Choosing the Right AI Builder for Your Project
Base44, Lovable, v0, Cursor — when to use what. A practical guide based on 40+ shipped projects.
After building 40+ projects across different AI tools, I've developed a framework for choosing the right tool for each job. Here's my honest breakdown.
Base44: My Daily Driver
Best for: Full-stack apps, client projects, anything that needs to be production-ready.
Base44 excels when you need a complete, deployable app. It handles the full stack — database, API, frontend — and generates clean, maintainable code. When a client is paying me to ship something they'll use for years, Base44 is my first choice.
Limitations: Can be overkill for simple landing pages or one-off tools.
v0: UI First
Best for: Component design, UI prototyping, frontend-focused work.
v0 is incredible for generating React components. When I need a complex UI element — a data table, a multi-step form, a dashboard layout — v0 gets me 80% there in seconds.
I use v0 to generate components, then integrate them into my Base44 projects.
Limitations: Doesn't handle backend or database concerns.
Cursor: The Power User Tool
Best for: Complex codebases, refactoring, working with existing projects.
Cursor shines when you're working in an existing codebase. Its context-aware suggestions are remarkably good at understanding your project's patterns and conventions.
I reach for Cursor when I'm maintaining a larger project or doing significant refactoring.
Limitations: Steeper learning curve, less structured than purpose-built app builders.
Lovable: Quick MVPs
Best for: Rapid prototyping, idea validation, simple CRUD apps.
Lovable is great when speed matters more than polish. I use it for building quick proofs-of-concept or internal tools where I just need something working fast.
Limitations: The output sometimes needs cleanup for production use.
My Workflow
Typical project: Start in Base44 for the core app. Jump to v0 for complex UI components. Use Cursor for refinements and debugging. The tools complement each other.
The key insight: don't try to force one tool to do everything. Use each tool where it's strongest.