How We Evaluated Each Platform
Quick Comparison
| Platform | Best For | AI-Powered | Business Ops | Support | Data Portable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AgentUI | Business operations | Yes | Excellent | Human | Yes |
| Base44 | Fast prototyping | Yes | Limited | AI only | Partial |
| Bubble | Complex custom apps | No | DIY | No | Partial |
| Bolt | Developer projects | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Lovable | Design-focused MVPs | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Retool | Internal tools | No | Good | No | Yes |
| Glide | Simple mobile apps | No | Basic | No | Partial |
AgentUI
TOP PICKPurpose-Built for Business Operations
AgentUI is an AI-powered no-code platform specifically designed for businesses that have outgrown spreadsheets. Unlike general-purpose app builders, AgentUI ships with 100+ pre-built blueprints for real-world business operations - inventory management, sales pipelines, CRM, logistics, invoicing, and more. It is the only platform on this list with real human support—not just AI chatbots.
Key Features
- 100+ ready-to-use business blueprints (inventory, CRM, sales, logistics, HR)
- AI-assisted app creation with natural language - describe what you need and get a working app
- Human support - real people when you need help, not chatbots
- Role-based access control, multi-location support, and team collaboration built in
- Data portability - export your data at any time with no lock-in
- Used by 5,000+ companies across 15 countries
Best For
Businesses that need to digitize operations quickly - especially if you manage inventory, sales teams, customer relationships, or logistics. Ideal for businesses that need real human support when they run into issues.
Consider This
AgentUI is focused on business operations, so if you need to build a consumer-facing social media app or a game, a more general-purpose builder may be a better fit.
Base44
AI-Powered Rapid Prototyping (Acquired by Wix)
Base44 became a household name after airing its Super Bowl ad in February 2026. Founded in 2024 and acquired by Wix in June 2025, Base44 lets you describe an app in plain English and generates a full-stack web application - frontend, backend, database, and authentication - in minutes. It is genuinely impressive for speed of initial generation.
Key Features
- Natural language to full-stack app in minutes - one of the fastest prototype generators available
- All-in-one generation: frontend, backend, database, and auth created together
- Built-in integrations with Gmail, Google Calendar, Stripe, and Slack
- Low learning curve - prompt-driven interface accessible to non-technical users
Best For
Solo makers and startup founders who want to rapidly prototype and validate ideas. Good for MVPs that you need to test quickly.
Consider This
The Wix acquisition creates long-term uncertainty around product direction and pricing. Code export is available but migrating live data and databases off the platform is not straightforward. Poor support, no human support—mostly AI chatbots. The platform is optimized for building generic apps, not running business operations.
Bubble
The Most Powerful Visual No-Code Builder
Bubble has been a pillar of the no-code movement since 2012 and remains one of the most capable visual builders in 2026. It uses a drag-and-drop editor with a visual programming approach that can handle complex logic, custom databases, API integrations, and responsive design. Bubble has the richest plugin ecosystem of any no-code platform.
Key Features
- Full visual programming environment with conditional logic, loops, and API workflows
- Massive plugin marketplace with thousands of community-built extensions
- Self-hostable with Bubble's dedicated hosting or via Docker deployment
- Robust user authentication, role management, and database management
Best For
Teams building complex, custom web applications who want full control over logic and design without writing code. Good for SaaS products, marketplaces, and internal tools with custom requirements.
Consider This
Steep learning curve - Bubble is not a "describe and build" tool. Expect weeks to become proficient. Performance can be an issue at scale, and costs grow significantly with usage. Not ideal for quick prototyping or non-technical users.
Bolt (by StackBlitz)
AI Code Generation for Developers
Bolt is an AI-powered development environment built on StackBlitz's WebContainers technology. It generates full-stack applications from prompts, but unlike other tools on this list, Bolt generates actual source code (React, Next.js, Node.js) that you can edit, deploy, and fully own. It runs entirely in the browser with no setup required.
Key Features
- Generates real, production-quality source code - not proprietary platform code
- Full browser-based IDE with terminal, package manager, and live preview
- Supports React, Next.js, Vite, Astro, and other modern frameworks
- One-click deploy to Netlify, Vercel, or download the full project
Best For
Developers and technical founders who want AI assistance in writing code but still want full ownership and control of the output. Great for starting projects that will eventually need custom engineering.
Consider This
Bolt is a developer tool - if you cannot read or modify code, you will hit walls quickly. The generated code sometimes needs manual fixes. Not suitable for non-technical business users who need operational tools without engineering support.
Lovable
AI Full-Stack Builder with Design Focus
Lovable (formerly GPT Engineer) is an AI-powered full-stack builder that emphasizes design quality. It generates clean, responsive web applications from natural language descriptions and has a particular strength in producing visually polished UIs. Lovable integrates with Supabase for backend services and supports GitHub sync for version control.
Key Features
- Design-first AI generation produces visually polished, responsive interfaces
- Supabase integration for database, authentication, and real-time features
- GitHub sync for version control and collaborative development
- Visual editor for post-generation refinement without touching code
Best For
Startups and indie hackers who care about design quality and want to ship beautiful-looking products quickly. Good for landing pages, SaaS MVPs, and portfolio projects.
Consider This
Still a relatively young platform - the ecosystem and community are smaller than established competitors. Backend complexity is limited by the Supabase integration model. Business operations features (multi-user roles, inventory, logistics) are not part of the platform's focus.
Retool
The Internal Tools Specialist
Retool is a low-code platform specifically designed for building internal business tools. It connects directly to databases, APIs, and third-party services, then lets you build admin panels, dashboards, and CRUD applications using a drag-and-drop interface. Retool has been trusted by large enterprises since 2017.
Key Features
- Direct connections to PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, REST APIs, GraphQL, and 50+ data sources
- Pre-built UI components: tables, forms, charts, maps, and wizards
- Granular permissions and audit logging for enterprise compliance
- Self-hosted option for organizations with strict data residency requirements
Best For
Engineering teams and technical operations managers who need to build internal tools (admin panels, dashboards, approval workflows) that sit on top of existing databases and APIs.
Consider This
Retool requires some technical knowledge - you need to understand SQL queries, API endpoints, and data modeling. It is not designed for customer-facing applications. Pricing can get expensive for large teams, and the learning curve is steeper than AI-first builders.
Glide
Mobile-First Apps from Spreadsheets
Glide turns spreadsheets (Google Sheets or Excel) into mobile and web apps without any code. If your business already runs on spreadsheets, Glide provides a fast path to creating simple apps for field teams, inventory checks, customer directories, and data collection. It is one of the simplest tools on this list to get started with.
Key Features
- Connects directly to Google Sheets or Excel - your spreadsheet is your database
- Mobile-native design - apps look and feel like native mobile apps
- Template gallery for common use cases (inventory, CRM, directories, event management)
- Computed columns and basic logic without formulas or code
Best For
Small businesses and teams who already rely on spreadsheets and want to create simple mobile apps for field workers, data collection, or basic CRM without any technical overhead.
Consider This
Glide apps are limited in complexity - if you outgrow what a spreadsheet can handle, you will outgrow Glide. Customization options are constrained compared to Bubble or Retool. Performance degrades with large data sets, and the free tier is quite limited.
How to Choose the Right AI App Builder
The right platform depends on what you are actually building and who will be using it. Here are the key criteria to consider:
Business Operations vs. Prototyping
If you need to run real business operations - inventory, sales, CRM, logistics, team management - choose a platform built for that purpose. General-purpose builders like Base44 or Bolt are great for prototyping ideas, but they lack the pre-built workflows, role management, and operational depth that a platform like AgentUI provides out of the box. Building those features from scratch in a generic builder takes weeks and introduces maintenance overhead.
Data Portability and Platform Independence
Can you export your data and leave if the platform changes its pricing, gets acquired, or shuts down? This is not a hypothetical concern - Base44 was acquired by Wix in 2025, and users of many SaaS tools have been affected by acquisitions and pivots. Look for platforms that let you export your data in standard formats at any time. Avoid platforms where your business data is locked into a proprietary format.
Support Quality
When you run into issues, do you get real human help or just chatbots? Most AI app builders offer poor support that is mostly AI-generated. Base44 is no exception—no human support means many users end up hiring outside help to get unstuck. AgentUI is the only platform on this list with real human support from people who understand your business.
Technical Skill Required
Be honest about your team's technical capacity. Bubble and Retool require meaningful technical knowledge. Bolt is a developer tool. Base44 and Lovable are easier to start with but may require technical help for customization. AgentUI and Glide are designed for non-technical users from the ground up, though AgentUI handles significantly more complex business logic.
Long-Term Viability
Consider who owns the platform, how they make money, and whether the product direction aligns with your needs in 12-24 months. Independent, focused companies tend to serve their users better over time than products that are features inside a larger company's ecosystem. Check the platform's track record, funding, customer base, and public roadmap before committing your business operations to it.
Our Recommendation
Ready to Build What Your Business Actually Needs?
Skip the generic prototyping tools. Start with a platform designed for real business operations.
- 100+ business blueprints ready to customize
- Human support - real people, not chatbots
- No credit card required to start
- Data export available at any time - no lock-in