Vibe coding turns conversation into working software. You describe the app you want, and the AI platform writes the code and stitches in authentication. You can test your idea in just minutes and go from concept to working prototype within a day.
That’s where things get interesting, though. Some tools stop at clickable prototypes, while others push all the way to production with real hosting and payment processing.
We’ll compare five of the most talked-about platforms, focusing on what matters most: generation quality, deployment paths, and whether you actually own the result when it’s time to go live.
How we picked the winners
We identified five key criteria that distinguish production-ready platforms from prototypes that stall before launch:
- AI integration: Tools must offer real generative capabilities, not just marketing claims. You should be able to describe a screen in plain language and watch the platform scaffold it automatically, like asking for Google login and watching it appear, working, in one prompt.
- Deployment options: Platforms must support real production deployment for web apps, native mobile, or both, not just localhost previews, to build applications people can actually use.
- Iteration efficiency: Fast learning curves, instant previews, and minimal technical overhead mean you can fix bugs and add features based on real user feedback without reopening tickets with developers.
- Ownership and scalability: Production-ready platforms provide code export options or extensibility paths so prototypes can evolve as they gain users without rebuilding from scratch.
- Community and ecosystem: Reliable documentation, active support forums, and real examples of people making money (not just GitHub stars) prove the platform works under production pressure.
1. Anything
Your first paying customer doesn’t care how the app was built. They just care that login works, payments process, and nothing breaks. Anything handles all three automatically, plus deployment to web and app stores, so you can focus on the business instead of debugging at 2 a.m.
Describe what you need, and the platform spins up a full-stack app with authentication, payments, and databases already wired together. You tweak the product by typing new instructions, then watch the interface, database, and backend update in real time. .
Under the hood, the platform combines frontier language models with its own reasoning layer, so it can debug itself, refactor large codebases, and even scrape API docs when you ask for an integration. It’s powered by the same Postgres/Neon infrastructure large companies use for production apps.
Anything key features:
- Natural-language prompts that generate complete features, like “connect Stripe payments” and “create a user dashboard”
- Full-stack infrastructure (frontend, database, backend) with automatic syncing
- Built-in infrastructure for auth, file storage, and Stripe payments
- One-click deployment to web or mobile with automatic hosting and App Store or Google Play publishing
- Optional code export for full codebase ownership
- Autonomous AI (Anything Max) that tests your app in a real browser, finds bugs, and fixes them while you sleep
- 50+ built-in integrations including GPT-4, Claude, Stripe, and Google services
- Multi-platform responsive design with native mobile features
- Real-time collaboration for team-based development
- Custom branding and white-label options for agencies
Anything pros:
- Move straight from prototype to production in days, not months, without DevOps expertise
- Autonomous agent handles scaling and error fixing for 100k+ lines of code
- Complete end-to-end solution from idea to App Store
- Built-in payment processing via Stripe so you can charge customers on day one
Anything cons:
- Complex features sometimes need follow-up prompts to refine details
- Vague requests like “make it better” work less well than specific instructions like “add a dark mode toggle to the settings page”
Anything pricing:
Anything offers several tiers:
- Free: $0/mo with 3k credits for chat, generate, publish, and AI integrations
- Pro 20k: $16/mo or annual plan with 20k credits/mo, includes private projects, custom domains, and branding removal
- Pro 50k: $40/mo or annual plan with 55k credits/mo when billed yearly
- Max: $160/mo or annual plan with 220k credits/mo when billed yearly, includes priority support and access to autonomous software engineer
- Teams: Custom pricing available for enterprise needs
Verdict: You can build an app that accepts payments and deploys to production this week, not next quarter. While other platforms stop at prototypes or require separate setup for hosting, auth, and payments, Anything offers the shortest path from concept to launch with built-in infrastructure that eliminates traditional bottlenecks.
2. Bolt
Bolt combines AI-assisted code generation with developer oversight, allowing users to create React and Next.js components from natural-language prompts. You describe a feature, such as a dashboard, form, or navigation bar, and Bolt generates frontend code that can be modified, reviewed, and deployed through GitHub and Vercel for full code control and transparency.
Bolt key features:
- Natural-language generation of React and Next.js components
- Figma-to-code translation for frontend builds
- Direct GitHub integration for version control and collaboration
- One-click deployment to Vercel for live web hosting
- Tailwind CSS for consistent styling
- Workspace collaboration with shared project management
Bolt pros:
- Generates editable code compatible with modern React workflows
- Integrates with existing deployment pipelines
- Reduces setup time for frontend features
- Provides transparency through GitHub synchronization
Bolt cons:
- Handles frontend development well, but you’ll need to configure your own backend, database, authentication, and payment processing separately
- Requires familiarity with React/Next.js to extend generated code
- Focused on web apps, so native apps will require separate implementation
Bolt pricing:
Bolt offers several plans:
- Free: $0/month with 300K daily token limit and public hosting
- Pro: $25/month with 10M+ tokens, custom domains, and no branding
- Teams: $30/user/month with shared billing and private registries
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for advanced support and compliance needs
Verdict: Choose Bolt if you’re a developer or technical team that wants AI assistance while retaining control of your code. Users without technical experience may find the learning curve steeper than visual or full-stack platforms.
3. Glide
Glide converts data tables into web applications that can also function on mobile devices. Users connect their spreadsheet and watch the platform convert data rows into working apps with forms, lists, and user permissions.
Glide key features:
- Spreadsheet-driven app development
- Visual editor for layout customization
- Role-based permissions system
- Progressive Web App (PWA) publishing
- Real-time data synchronization
Glide pros:
- Fast setup for data-driven apps
- No coding required for complete functionality
- Changes to spreadsheets appear instantly in the app
- Familiar interface for non-technical teams
Glide cons:
- No export for source code, so you can’t move your app to another platform or host it yourself
- Limited customization compared to code-first platforms
- One-way data flow restricts complex operations
Glide pricing:
Choose one of the three plans:
- Free: $0/month with unlimited drafts, 10 users, up to 25k rows, and 40+ components
- Business: Starting at $199/month (billed annually) with unlimited apps, 30 users, advanced features like Workflows and API access
- Enterprise: Custom pricing with unlimited apps, SSO, data backups, and priority support
Verdict: Use Glide when structured data matters more than pixel-perfect UI or when you need to quickly transform spreadsheets into functional dashboards, directories, or admin panels, especially if your team already works in Google Sheets or Excel.
4. Thunkable
Thunkable replaces spreadsheets with drag-and-drop blocks that function like a digital LEGO set for app building. You assemble components on the canvas, snap visual logic blocks together for functionality, and test changes instantly on your device before publishing to the web or app stores.
Thunkable key features:
- Drag-and-drop components and visual interface
- Block-based programming logic
- Live testing app for real-time device preview
- Native exports for App Store and Google Play
- Sensor and hardware access capabilities
Thunkable pros:
- Visually intuitive for beginners and educators
- Native access to device cameras, GPS, and sensors
- Direct export to app stores without coding
- Good for teaching computational thinking
Thunkable cons:
- Large block networks become difficult to manage as projects grow
- No code export for manual refactoring
- Complexity increases exponentially with app size
Thunkable pricing:
Thunkable offers monthly and annual billing options across severaltiers:
- Free: $0/month with 2,000 AI tokens, 3 public projects, and 5 screens per project
- Accelerator: $18/month or $216/year with 20,000 AI tokens, 5 public projects, 1 private project, and 10 screens per project
- Builder: $37/month or $449/year with 50,000 AI tokens, unlimited public projects, 10 private projects, 1 published iOS and Android app, and chat support
- Advanced: $99/month or $1,199/year with 100,000 AI tokens, unlimited projects and published apps, in-app payments, ads, and priority support
- Education: Custom plans available for students, teachers, and institutions
Verdict: Choose Thunkable for simple apps you’re building to learn or teach with. Thunkable’s visual block model saves days of development time and works well for educational projects, small utility apps, or prototypes that don’t need complex backend logic.
5. Adalo
Adalo provides a visual interface for building mobile applications through drag-and-drop components. You can add screens, connect buttons to in-app purchases, and populate lists from a built-in database without writing code. The platform is used mostly by individuals and small teams creating web and mobile apps such as community platforms, membership sites, and micro-SaaS tools.
Adalo key features:
- Drag-and-drop interface for screen design
- Built-in relational database
- Component marketplace with pre-built modules
- Native Stripe integration for payments
- Multi-platform publishing (iOS, Android, responsive web)
Adalo pros:
- Turns ideas into pixel-perfect screens quickly
- Integrated database keeps everything in sync
- Built-in payment processing ready for revenue
- Complete user flows without external services
Adalo cons:
- Performance issues with data-heavy screens
- No source code export for portability, so you can’t self host or move to another platform
- Complex backend migrations require workarounds
Adalo pricing:
Pick one of these tiers:
- Free: $0/month with 200 records per app, unlimited app actions, one app editor, and unlimited test apps
- Starter: $45/month with one published app, custom fonts, custom domain, and publishing to web and app stores
- Professional: $65/month with two published apps, five app editors, custom integrations, design versions, and geolocation features
- Team: $200/month with five published apps, ten app editors, priority support, Xano integration, and collections API access
- Business: $250/month with ten published apps, unlimited app editors, and access to all Team features plus special add-on pricing
Verdict: Choose Adalo for a fast path from concept to monetized app when you’re a small team building SaaS or community products that need to launch quickly. The visual builder and built-in payments help you launch fast, but plan for eventual migration if you outgrow the 200-record free tier quickly.
Turn prototypes into production apps with Anything
These platforms flip the old build cycle on its head: you describe the product, and the platform writes the code. That’s why tools like Bolt, Glide, Thunkable, and Adalo can make that jump from idea to working prototype quicker than ever, using AI or visual flows to strip away the boilerplate work.
Most builders hit the wall at the same place: the prototype works, but connecting payments requires Stripe configuration, launching requires separate hosting setup, and deployment means wrestling with certificates and build processes.
Anything closes these gaps automatically. One prompt generates your complete app with Stripe payments already working, hosting already configured, and deployment ready to launch. No external services, no manual configuration, no 2 a.m. authentication debugging.
Start building with Anything and see how your app can go from concept to accepting real payments in days, not months.
