Comparison
Lovable vs Self Hosting
Stay on Lovable's managed hosting, or own the stack on your own server. Here's the honest trade-off.
Option A
Lovable (managed)
Build + host in one place. Zero infra setup.
Option B
Self Hosting
Your code on your server. Full control, lower long-term cost.
| Feature | Lovable (managed) | Self Hosting |
|---|---|---|
Vendor lock-in | Partial | None |
Code ownership Lovable syncs to your GitHub. | ||
Custom domain | ||
Full server control (SSH, cron, daemons) | ||
Choose runtime + region freely | ||
Built-in CI/CD | DIY (GitHub Actions) | |
Database included | BYO Postgres | |
Automatic SSL | Caddy / Cloudflare | |
Setup time | Minutes | Hours (one-time) |
Monthly cost at small scale | $25-$100 | $5-$20 |
Scales without re-platforming | Partial |
Best for Lovable (managed)
- Prototypes and MVPs
- Solo founders pre-revenue
- Teams that don't want to think about ops
Best for Self Hosting
- Apps with paying customers
- Cost-sensitive workloads
- Anyone who wants to own their stack