- CodeMago
- CodeMago against the other AI app builders
- CodeMago or Base44: one credit currency, not two
CodeMago or Base44: one credit currency, not two
Base44 is a capable builder, now part of Wix. The difference that shows up most at the end of the month is not the quality of the app that comes out: it is that there you manage two separate credit currencies, and here, one.
| CodeMago | Base44 | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | US$ 18 a month (US$ 216 a year) · R$ 94.99 in Brazil | US$ 20/mo (Starter) |
| How many messages fit in a month | 375 on the entry plan, worst case of the model chain — the arithmetic is right below | 90 for the same money, at the US$ 0.20 per message they publish |
| What the month gives you | 9,000 credits a month, and 1 credit is US$ 0.001 of real AI usage | 100 message credits + 2,000 integration credits a month |
| How spend is counted | By what the request actually consumed. “Make the button blue” costs a fraction of “rebuild the orders screen”. And you pick the effort: fast, balanced or maximum. | Two meters: message credits to build, integration credits for the app to run. |
| Trying it without paying | 100 free credits when you create the account, no card | 25 message credits a month (5 a day cap) |
| The fine print | No card to try it. Cancel from the dashboard, no phone call. | two separate currencies: one to build, one to run the app |
| Billing currency | US dollars, or Brazilian reais with no currency spread | US dollars |
| Database, login and custom domain | Included in the plan, no third-party service to wire up | Usually needs third-party services (database, auth, domain), each with its own account and its own bill. |
Competitor prices checked on their official page on September 22, 2026. Prices change: check https://base44.com/pricing before deciding.
Message credits and integration credits
Base44 separates what you spend to build the app from what the app spends to run: message credits and integration credits. The US$ 20 Starter gives 100 message and 2,000 integration credits a month.
That is two quotas to track, and they run out at different moments. You can end up unable to adjust the app while integration credit is still sitting there, or the reverse — the app stops responding while you still have message credit to spare.
On CodeMago there is one quota, in credit, and 1 credit is US$ 0.001 of real usage. Building and running come from the same place, and the number in the dashboard is the only number there is.
What the two do alike
On both, the published app goes live without you arranging hosting. On both, the database comes with it. That part is a tie, and it is fair to say so.
The difference is what the billing does to how you work: one quota against two, and usage-based credit against a flat credit per message.
When Base44 is the right choice
If you are already a Wix customer and want everything on one account, their integration is worth more than any credit difference.
If your app depends on many ready-made integrations with third-party services, their catalogue is larger than ours today.
If you need an enterprise plan with a contract and compliance requirements, they have that structure and we do not yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between message and integration credits?
On Base44, message credits pay for the AI to build and adjust the app; integration credits pay for the app to run and talk to other services. Two separate quotas. On CodeMago there is one.
Is CodeMago cheaper than Base44?
Entry tier is US$ 18 here against US$ 20 for Base44 Starter. The bigger difference is one quota instead of two, and credit that follows real usage.
Do both publish the app with an address?
Yes, both publish. That part is a tie.
Start now, for free
Describe it in your own words. The AI builds the app, you refine it by chatting, and you publish it at its own address. No code to write.