What is the best AI app builder for iOS and Android?

Decide this first. Many internal tools don't need an app store.

• Home-screen web app (PWA): people open a link and add it to their home screen, and it launches full screen. Lovable describes this route; updates reach users without store review, and no developer accounts are needed.
• Store app: needed if customers will search the App Store or Google Play, or you need native device features. Lovable's docs list camera, push notifications and biometrics as reasons to wrap an app for the stores.

Base44's docs say a store scan runs on any plan, but “to download the files for app submission you must be on the Builder plan or higher”. It generates IPA (iOS) and AAB (Android) files that you upload in your own Apple and Google developer accounts, and push notifications can be added when you generate them.

The app is “a lightweight native wrapper around your web app” that runs your published Base44 app in a secure web view, so most content and design changes appear without a new store version. Base44 support doesn't handle store review for you.

Our arithmetic on the upgrade: Builder at $40 against Starter at $16, billed annually, is $24 a month more. Start on Base44.

Choose the “Mobile app” type and Replit's Agent builds a phone-first app with Expo. You preview it in the iOS Simulator or Android Emulator, then on your own phone with Expo Go. The Publishing tab's “Start publishing to the App Store” flow creates, signs and uploads a build to App Store Connect, then you release to TestFlight or submit for review. Replit's docs say Apple enrolment usually takes about a day.

Two gaps: we found no Google Play guide in Replit's docs, and Replit doesn't name a plan for store publishing. The free Starter plan can build mobile apps, but its one published app goes down after 30 days and the iOS flow starts by publishing the app's backend, so we budget Core ($20, or $18 billed annually). That is our assumption. Start on Replit.

Say “mobile app” in your first prompt: Bolt's docs say web projects don't easily switch to mobile later. Bolt builds with Expo and targets TestFlight and the App Store, and Google Play beta and the Play Store, through Expo's EAS command-line tools. You need a computer with Node.js and Git, plus paid Apple and Google developer accounts. Bolt's Expo docs don't name a required Bolt plan; we budget Pro ($18 billed annually) as our assumption. Start on Bolt.new.

Lovable's docs say it builds web apps and has no built-in flow to submit to the App Store or Google Play; it can make your app installable from the home screen. Details in Can Lovable build mobile apps? v0 builds mobile-responsive apps and describes no store publishing; its own iOS app is for building, not for publishing yours.

Bubble, a no-code platform that isn't in our tracker and that we haven't rated yet, also publishes native apps (built on React Native) to the App Store and Google Play. Building and testing is free; publishing needs a paid Mobile or Web & Mobile plan, from Mobile Starter at $49 a month, or $42 billed annually. See Lovable vs Bubble. We don't cover other mobile-only builders.

Which AI app builder can publish to the App Store?

Of the builders we track, Base44, Replit and Bolt.new describe it in their docs. Base44 generates the store files on Builder or higher, Replit uploads builds to App Store Connect from its Publishing tab, and Bolt.new uses Expo's build tools. Lovable and v0 build web apps.

What is the best AI app builder for Android?

For non-coders, Base44: it generates the Android AAB file from its editor on the Builder plan, and we rate it 5/5 for ease. Bolt.new also publishes to Google Play through Expo, with more technical steps. Replit's docs describe App Store publishing; we found no Google Play guide.

How much does it cost to publish an app to the App Store and Google Play?

Apple's Developer Program costs US$99 per membership year, and Google Play charges a US$25 one-time registration fee. With Base44 Builder billed annually ($480), year one comes to $604. Apple renews yearly; Google is paid once.

Do I need a developer account to publish an AI-built app?

Yes. You need an Apple developer account before you can upload anything, even to share a build privately with testers, and a Google Play developer account for Android. A home-screen web app needs neither.

Does Google Play require testers before launch?

For personal developer accounts created after November 13, 2023, yes: you must run a closed test with at least 12 testers opted in for at least 14 days before applying for production access. Budget the time.

Is a home-screen web app good enough for an internal tool?

Often, yes. Staff open a link, add it to their home screen and get updates without store review. Choose a store app if customers will search the stores for it, or if you need native features; Lovable's docs give camera, push notifications and biometrics as reasons to wrap an app.

• Base44 docs, uploading to app stores: https://docs.base44.com/documentation/building-your-app/uploading-to-app-stores. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
• Base44 docs, mobile experience: https://docs.base44.com/Building-your-app/Mobile-experience. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
• Base44 pricing: https://base44.com/pricing. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
• Replit docs, mobile apps: https://docs.replit.com/build/mobile-app. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
• Replit docs, publish to iOS: https://docs.replit.com/build/mobile-publish-ios. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
• Replit docs, Apple account: https://docs.replit.com/build/mobile-apple-account. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
• Replit pricing: https://replit.com/pricing. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
• Bolt help, Expo: https://support.bolt.new/integrations/expo. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
• Bolt.new pricing: https://bolt.new/pricing. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
• Lovable docs, publish: https://docs.lovable.dev/features/publish. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
• v0 FAQs: https://v0.app/docs/faqs. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
• Apple Developer Program: https://developer.apple.com/programs/. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
• Google Play registration fee: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/6112435. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
• Google Play testing requirements: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/14151465. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
• Bubble pricing: https://bubble.io/pricing. Checked Oct 17, 2026.

Prices in USD. First-year totals are our arithmetic; ease ratings and categories are from our tracker. Spotted a change? Tell us.

Reviews: Base44, Replit, Bolt.new, Lovable, v0.

Guides: Can Lovable build mobile apps?, Replit alternatives, Best for non-coders, Lovable vs Bubble.

Comparisons: Base44 vs Replit, Base44 vs Bolt.new, Bolt.new vs Replit.

All tools side by side: the tool tracker.