Building your first version with AI tools: websites and mobile apps

Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Lovable and RNBlocks compared for a first version, what each costs, and where hosting fits in.

Updated November 6, 2026

Short answer: for a web app, an AI coding agent like Claude Code or Codex in a real code project gives you the most control. App builders like Lovable get you to a working screen fastest. For iPhone and Android apps, RNBlocks builds React Native apps from a description, or you can use Claude Code or Codex with React Native or Swift. Whatever you pick, build only the one thing your research said people need most.

For websites and web apps

Tool	What it is	Pros	Cons	Cost
Claude Code	An AI coding agent that works in your project and terminal	Handles large changes across many files; you own normal code	You need to be comfortable reviewing code	Included with Claude Pro, $20 a month ($17 yearly)
Codex	OpenAI’s coding agent, in ChatGPT and your terminal	Included with most ChatGPT plans; runs tasks in the background	Same as above: you review what it writes	Included with ChatGPT plans, Plus is $20 a month
Cursor	A code editor with AI built in	Familiar editor; quick edits and suggestions	More hands-on than an agent	Free plan; paid from $8 a month
Lovable	An app builder: describe it, get a working web app	Fastest to a clickable product, no setup	Credit limits; complex logic can get harder to steer	Free plan with daily build credits; paid plans add more
Bolt	An AI website and app builder	Build and host a web app from a prompt, with database options	Token allowances and hosting capacity depend on the plan	Free; Pro $25/month
Replit	An online development environment with an AI agent	Build, run and deploy from the same workspace	Check agent usage and deployment costs for your project	See current plans and usage pricing

For iPhone and Android apps

Tool	What it is	Pros	Cons	Cost
RNBlocks	An AI mobile app studio for iOS and Android (React Native)	Build from a prompt or sketch, templates, connect Supabase, help preparing the store release, download the source	Complex features can still need a developer	200 free credits to start; Pro $15 a month, Studio $29 a month
Draftbit	An app builder with AI agents and visual editing	Build mobile and web apps, with code export and store publishing on paid plans	AI usage, editor seats and build allowances depend on your setup	Free; Standard $12/month billed yearly
FlutterFlow Studio	A visual development environment for Flutter apps	Visual layouts, templates and a shared subscription with FlutterFlow’s AI builder	Check which workflow and plan include the export and deployment features you need	Free; Basic $39/month
Claude Code or Codex with React Native and Expo	An agent writing a cross-platform app in your own project	One codebase for both stores; full control	You handle builds and store setup	Your Claude or ChatGPT plan
Claude Code or Codex with Swift	A native iPhone app	Best fit for iPhone-only apps	iPhone only; needs a Mac and Xcode	Your plan, plus the $99 a year Apple developer account

For a mobile first version, start with RNBlocks and describe the main task your app should handle. Try the generated app on your phone, then use the publishing guide when you are ready to prepare a release.

For a closer look at the mobile options, read RNBlocks’ AI mobile app builder comparison and React Native and Expo builder guide. They cover project technology, source access and publishing workflows.

Hosting

For web apps, Vercel is the common choice for Next.js. Note that its free Hobby plan is for personal, non-commercial use, so plan on Pro ($20 a month) once you charge customers. Netlify, Render and Cloudflare are alternatives with their own free tiers.

How I’d work with an AI agent

Write down the one job the first version does, and what “done” looks like, before the first prompt.
Ask for small changes and try each one in the browser or on your phone before the next.
Keep the project in Git, so a bad change is one step to undo.
Keep keys and passwords out of the code and out of the chat.
Put a feedback button in early, so testers tell you what broke while you still remember the change.

Questions

Do I need to know how to code?

For app builders, no. For agents like Claude Code and Codex, it helps a lot to read code and understand what changed, especially around sign-in and payments.

Will I have to rewrite everything later?

Not if you start in a normal code project with a standard framework. The risk is higher with builders that make exporting or customizing hard, so check how you get your code out.

Can I build a mobile app and a website from one project?

React Native with Expo can target web too, but most teams keep a separate website for marketing and use the app for the product.

The full setup guideEvery step, in order, in a few days.Finding your first usersResearch first, ads later.Feedback from day oneLearn what to build from the people using it.

Sources

Prices and limits were checked on each provider’s own page in November 2026. They change, so confirm before you commit.