v0 vs Lovable: building an app with AI
Lovable is the better pick for a founder without a developer: you describe the app in plain language, it builds the interface and code, adds a database and login through its backend integration, and hosts the result. v0 suits developers and designers who want a real React and Next.js codebase: it works from a prompt or a screenshot, lets you edit the generated code directly and deploys to Vercel in one click. Both connect to GitHub and Supabase, and neither charges to start. Build the same small screen in each before you commit a project.
Which one to pick
You or someone on the team reads React, you want to start from a screenshot or design, and you plan to keep extending the code and deploy on Vercel.
You are a founder or non-developer testing an idea, and you want login, a database, payments through Stripe and hosting without touching code.
Side by side
Questions
Do I need to code to use v0 or Lovable?
Lovable is built for people who do not code: you describe the app and refine it by describing changes. v0 also works from prompts, but it shines when you can read and edit the React and Next.js code it generates. Non-developers can ship with either for simple apps. As the app grows, some coding knowledge helps more with v0.
Do I own the code?
With v0, the code is yours to keep and extend, and you can deploy it to Vercel or move it elsewhere. Lovable also connects to GitHub, so your project's code can live in your own repository. Check each plan's terms before you build a business on it. Keeping a copy in GitHub from day one makes any later move easier.
Which one handles the backend?
Lovable adds a database and login through its backend integration with Supabase, and connects to Stripe for payments. v0 integrates with Supabase too, but its focus is the front end and the Next.js app itself. If you want a working product with accounts and data fast, Lovable gets there with fewer steps. If you have your own backend, v0 fits around it.
Are v0 and Lovable free?
A first version costs nothing on either. Paid plans raise how much you can generate and add more features. We do not quote paid prices here, so check each pricing page. A free plan is enough to test whether the idea is worth building further.
Can I start in one and move to the other?
Yes, through GitHub, which both connect to. Push your code there and open it in the other tool or in your own editor. Expect some rework, because each builder sets up its project its own way. For a serious product, many teams start in a builder and continue in a normal code editor.