Base44 is “Web App Builder”
RapidNative is “Mobile App Builder”

Both platforms use AI to turn plain English into working applications. The difference is what they build. Base44 creates web apps that run in browsers. RapidNative creates native mobile apps that run on iPhone and Android, ready for the App Store and Google Play.

Build a Mobile App Instead

Web Apps and Mobile Apps
Are Different Things.

This isn't a subtle distinction. It determines where your app lives and how users access it.

1What it builds

Base44

Web applications

RapidNative

Native mobile apps

2Where it runs

Base44

In a browser

RapidNative

On iPhone and Android

3App Store distribution

Base44

No (requires third-party wrappers)

RapidNative

Yes (native builds via Expo)

4Output

Base44

Web code (HTML/JS)

RapidNative

React Native code

5Preview method

Base44

Browser URL

RapidNative

Real device via Expo Go

* If your goal is an app in the App Store or Google Play, Base44 doesn't do that natively.

Base44 is Excellent for Web Applications.

Credit where it's due. Base44 is a strong platform for what it's designed to do:

All-in-one web development:

  • Built-in database (no external setup)
  • User authentication included
  • Hosting handled automatically
  • Analytics out of the box

AI-powered building:

  • Describe your app in plain English
  • Discussion Mode for brainstorming
  • Uses Claude Sonnet 4 and Gemini 2.5 Pro
  • Visual editor for refinements

Great for:

  • Internal business tools
  • Dashboards and admin panels
  • Back-office applications
  • Customer portals (web-based)
  • Quick prototypes and MVPs

Base44 was acquired by Wix in 2025, which suggests continued investment in the platform.

If you need a web app that users access through a browser, Base44 is a legitimate option.

But Base44 doesn't build mobile apps.

This is where the platforms diverge completely.

Base44's approach to mobile:

  1. 1
    Build a web app
  2. 2
    The web app is "responsive" (works in mobile browsers)
  3. 3
    Users can "Add to Home Screen" as a PWA
  4. 4
    For App Store, you need third-party wrappers

From Base44's own documentation:

"Base44 does not currently support direct uploads to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store."
"You can then use third-party tools such as Capacitor, PWABuilder, or Trusted Web Activities (TWA) to wrap your app's URL or exported code, making it possible to distribute your app on mobile app stores."

What this means in practice:

Your "mobile app" is actually your web app running inside a WebView. It's a browser window disguised as an app. Users can tell the difference.

The feature request boards tell the story:

"Native mobile export is the single most important missing feature that would turn Base44 from 'an excellent web app builder' into 'a complete AI-powered app development ecosystem.'"

WebView wrappers are not native apps.

When you wrap a web app for the App Store, you get:

Native

Full device access

WebView

Limited device features

Native

Native push notifications

WebView

Web notifications (limited)

Native

Offline functionality

WebView

Requires internet

Native

Native performance

WebView

Browser performance

Native

App feels "right"

WebView

App feels like a website

Native

True gesture support

WebView

Limited touch handling

Users notice the difference.

A wrapped web app feels sluggish. Scrolling isn't quite right. Transitions lag. It doesn't feel like a "real" app.

Apple notices too.

App Store reviewers can reject apps that are essentially just website wrappers. Apple's guidelines specifically call out apps that are "not useful, unique, or app-like."

RapidNative builds native mobile apps from the start.

RapidNative uses AI to generate React Native code. React Native compiles to truly native iOS and Android applications.

The same technology used by:

  • Discord
  • Shopify
  • Coinbase
  • Instagram
  • Bloomberg

What you get:

  • Real native apps (not WebViews)
  • Direct App Store and Google Play submission
  • Native performance and gestures
  • Full device feature access
  • Push notifications that work properly
  • Offline capability
  • Real React Native code you can export

How the platforms compare.

1AI Input

Base44

Plain English

RapidNative

Plain English

2Output Type

Base44

Web app

RapidNative

Native mobile app

3App Store Ready

Base44

No (needs wrappers)

RapidNative

Yes (via Expo)

4Preview

Base44

Browser

RapidNative

Real device (Expo Go)

5Code Export

Base44

Yes (Builder plan)

RapidNative

Yes

6Built-in Database

Base44

Yes

RapidNative

No (bring your own)

7Built-in Auth

Base44

Yes

RapidNative

No (integrate services)

8Built-in Hosting

Base44

Yes

RapidNative

No (deploy to app stores)

9Offline Support

Base44

Limited

RapidNative

Native capability

10Push Notifications

Base44

Web push only

RapidNative

Native push

11Performance

Base44

Browser-based

RapidNative

Native performance

12Best For

Base44

Web apps, internal tools

RapidNative

Mobile apps, App Store apps

Full-stack is coming to RapidNative.

Base44 handles backend today. RapidNative is building the same—designed specifically for mobile apps.

Base44 has now:

  • Database (built-in)
  • User authentication
  • File storage
  • Hosting
  • Analytics

RapidNative has now:

  • Mobile app UI and logic
  • React Native code
  • Preview via Expo Go
  • Build for app stores

RapidNative is building:

  • Built-in database
  • User authentication
  • File storage
  • Push notifications
  • Analytics

* Today, RapidNative requires connecting external services for backend. Soon, it won't. And you'll still have the option to bring your own if you prefer.

What happens when you want to leave?

Base44:

  • Code export available on Builder plan (GitHub/ZIP)
  • But: database is tied to Base44's platform
  • Migration path for data is unclear
"Portability questions... it's unclear how you'd migrate the database if you later move off the platform."

RapidNative:

  • Export complete React Native + Expo project
  • Standard, industry-standard code
  • Any React Native developer can work with it
  • Connect any backend you choose
  • No proprietary formats

* If long-term flexibility matters, RapidNative's approach is more portable.

What each platform costs.

Free tier

Base44

Available

RapidNative

5 daily credits

Entry paid plan

Base44

~$20-50/month

RapidNative

$20/month (Starter)

Mid-tier plan

Base44

Varies by plan

RapidNative

$49/month (Pro)

Enterprise

Base44

Custom

RapidNative

Custom

Credit system

Base44

Yes (refills monthly)

RapidNative

Yes (refills monthly)

Out of credits

Base44

Blocks changes (apps still work)

RapidNative

Blocks changes (apps still work)

* Both use credit systems. Plan based on how much iteration you expect.

How building actually works on each platform.

Base44 Workflow:

  1. 1
    Describe your web app
  2. 2
    AI generates pages, database schema, UI
  3. 3
    Refine with visual editor or more prompts
  4. 4
    App is instantly live at a URL
  5. 5
    Share the link

RapidNative Workflow:

  1. 1
    Describe your mobile app
  2. 2
    AI generates React Native screens and navigation
  3. 3
    Preview on your actual phone via Expo Go
  4. 4
    Iterate with more prompts
  5. 5
    Export code
  6. 6
    Build for iOS/Android via Expo
  7. 7
    Submit to App Store / Google Play

* The key difference: RapidNative's preview happens on a real device. You see exactly how your app feels in your hand before publishing.

What users say about Base44

Base44 is praised for web apps and speed. The gap is mobile. Users repeatedly request native app support because they hit the wall when they need App Store distribution.

Base44 users appreciate:

"All-in-one is definitely a good selling point."
"Fastest Aha! moment I have ever had."
"One of the best AI Coders out there."

Base44 users want:

"Native mobile export is the single most important missing feature."
"This completely breaks the promise of end-to-end AI app creation."

The pattern:

Base44 is praised for web apps and speed. The gap is mobile. Users repeatedly request native app support because they hit the wall when they need App Store distribution.

Quick Summary

What does it build?

Base44

Web apps

RapidNative

Native mobile apps

App Store ready?

Base44

No (needs wrappers)

RapidNative

Yes

Output

Base44

Web code

RapidNative

React Native code

Built-in backend?

Base44

Yes

RapidNative

No (bring your own)

Best for

Base44

Internal tools, dashboards

RapidNative

Consumer mobile apps

Code export

Base44

Yes

RapidNative

Yes

Vendor lock-in risk

Base44

Higher (database)

RapidNative

Lower (standard code)

* Base44 = Web apps. RapidNative = Mobile apps. Choose accordingly.

Common Questions

Not directly. Base44 builds web apps. You can use third-party services to wrap the web app for the App Store, but it's a WebView, not a native app.

Building a mobile app? Start with a mobile tool.

Base44 is great at what it does. But if you're building for app stores, you need a platform designed for mobile from the ground up. RapidNative generates native React Native code. Preview on your real device. Export your code. Deploy to the App Store and Google Play.

147,000+ prompts received. Native mobile apps, not web wrappers.

Start Building Your Mobile App