Builder.ai Review 2026: Costs, Features, and Alternatives 🤖

You want to build an app but aren't sure if Builder.ai is the right choice for your budget and needs. Understanding the true costs, features, and limitations before committing is essential.

Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play. Builder.ai operates as an AI-assisted agency service where you submit requirements and their team builds your app for you, typically at higher price points and longer timelines.

What matters most is app success—launching your MVP as fast as possible and reaching the biggest audience you can. That means publishing not just a web app, but native iOS and Android apps to the app stores, where you gain access to massive built-in audiences and critical features like push notifications. The comparison below breaks down how each platform stacks up on cost, speed to launch, and your ability to iterate independently.

Builder.ai is an app-building agency that uses AI tools to help you design and create nearly any app you can imagine.

This app offers a la carte customization and two years of support with their plans, however, the pricing model is not for the faint of heart. That's why we'll share a more affordable alternative that doesn't require coding skills.

The Builder.ai review will cover the following:

• How Builder.ai lets you draw up your app's blueprint

• Builder.ai's pros, and cons

• Intended audience 

• Adalo, a robust and cost-effective Builder.ai alternative

Let's begin reviewing Builder.ai by examining the platform itself.

Adalo: The Builder.ai Alternative That Does More

Don't want to spend a pile of cash on an app agency to create your app for you? Then, build it yourself using Adalo.

Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms. AI-assisted building and streamlined publishing enable launch to the Apple App Store and Google Play in days rather than months. Adalo is a no-code app-building platform that doesn't require any programming or coding skills. Sign up and use the intuitive drag-and-drop interface to start crafting your app.

While it's simple, Adalo doesn't miss one beat regarding power. You'll have near-pixel-perfect design freedom, allowing you to change your app's color scheme and structure with your mouse and cursor. Add on loads of third-party integrations like Stripe for payments, QuickBooks for transferring accounting data, and much more.

If you came away from this Builder.ai review with the idea that building an app is way too expensive, rest assured that you can start using Adalo for only $45/month (billed monthly).

Create and publish your app for free with Adalo.

What is Builder.ai?

Builder.ai is an app-building service that creates web and native mobile apps. It allows you to create your app's blueprint by choosing its appearance and features with its helpful AI.

Then, the Builder.ai team will build your app for you.

Builder.ai is not a no-code app builder in the sense that Adalo, Glide, and Bubble are. Aside from choosing a popular app that the Builder.ai team will use as your app's model and selecting its features, you won't actually build your app.

How Does Builder.ai Work?

Here's how Builder.ai creates your app:

1. Select a premade template from Builder.ai's long list of "bases," which are essentially clones of pre-existing apps like Facebook, Amazon, and others. Or, in a 40-word prompt, describe how you want your app to appear to Builder.ai's AI tool, Natasha. 

2. Your template will appear after choosing your base or answering Natasha's prompts. You can upload your business logo and set the color scheme. 

3. Builder.ai will show you all your app's screens, a complete list of the features on each one, and the total price. You'll be able to search for new features that you can add on and delete others you don't want. 

4. After saving your project, you'll end up at the invoicing page, which will give you the total and development timeline.  

5. After accepting the payment terms, Builder.ai will give you a project manager and the building begins! You can communicate with your project manager during the building process. 

6. When the Builder.ai team finishes building your app, you'll communicate with the project manager for fine-tuning. Once you say it's ready, they'll release your web app and publish your native mobile app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. 

7. The team will provide support for up to two years. They'll help you create updates, iron out glitches, and more. Builder.ai will also provide your app's source code so you can further develop it. 

If you have any questions about specific features during the process, you can ask Natasha. If she doesn't know the answer, she'll allow you to schedule a future call with a real human. 

Builder.ai's Key Features

While Builder.ai is an app development agency, you will know precisely how much you'll pay for each feature and be given a development timeline from start to finish before you even contact their team.

Using Building.ai is like ordering a sandwich from Subway — you choose your bread and dictate the meats, cheese, and vegetables that go on it, but someone else is making your sandwich.

Builder.ai's project manager will be your main point of contact during the entire building process. If you no longer need a feature, you selected earlier or want to make any other changes, contacting your project manager might take a while. 

There's also no guarantee that you'll be able to get your money back if you no longer want a feature — you might just have to live with it.

Pros and Cons of Using Builder.ai

Like everything else, Builder.ai has a list of tradeoffs: 

Builder.ai's Pros

• Builder.ai might be cheaper than hiring developers, but it's less time-consuming than using a no-code tool to build your app.  

• After your app is built, you'll get support from the Builder.ai team for 2 years. 

• You get to keep your app's source code. 

Builder.ai's Cons

• Because Builder.ai is an agency, you'll pay agency prices. Expect to pay at least $10,000 for a very minimal start-up MVP. 

• The total amount you'll pay depends on the complexity of your app. Costs can add up quickly, bringing your final bill to well over what you initially thought. 

• Apps packed with features or come with custom-made, bespoke features will take an unspecified amount of time to create. You may have to wait a while before you see the finished product. 
  

Who Is Builder.ai Suited for?

Builder.ai is an app-building service with a limited audience. Select Builder.ai if:

• You don't mind having very little control over how your app is constructed. You prefer to draw up a simple blueprint, pay a fee, and have someone else do all the heavy lifting. 

• You have a large budget and little time. 

• If you want to release an enterprise-grade app and have a team of professionals build it, and you'd also like to keep the source code to further develop it on your own. 

However, you should take a look at other app builders if:

• You don't want to pay an agency hand-over-first to develop your app. 

• You want a more traditional app builder that gives you the freedom and power to use an app-building interface to build your app yourself, and exactly how you want it. 

• You'd rather build your own app using a no-code app builder for a much cheaper rate. 

With all the potential hurdles and nearly guaranteed high prices, it's worth it for most people to develop their own app using a no-code app builder.

Is Builder.ai Right for You?

As long as you have the money, the Builder.ai team can create any app you can imagine — they'll even code bespoke features like specialized widgets or analytics trackers for your app.

But remember, the more customization you require, the longer the building time — and the higher the cost.

With nearly unlimited customization options, easy publishing to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and top-of-market pricing, Builder.ai is an excellent choice for organizations that need to build a specialized app for an audience of millions.

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