Lovable vs. Replit vs. Bubble: Which AI-Powered No-Code Builder Fits Your Workflow?

When comparing AI-powered development tools, it's crucial to understand its unique approaches.

Replit focuses on code-first workflows with AI assistance. Bubble offers no-code visual building with a hosted backend. Lovable combines these approaches, turning descriptions into full-stack applications that you can edit visually or with code.

TL;DR

Replit requires coding expertise and manual backend setup. Bubble provides drag-and-drop simplicity but limits code access and export. Lovable generates React and Supabase projects you own and can edit visually or in code, bridging both approaches without technical barriers.

Key differences:

• Build: Replit requires coding knowledge. Bubble uses visual templates. Lovable creates full-stack applications from descriptions or designs that anyone can edit.
• Edit: Lovable's Visual Edits don't consume credits. Replit needs code expertise. Bubble uses drag-and-drop but limits customization.
• Backend: Replit requires manual setup. Bubble uses proprietary hosting. Lovable auto-provisions Supabase with industry standards.
• Collaboration: Lovable supports real-time collaboration across designers and developers. Replit focuses on developer teamwork. Bubble offers basic app sharing.
• Ownership: Lovable syncs to GitHub with portable React and Supabase code. Replit allows code export but requires technical expertise. Bubble limits migration options with platform lock-in.

Lovable vs. Replit vs. Bubble at a Glance

Feature Comparison

Here's how Lovable, Replit, and Bubble compare across different features:

Workflow Approaches

Each platform takes a fundamentally different approach to building full-stack applications.

Replit is code-first. Here's what that means for your portal project:

• Developers write code assisted by AI agents that generate complete features
• You'll need coding literacy to review, debug, and maintain what gets created
• It's familiar territory for anyone comfortable with traditional development workflows
• Manual backend configuration slows initial setup but offers maximum flexibility

Bubble is visual-first. Your workflow looks like:

• Non-technical users build with drag-and-drop interfaces and configure workflows visually
• You're working with concepts like "workflows" and "data types" rather than functions and databases
• Everything runs on its proprietary hosting platform with built-in business logic tools
• Limited code customization compared to other platforms restricts advanced functionality

Lovable is conversational-first. You start by describing your portal:

• Describe what you need or import a design, and it creates a full-stack application
• Teams can start visually, then switch to full code when needed without losing work
• Chat Mode handles planning and iteration with multi-step reasoning
• Agent Mode provides autonomous development with independent debugging capabilities

Lovable removes the binary between coding and no-code: teams can start visually, then switch to full code when needed.

Building Experience

The day-to-day experience of building varies dramatically across platforms.

Lovable offers dual-mode creation that adapts to your team's needs:

• Make Visual Edits that don't consume credits for layout and styling changes
• Jump into code mode when you need specific functionality or React component customization
• Chat with AI to plan features before building them, reducing trial-and-error cycles
• Real-time collaboration lets designers and developers work simultaneously on the same project

This flexibility means your designer can perfect the portal's user interface while your developer adds custom integrations.

Replit provides pure code editing with AI Agent assistance:

• You're still writing code, just with an AI pair programmer that suggests completions and debugs errors
• AI can generate entire features, but you need to understand what gets created
• Traditional development workflow with modern AI acceleration tools
• Full control over code structure and architecture decisions

Bubble centers on drag-and-drop building through visual interfaces:

• Design interfaces visually and set up database relationships with point-and-click
• Create business logic through workflow builders without writing code
• Limited code customization compared to the other platforms
• Built-in hosting and backend services simplify deployment but restrict flexibility

Backend and Infrastructure

Your portal needs a database, user logins, and somewhere to live. Here's what that setup looks like:

Replit expects you to manage backend setup manually. This approach offers:

• Full flexibility to use Replit's built-in database or connect external services
• Complete control over architecture and scaling decisions
• Requires technical knowledge for production configuration
• Manual security implementation and performance optimization

Bubble includes everything in its hosted platform:

• Database, user authentication, file storage, and business logic all run on Bubble's infrastructure
• Simple to use but dependent on the platform's specific implementations and pricing structure
• Limited visibility into underlying infrastructure or security implementation
• Automatic scaling handled by the platform but with less control over costs

Lovable auto-provisions a Supabase backend when you need one:

• Database, authentication, and storage set up automatically using industry-standard tools
• Built on open standards you can export and modify if your needs change
• Production-ready security and scaling capabilities included from day one
• GitHub integration means your backend code stays in version control

Lovable offers Replit's backend flexibility without the setup and Bubble's simplicity without the lock-in.

Shipping and Security

You've built your portal. Now you need it live and secure for your client:

Replit offers deployment with basic monitoring:

• Publish full-stack applications quickly to Replit's cloud infrastructure
• Production readiness requires manual security reviews and performance optimization
• Full control over deployment and scaling
• Basic monitoring tools included but advanced analytics require additional setup

Bubble provides one-click deployment to its hosting platform:

• Full-stack applications go live instantly with automatic scaling and maintenance
• Limited visibility into underlying infrastructure or security implementation
• Built-in analytics and user management, but locked to its ecosystem
• Automatic security updates but less control over specific security configurations

Lovable includes role permissions, SSO, and GitHub integration:

• Full-stack applications deployed with standard security practices built in
• Business plans include data opt-out controls for sensitive use cases
• Continuous GitHub sync keeps your code under version control
• Enterprise-grade security features are available, but require users to manually configure them for full protection

Collaboration and Team Workflow

Your designer has feedback, your developer found a bug, and your client wants changes. Here's how each platform handles team edits.

Replit enables real-time collaboration for developers:

• Multiplayer editing and shared workspaces SSO and advanced permissions require its enterprise tier
• The 4-user collaboration limit constrains larger teams working on complex projects
• Git integration available but requires manual management

Bubble allows app-sharing and collaborative editing:

• Multiple team members can work on the same app simultaneously
• Basic version control compared to development tools with manual conflict resolution
• App sharing capabilities for client review and stakeholder feedback
• Limited role-based permissions compared to enterprise platforms

Lovable supports real-time collaboration with roles, permissions, and SSO:

• Cross-functional teams work in the same workspace
• GitHub integration means version history and code reviews work like standard development workflows
• Role-based permissions and SSO across all plans
• Designers can make Visual Edits while developers work in code mode simultaneously

Scaling and Ownership

What happens after you've built your full-stack application determines long-term viability.

Replit creates exportable code that you fully own:

• Full-stack applications can be moved to any hosting platform and scaled using standard development practices
• Complete control over code modification and team expansion decisions
• However, you're responsible for managing that transition and ongoing maintenance
• No vendor lock-in, but requires technical expertise for production scaling

Bubble keeps full-stack applications on its proprietary hosting platform:

• Applications can handle significant traffic with automatic scaling and maintenance
• Tied to Bubble's infrastructure and pricing with limited migration options
• Limited code export makes migration difficult
• Built-in analytics and user management, but locked to Bubble's ecosystem

Lovable generates React and Supabase full-stack applications that sync to GitHub continuously:

• Deploy the same code anywhere React applications run with standard cloud services
• Scale using industry-standard frameworks and modify the codebase with any development team
• Open standards ensure no vendor lock-in and full code ownership from day one
• GitHub integration preserves all development history and enables standard workflows

Business Situation Breakdown

Different business situations call for different approaches.

How Much Do Lovable, Replit, and Bubble Cost?

Pricing varies significantly.

Lovable offers flexible pricing with increasingly powerful features:

• Free: 5 daily credits (up to 30/month) for public projects
• Pro ($25/month): 100 monthly credits, private projects, team collaboration
• Business ($50/month): SSO and data privacy controls
• Enterprise: Custom solutions and dedicated support
• Students: Up to 50% off Pro plans with verification

Replit offers tiered pricing with varying capabilities:

• Free Starter: For personal projects with limited build time and public apps only
• Core ($20/month): $25 monthly credits with full AI Agent access and hosting
• Teams ($35/user/month): $40 monthly credits with centralized billing and private deployments
• Enterprise: Custom pricing with dedicated support and advanced security controls

Bubble offers tiered plans based on project stage and needs:

• Free ($0/month): Development version with 50K workload units, 1 editor, and basic features
• Starter ($59/month): Live website, custom domain, recurring workflows, and 175K workload units
• Growth ($209/month): Team collaboration with 2 editors, premium version control, and 250K workload units
• Team ($549/month): Scaling solution with 5 editors, sub apps, and 500K workload units
• Enterprise: Custom workload units with dedicated support and advanced security features

Budget for at least 20% above base pricing on any platform to account for growth and usage fluctuations.

The Bottom Line

Replit accelerates code creation, Bubble simplifies no-code app design, and Lovable unifies both worlds, giving you the best of each approach without the compromises.

With Lovable, you can start from a conversation or design mockup and end with a full-stack application that's ready for production. Your designer builds the interface while your developer refines the backend, all in one workspace. No handoffs, no bottlenecks, no settling for templates when you need something uniquely yours.

Describe it. See it. Ship it.

Disclaimer: The information in this article reflects the features and pricing of the tools discussed as of October 2025. Because AI website and app builders evolve rapidly, some details may have changed since this post was last updated. We recommend checking each tool's official website for the most current information.