Base44 Free vs Starter: What You Actually Get When You Upgrade

A side-by-side comparison of the free plan and the first paid plan, and the four signs it is time to switch

Last updated Oct 2026 | By DoitWithAi

Quick answer

Starter is the right upgrade once you build something you plan to use. It costs $16/month billed annually or $20 monthly and gives 100 message credits (vs 25), 2,000 integration credits (vs 100), unlimited apps (vs 5), private apps, in-app code edits and your own domain. The Free plan is enough to test an idea; it is not built to run a business tool.

Most people start Base44 on the Free plan, and most who keep building end up on Starter. The question is when. This page compares the two plans feature by feature, based on Base44's pricing page and documentation as of October 2026.

Base44 Free vs Starter at a glance

	Free	Starter
Price	$0	$16/mo annual, $20 monthly
Message credits	25 per month (max 5 per day)	100 per month, no daily cap
Integration credits	100 per month	2,000 per month
Number of apps	Up to 5	Unlimited
App visibility	Public apps only	Private apps available
Custom domain	No	Yes
Free domain for 1 year	No	Yes, on yearly billing
In-app code edits	No	Yes
Core features (AI builder, database, auth, analytics)	Yes	Yes

When the Free plan is enough

You are testing whether describing an app in plain English works for you.
You are building a small personal tool, like a habit tracker or reading list.
You want a prototype to show a client or co-founder before spending money.
Your app is fine being public and living on a Base44 address.

4 signs it is time to upgrade to Starter

You hit the daily cap. Five message credits a day stops a real build after one session.
Your app needs to be private. Free workspaces can only build public apps.
You want your own domain. Connecting a domain needs Starter or above, and yearly Starter includes a domain free for a year.
Your app starts doing real work. 100 integration credits covers testing; a live app sending emails or calling AI needs Starter's 2,000.

What the upgrade costs in practice

Starter is $20 billed monthly or $192 a year billed annually (the $16/month rate). Base44 lets you cancel any time with access until the end of the period, though services are non-refundable, so monthly is the safer first step. Students and academic staff get 50% off, and other real discounts are listed in our Base44 promo code guide.

The useful comparison is not $16 versus $0. It is $16 versus the tools Starter can replace: a typical solo business pays around $100 a month for scheduling, CRM, invoicing, forms and email tools.

Upgrade When You Are Ready

What Starter does not include

Starter is not the top of the range. GitHub integration and larger credit allowances sit on higher plans, and if you iterate on an app every day, Builder's 250 message credits may suit you better. Our Base44 pricing guide compares every tier, and Base44 credits explained shows how fast credits really go.

The honest verdict

Stay on Free while you are deciding. Move to Starter the day you hit one of the four signs above, ideally on monthly billing first. For most solo owners building one or two tools, Starter is the only plan they will ever need.

Start Base44 Free

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Base44 Free and Starter?

Starter gives 100 message credits a month instead of 25 (with no daily cap), 2,000 integration credits instead of 100, unlimited apps instead of 5, private apps, in-app code edits and custom domains.

How much is Base44 Starter?

Starter costs $16 per month billed annually ($192 a year) or $20 per month billed monthly.

Can I make a private app on the Base44 free plan?

No. Free workspaces can only build public apps. Private apps need a paid plan such as Starter.

Can I use a custom domain on Base44 Free?

No. Connecting your own domain requires Starter or higher, and yearly plans include a free domain for one year.

Is Base44 Starter worth it?

It is worth it once you build something you plan to use regularly or publish to real users. For testing an idea, the Free plan is enough.

Can I downgrade from Starter to Free?

Yes. Base44 lets you downgrade or cancel at any time, with the change taking effect at the end of your current billing period.

More Base44 guides

Start free, upgrade on your terms.

Build your first version on the Free plan. If you hit the limits, Starter is $16/month billed annually or $20 month to month.

Create a Free Base44 Account

Affiliate disclosure: DoitWithAi earns a commission when you upgrade to a paid plan. See /disclosures for details.