A Lovable Alternative That Runs in Your Own Cloud
Compare NEXUS AI and Lovable on AI app building, pricing, backends, hosting in your own cloud, MCP permissions, and moving a Lovable app over.
Building in chat on both
Both build apps from conversation with a live preview. Lovable's latest template is TanStack Start; older React and Vite projects can upgrade. Its built-in Cloud backend provides a database, authentication, storage, edge functions, and scheduled jobs. NEXUS AI generates Next.js apps, adding Prisma when the app stores data, and works as an agent with supported Claude, GPT, Gemini, or Grok models or your own API key. It includes click-to-edit, design references, a code editor, file uploads, and shareable snapshots.
Where the finished app runs
Lovable manages app hosting and a built-in Cloud backend based on Supabase's open-source foundation. A Cloud project's region cannot be changed after it is enabled. Exporting code and moving backend data are separate tasks; review its portability instructions before migrating. NEXUS AI deploys standard containers on its managed platform or into your own cloud account (Google Cloud on Starter; AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure on Pro). Own-cloud resources are billed by your cloud provider separately from the platform subscription.
Serverless functions vs long-running services
Lovable Cloud runs backend code as edge functions and scheduled jobs. NEXUS AI runs always-on containers with background workers, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, or Redis, persistent volumes, and S3-compatible buckets with scoped per-bucket credentials in the same deployment. Databases are backed up on demand or on a schedule, downloadable through a signed URL, and can be restored into a different Postgres service.
Pricing: credits vs a plan
Lovable Pro starts at $25 a month for 100 general credits; Business starts at $50 for 100 credits and additional workspace controls. General credits can cover build, chat, Cloud, and deployed-app AI usage after usage-specific grants. Free currently includes 5 daily build credits, up to 30 a month, and monthly Cloud and AI grants; those grants can change. NEXUS AI Starter is $29 with 5M managed tokens and 3 team members; Pro is $149 with 20M and 10. Daily AI request limits also apply. Own cloud and own AI-key usage are billed separately.
Agent access you can scope
Lovable's MCP server lets an agent create projects, chat with Lovable, read files, query the database, and deploy. Its docs note that a connected client can list, read, and edit every project you have access to. NEXUS AI exposes 74 MCP tools for building, deploying, logs, scaling, databases, backups, storage, secrets, and domains, each gated by one of 25 OAuth scopes, so you can let an agent deploy and read logs without letting it delete anything.
When Lovable is the better fit
Lovable fits teams that want a conversational building workflow, unlimited collaborators on its plans, and a managed Cloud backend with built-in authentication and email. Its latest template uses TanStack Start. Compare that workflow with NEXUS AI when you need deployment into your own cloud account, long-lived services, or a different database engine.
How it works
- Connect your Lovable project to GitHub using its two-way sync.
- Import the repository into the NEXUS AI App Builder, or deploy it directly.
- Keep your Supabase project, or move the data into NEXUS AI Postgres.
- Deploy to your own cloud account and operate it from the dashboard, CLI, API, or MCP.
NEXUS AI and Lovable plans
| Tier | NEXUS AI | Lovable |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0: 1 deployment and 500K AI tokens a month, for testing and development | $0: 5 build credits a day (up to 30 a month) and 20 Cloud credits a month |
| Entry | Starter, $29/month: 5M AI tokens, 2 active deployments, 3 team members, custom domain | Pro, $25/month: 100 credits, custom domains, unlimited users |
| Team | Pro, $149/month: 20M AI tokens, 5 deployments, up to 10 concurrent containers, 10 team members, AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure | Business, $50/month: 100 credits, SSO, role-based access, internal publishing |
| Enterprise | Custom: your cloud account or on-premises, SSO | Custom platform fee: SCIM, audit logs, custom SLA |
| Hosting | Managed hosting within plan limits; own cloud resources billed separately | Cloud usage grants, then general credits |
Move a Lovable app to NEXUS AI
| Step | Command |
|---|---|
| Connect the project to GitHub from the Lovable editor (two-way sync), then clone it | git clone https://github.com/you/app |
| Keep building in chat: on the AI Builder start page, choose Import an existing repository | AI Builder → Import an existing repository |
| Or deploy it straight from the repository | nexus deploy source --repo https://github.com/you/app --name my-app --provider docker --env-file .env --environment PRODUCTION --wait |
| If the app uses Supabase Auth or the Supabase client, keep a Supabase project and set its URL and public key (use the variable names your app reads) | nexus deploy redeploy my-app --env-file .env --yes |
| To move the data into NEXUS AI Postgres instead, dump it from your Supabase project and restore it | pg_dump "<Supabase connection string>" -Fc -f lovable.dump |
| Upload and restore the dump into the deployment's database | nexus db backup-upload <service-id> ./lovable.dump |
NEXUS AI vs Lovable
| Capability | NEXUS AI | Lovable |
|---|---|---|
| Chat to a full-stack app with live preview | Yes | Yes |
| Generated stack | Next.js, with Prisma when the app stores data | TanStack Start; older React and Vite projects can upgrade |
| AI models | Claude, GPT, Gemini, or Grok, or your own API key | Lovable's built-in agent |
| Pricing | Flat plans with an AI token budget: $0, $29, $149 | Credits: $0, or $25 to $50 for 100 monthly credits |
| Team members | 3 on Starter, 10 on Pro | Unlimited on every plan |
| Where the app runs | NEXUS AI or your own AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure account | lovable.app hosting on Lovable Cloud |
| Backend | Always-on containers and background workers | Edge functions and scheduled jobs |
| Databases | PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, and Redis | Postgres through Lovable Cloud or your own Supabase |
| File storage | S3-compatible buckets with per-bucket credentials | Lovable Cloud storage |
| Moving off the platform | Standard containers and GitHub push | GitHub sync for code; export and migrate backend data separately |
| MCP server for AI agents | 74 tools, each gated by an OAuth scope | Project, chat, file, database, and deploy tools with full account access |
| Enterprise controls | Your cloud account or on-premises, SSO | SSO on Business; SCIM and audit logs on Enterprise |
Research sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Lovable alternative for production apps?
Look for an AI builder that also runs the finished app where you need it. NEXUS AI builds apps in chat like Lovable, then deploys them as containers on NEXUS AI or into your own AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure account, with always-on services, a choice of databases, backups, and scoped access for AI agents.
Can I move an app I built in Lovable to NEXUS AI?
Yes. Connect the project to GitHub from Lovable, then import the repository into the NEXUS AI App Builder or deploy it with nexus deploy source. Lovable apps usually call Supabase directly for authentication and data, so keep a Supabase project and set its URL and public key, or move the data into NEXUS AI Postgres and replace those Supabase calls.
Is NEXUS AI cheaper than Lovable?
Compare your expected building and hosting usage. Lovable Pro starts at $25 a month for 100 general credits, with usage-specific grants; credit consumption depends on the task and deployed app. NEXUS AI Starter is $29 with 5M managed tokens and Pro is $149 with 20M, with daily request caps and managed hosting limits. Your own AI key and resources in your own cloud account are billed separately by those providers.
Can I run a Lovable-style app in my own AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure account?
With NEXUS AI, yes. Apps built in the NEXUS AI App Builder, or imported from GitHub, deploy into your own cloud account: Google Cloud on the Starter plan and AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure on Pro. NEXUS AI Enterprise can also run on-premises.
Does Lovable have an MCP server?
Yes. Lovable's MCP server lets agents create projects, chat with Lovable, read files, query the database, and deploy, with access to every project your account can reach. NEXUS AI's MCP server has 74 tools, each gated by an OAuth scope, so access can be narrowed to what an agent needs.
Does NEXUS AI have an AI builder like Lovable?
Yes. The NEXUS AI App Builder builds and edits apps from chat as an agent, shows a live preview, supports click-to-edit and design images, includes a code editor with undo and syntax checks, and publishes shareable snapshots before deployment.
About NEXUS AI
NEXUS AI is an agentic AI app builder and full-stack deployment platform. Explore the AI App Builder, learn more on the About page, read the documentation, or contact the team through nexusai.run/contact.
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