To use Lovable, create a free account with email, Google, GitHub or Apple, start a project and describe the app you want in the chat. Lovable builds the frontend, backend and database. Use Plan mode to agree the approach first, test in the preview, ask for changes one at a time, then publish.
Lovable lets you build web apps in plain English. Its docs say you describe what you want and it generates a working app with a frontend, backend, database, authentication and integrations, and that you keep ownership of the code. You can start free, and Lovable says a first app can be built and published in about ten minutes. The part people struggle with is credits, so I've covered that in detail.
Step 1: Understand the four building blocks
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Account | Your login, used across every workspace you belong to |
| Workspace | Where projects, members, billing and a shared pool of credits live |
| Project | One app, with its chat, preview, code and version history |
| Chats | Conversations outside a project for thinking through ideas; they send work to a project when it needs building |
This matters because credits belong to the workspace, not to you. If you invite a colleague, they draw from the same pool, so set limits before you share access.
Step 2: Plan before you build
Lovable has two main ways of working in a project. Build mode makes changes. Plan mode lets you talk through the approach first, and Lovable's pricing FAQ says a Plan mode message costs 1 credit. For a new app, start in Plan mode and describe:
- Who the app is for and the one job it must do.
- The pages or screens you need.
- What data it stores, if any.
- Anything you don't want yet, such as payments.
Copy this prompt
I run a small catering business. Plan a simple web app where customers can browse three set menus, pick a date and guest numbers, and send an enquiry. I want an admin page where I can see enquiries. No payments yet. Ask me any questions before you plan.
Read the plan, correct anything wrong, then switch to Build mode and let it build.
Step 3: Build, test and change one thing at a time
Once Lovable has built the first version, click through it in the preview as a customer would. Then ask for small, specific changes. Lovable's pricing page shows how cost tracks with the size of the job:
| Example prompt | Credits |
|---|---|
| Make the button gray | 0.50 |
| Remove the footer | 0.90 |
| Add authentication with sign up and login | 1.20 |
| Build me a landing page, use images | 1.70 |
You can check what any message cost by hovering over the three dots next to it in the message history. Small, clear requests are cheaper and easier to undo than one huge request.
Step 4: Publish your app
When it works, publish it. Lovable's FAQ says that for most smaller or new apps, publishing, viewing and keeping the app running doesn't cost anything, because it's covered by an included Cloud grant. Apps with significant traffic or size may start to use credits from your balance.
Who Lovable suits
Lovable's own docs list a wide range of users, and the examples are useful for spotting what's realistic. Marketers build landing pages, campaign sites and dashboards. Operations, sales, finance and HR teams replace spreadsheets and per-seat software with their own apps. Founders launch products and reach their first customers. Agencies deliver client projects where owning and moving the code matters. If your idea fits one of those, you're on well-trodden ground.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
How credits work on the free plan
As of October 2026, Lovable's docs list these free plan grants. They're usage-specific, so each one only covers one kind of use:
| Free plan grant | Amount | Refreshes |
|---|---|---|
| Daily build credits | 5 a day, up to 30 a month | Every day at 00:00 UTC |
| Daily chat allowance | Included | Every day at 00:00 UTC |
| Cloud grant for hosting | 20 credits a month | 1st of each month |
| AI grant for AI features in your app | 4 credits a month | 1st of each month |
Unused grants don't roll over. Lovable also notes that the Cloud, AI and connector grants are a temporary offering and subject to change. On paid plans, monthly credits expire two months after they're issued, and credits aren't refundable. Plans are priced by credits, not seats, so you can invite as many members as you like.
Keep spending under control
Credits come from two places. Usage-specific grants, like the daily build credits, are always used first. After that, Lovable spends your general credits, starting with the ones closest to expiry. Top-up credits on Pro and Business last 12 months from purchase. Workspace owners and admins can cap how many credits a member, a project or the whole workspace can use, and get an alert when usage crosses a threshold. If you ever want to cancel, go to Workspace settings, then Plans and credit usage, select Manage on your plan card and choose Downgrade to free. Your plan stays active until the end of the billing period.
My verdict
Lovable is a quick way to turn a business idea into something people can click on. Plan first, build in small steps and keep an eye on your daily build credits, because five a day goes faster than you'd expect on a big first request. For ideas to try, see my Lovable prompts, and if you're choosing between builders, my Lovable vs Bolt comparison and guide to whether Lovable is free will help.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lovable free?
Yes. Lovable's free plan includes 5 daily build credits, up to 30 a month, plus monthly grants for hosting and AI features, as of October 2026.
How much does a Lovable message cost?
It depends on the task. Plan mode messages cost 1 credit, and Lovable's examples range from 0.50 credits to change a button colour to 1.70 to build a landing page with images.
Do Lovable credits roll over?
Usage-specific grants such as daily build credits don't roll over. Monthly plan credits on paid plans expire two months after they're issued.
Do I own the code Lovable writes?
Lovable says you keep full ownership of your code and can work with it through GitHub, GitLab or Bitbucket.
Does Lovable charge per user?
No. Workspaces support unlimited members on all plans, and plans are priced by the credits they include, not by seats.
