Build your first Base44 app in 5 steps. Describe your idea, customize, test, and publish your app, then tour the app editor’s AI chat, preview, and dashboard.
Base44 is an AI-powered website and app builder. You do not need any coding or tech skills. Just describe what you want to build, and Base44 brings your idea to life.
Getting started building your app on Base44
You can build something simple for yourself or create a full product for your business. Base44 takes care of everything behind the scenes, including design, databases, signups, user permissions, and hosting.
Start by going to Base44 and telling it what you want to build in your own words.When you begin, you’re asked to sign up. This makes sure your work is saved, so you can return to your app anytime.There are a few ways to start, depending on what you already have. Pick the one that fits, then follow the full walkthrough in Starting from your first prompt.
Use a prompt
Describe your app in plain language and let Base44 build it. See Using a prompt.
Use plan mode
Talk your app through with the AI first, then turn the plan into a build. See Using plan mode.
Once you share your idea, Base44’s AI handles the rest. It automatically designs your app’s appearance, choosing colors, arranging buttons, and organizing menus to make everything look clean and function smoothly. If you need special pages or features like a calendar, forms, or a task list, Base44 adds those right away so your app is ready to use.All the complex parts are also taken care of for you in the background. Base44 securely stores all your app’s data, manages account and login systems if you need them, and keeps the technology that powers your app running smoothly. You do not need to set up or manage anything yourself; Base44 handles every detail so you can focus on your ideas.
Base44 building a CRM app for a wedding planner
Watch your app appear in the preview window as Base44 works. You can explore your app right away and try out any features by clicking the preview.
Once your app is built, you can make it truly your own. The easiest way is with the AI chat. Just type what you want to change or add, and Base44 updates your app for you. For example, you can say “Change the main color to green,” or “Add a signup page that collects full name and company.”
If you want to brainstorm or ask questions first, use Discuss mode in the AI chat. Discuss mode lets you talk about your ideas without making changes until you are ready. This mode also uses less credits. Learn more about the different AI chat modes.
There are lots of ways you can change and improve your app to fit your needs. You can:
Change your app's functionality
Add new features or change how your app works. With the AI chat, you can:
Add buttons or forms for people to interact with
Create automated workflows, like sending a welcome email when someone signs up
Set up notifications, reminders, or automated messages
Ask the AI to add or update pages (for example, “Add a calendar page for events”)
Adjust the logic behind how your app responds to people or manages different tasks
Design your app
Customize the colors, layout, and style of your app just by chatting with the AI. You can:
Change the background color, text color, or font style
Rearrange sections, move buttons, or update images and icons
Apply changes globally or on just one page (for example, “Apply this new font to every screen,” or “Change only the login page background”)
You can also use Edit mode to manually make changes to specific elements of your app.
Manage the data it collects
Decide what information your app uses and collects.
Use the AI chat to build or change data flows (for example, “Add a field to the signup form for company name”).
Create or update forms to collect details from people, like signups, feedback, or orders.
From Data in your app’s dashboard, you can organize the data that your app collects, set rules for who can add, edit, or see information, and export your data to use elsewhere.
Control who can access your app and what they can do. From Settings in your app’s dashboard, you can:
Set permissions so only certain people or roles can see or edit information (like making some pages visible only to admins)
Decide if your app is public, invite-only, or restricted to specific people or workspace members
Set up secure login and registration, including social logins like Google
Add custom user roles and specify exactly what each role can do (for example, “Create a role called Event Organizer who can add and edit events, but not change app settings”)
Adjust privacy and security rules to keep sensitive data safe
You can review and update settings at any time to match your needs as your app grows.
Before you share your app, test how everything works from different perspectives.
Testing checklist
Interact with the preview like an end user. Click, fill out forms, and check every feature. Click the More actions icon in the top bar and select Act as a user to view the app as a specific person or role. Ask the AI chat to help you test key flows or edge cases, such as “Test as a guest” or “See what an admin can do.” Create test user profiles with different roles or permissions to review what each can access. Use an incognito or private browser window to see what a first-time visitor would experience. Check your app on both desktop and mobile to catch layout or navigation issues.
When you are ready to share your app, click Publish in the top bar. The publish panel opens on the Web tab, with a Mobile app tab beside it. After you publish, a window confirms your app is live. It shows your app’s address, ways to share it, and next steps such as connecting a custom domain.From the publish panel, you can:
Copy your app’s web address, or change the part before .base44.app.
Click Get domain to use your own address instead.
Click Share your app to invite people by email or share a link on social.
Set App visibility to choose who can open your app.
Check Security status, and run a security scan if it is out of date. It warns you about risks but doesn’t stop you from publishing.
The app editor is where you build: the AI chat on the left, your app’s preview on the right, and the controls for editing, your Dashboard, and publishing in the bar above them. Take the full tour to learn what each part does and where to find it.
Getting to know the app editor
A guided tour of the AI chat, preview, Edit mode, canvas, Dashboard, version history, and publishing.
Your first build uses a small, fixed amount, about 1 credit, no matter how detailed your prompt is or which AI model you choose. After that, each change you ask for costs credits based on how much work it involves and the model you use.Credits are used only when the AI builds or updates something for you, so previewing your app and clicking through it are always free. Learn more about credits and plans.
Will my app look good on mobile?
Yes. Base44 automatically adapts your app for mobile devices. Use the device menu in the top bar to switch to the mobile view, check how everything appears, and make sure your layout, buttons, and text are easy to use on any screen size.
Switching to the mobile view
If you want to make any changes to the mobile layout, simply ask the AI chat to do it for you.
Can I create a copy of my app?
Yes. You can clone your app at any time. This is useful if you want to test major changes without affecting your live app, or use an existing app as the starting point for a new project.To clone from your Apps page:
The cloned app opens automatically and includes the suffix (Copy).
How are Base44 applications deployed?
We take care of it automatically. Base44 comes with built-in hosting, so there is no deployment process. When your app is created, it is instantly live and shareable.
Can I export my app?
Yes. On a Builder plan or higher, you can download your app’s code as a ZIP file or sync it with a GitHub repository. Both options are in the More actions menu in the app editor. Learn more about exporting your code.
Can I get help or a consultation to review my Base44 app?
For self-serve guidance while you work, click your workspace name at the bottom left of your account and select Help & support to open our docs, or go to docs.base44.com.If you need more hands-on help, you have a few options to get expert help with your Base44 app.You can work with a Base44 Partner for tailored, one-on-one support on larger or ongoing projects. Partners can help you plan and build full apps, handle complex integrations, and provide long-term strategic guidance. Choose your partner →If you would like feedback from other people building with Base44, you can also join our Discord community. It is a great space to connect with others who can share advice, help, and tips from their own projects.
Can I unpublish my app?
Yes. You can unpublish your app at any time. When the app is unpublished, people cannot access it until you publish it again. All your data and settings are saved when you unpublish.To unpublish your app:
Click Dashboard in your app editor.
Click Settings in the left menu.
Scroll to Danger Zone. Next to Unpublish App, click Unpublish, then click Unpublish again to confirm.
Unpublishing an app from its settings
What browsers does Base44 support?
Base44 is built to work smoothly on all major modern browsers that support ES6+ JavaScript, CSS Grid, Flexbox, and modern DOM APIs. You can use Base44 with current and recent versions of the following browsers:
Google Chrome (version 51 and above for ES6, 57+ for CSS Grid, 29+ for Flexbox)
Mozilla Firefox (version 54 and above for ES6, 52+ for CSS Grid, 28+ for Flexbox)
Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) (full support since launch)
Safari (version 10.1+ for CSS Grid, 9+ for Flexbox, 10+ for ES6)
Opera (version 38+ for ES6, 44+ for CSS Grid, 12.1+ for Flexbox)
There is limited or no support for Internet Explorer 11 and earlier, and some older Android WebView or legacy browsers may not display content correctly.As a general guideline, you are covered if you use a modern, auto-updating browser. Internet Explorer 11 is outdated and not recommended for Base44.
Can I charge people to use my Base44 app?
Yes, you can charge people to use your app if you are on the Builder plan or higher. You can connect a payment provider, such as Stripe or another service that supports APIs, to accept payments from your app users. Use the Secrets tab to securely store your API keys.See how to set up payments for your app.
What is the Base44 platform badge?
It’s a small “Edit with Base44” label at the bottom right of your live app. Anyone who clicks it can copy your app into their own account. On the Starter plan and above, you can hide it. Learn how to show or hide the Base44 badge.
Need more help or inspiration?Explore Base44’s app templates to get ideas or start with a base for your app.
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