Free alternative to Lovable
Home › Guides · Last checked 2026-10-28 · Facts verified from each project's docs unless marked tested
The closest free alternative to Lovable is Dyad, a free, open-source AI app builder that runs as a desktop app on macOS, Windows and Linux. You describe an app in a chat and it builds a full-stack web app as code you keep on your disk. You pick the model: your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Google key, or free local models through Ollama or LM Studio. There's no sign-up, no credit balance and no project limit. The catch: you supply the model and the hosting (it deploys through GitHub and Vercel), and its Pro modes for large codebases cost $20/mo.
| Lovable | Dyad | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free; Pro $25/mo billed monthly (Lovable pricing page) | Free; Pro $20/mo is optional (dyad.sh) |
| Usage limits | Free: 5 build credits a day, up to 30 a month; Pro: 100 credits a month | None set by the app; your model's speed or API bill is the limit |
| Models | Lovable's choice | Your pick: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google or local models via Ollama and LM Studio |
| Hosting | Built in, lovable.app domains; custom domains on Pro | Deploy to GitHub and Vercel, or your own cloud |
| Where it runs | Lovable's cloud | Desktop app on macOS, Windows and Linux |
| Sign-up | Account required | None for the free app |
| License | Commercial service | Apache 2.0, except src/pro (Functional Source License 1.1) |
Build your first app in 5 steps
- Download Dyad for your system from dyad.sh. No account is needed.
- Choose a model: paste an API key for a provider you already use, or install Ollama or LM Studio and download a local model.
- Describe the app you want in the chat box, for example a recipe planner or a small CRM.
- Check the preview, ask for changes in plain English and open the code in VS Code whenever you want.
- Connect Supabase or Neon if the app needs a database and sign-in, then deploy through GitHub and Vercel.
The catches
- You supply the model: app-building prompts are long and code-heavy; small local models often stumble, and strong cloud models cost money per use.
- You handle hosting: there's no built-in lovable.app-style hosting; you deploy through GitHub and Vercel or your own cloud.
- Pro features are paid: the modes built for large codebases and the bundled AI credits need Dyad Pro.
- Desktop app: it runs on your computer, so you can't build from a phone or a borrowed browser.
When Lovable is still worth paying for
If you want to type a prompt in a browser and get a hosted app with a custom domain and no model setup, Lovable Pro does that. Dyad wins when you want to own the code on your disk, choose your own model and build without a credit balance running down.
Sources: Dyad README (license section), Dyad releases (v1.21.0, October 26, 2026), dyad.sh (features, pricing and FAQ), Lovable pricing page (all checked 2026-10-28). We have no affiliate link with either. See all free coding assistants or read the free Bolt.new alternative.
FAQ
How much does Lovable cost?
Lovable's pricing page (checked 2026-10-28, monthly view) lists Free at $0 with a daily grant of 5 build credits (up to 30 a month) and 20 Cloud credits a month. Pro is $25 a month with 100 monthly credits, custom domains and badge removal. Business is $50 a month, and Enterprise is volume-based. The yearly view shows 2 months free. Credits aren't refundable, and unused monthly credits expire two months after they're issued.
Is Dyad really free?
Yes. Its site says Dyad is free to use with your own API keys, you can build as many apps as you want and you can use any AI model, including local ones. Dyad Pro is $20 a month for 200 AI credits and Pro modes for large codebases, and Dyad Max is $79 a month for 900 credits. Your cost on the free plan is whatever your cloud model provider bills, or nothing with a local model.
Is Dyad open source?
Mostly. Its README says all code outside the src/pro folder is licensed under Apache 2.0, and the code in src/pro is fair-source under the Functional Source License 1.1 (Apache 2.0 future license).
What can I build with it?
Full-stack web apps with sign-in, databases and backend code, per Dyad's FAQ, plus experimental mobile apps through Capacitor. It can't build desktop apps. Its site says you can connect Supabase or Neon in one click for the database and auth.
Which systems does it run on?
Dyad's site has downloads for macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows and Linux (.deb, .rpm and AppImage). The latest GitHub release when we checked was v1.21.0, published October 26, 2026, with installers for each.
How do I put my app online?
Dyad's site lists deployment to GitHub and Vercel, or your own cloud, and says you can export the code or edit it in VS Code. Lovable hosts apps for you on lovable.app domains and adds custom domains on Pro.