lovable's database is separate from the code, so move its data on its own.