How Lovable.dev and Firebase Studio differ
AI-assisted development tools are changing how full-stack developers build apps. Two interesting players in this space are Lovable.dev and Firebase Studio. While both let you move from idea to app faster, they are built with different assumptions about how developers want to work. This article compares Lovable.dev and Firebase Studio carefully, so you can choose the right tool for your next project.
Key takeaways
- Lovable.dev is focused on fast web app creation using Supabase and React, with strong visual editing and guided AI coding.
- Firebase Studio is a free, full-code IDE for building web and mobile apps, tied tightly to Firebase and Google Cloud services.
What they are
- Lovable.dev acts like a personal full-stack engineer. You chat with the AI to generate, edit, and deploy web apps, mainly using Supabase and React stacks. It supports importing Figma designs and adjusting the app visually or via direct code edits.
- Firebase Studio is Google’s browser-based IDE for app development. It lets you generate, edit, and deploy web or mobile apps across a wide tech stack (React, Flutter, Go, Node.js, etc.). It tightly integrates with Firebase services and uses Google’s Gemini AI.
Feature comparison
- AI prototyping: Both accept prompts. Lovable is text/chat-driven; Firebase Studio also allows sketches/images as input.
- Tech stack support: Lovable is focused on React + Supabase. Firebase Studio supports many stacks: React, Flutter, Go, Python, etc.
- Editing: Lovable has a visual editor, AI chat, and dev mode. Firebase Studio is a full VS Code-like IDE with strong AI assistance.
- Deployment and hosting: Lovable hosts apps natively. Firebase Studio deploys easily to Firebase Hosting or Cloud Run.
- Security: Lovable offers a built-in security scanner. Firebase relies on existing Google Cloud security practices.
- Integrations: Lovable is built around open tools (mainly Supabase). Firebase Studio is tightly coupled with Google Cloud and Firebase.
Developer experience
- Lovable.dev feels simpler and more guided. It’s ideal for founders, indie hackers, or developers wanting to minimize coding friction.
- Firebase Studio offers a full development experience, suitable for developers who prefer direct control and an IDE with AI augmentation.
Pricing
- Lovable.dev: Free tier available; full features need paid plans starting at $25/month. AI usage is metered by credits. See pricing
- Firebase Studio: Free to use during preview. You only pay for Firebase backend services if you exceed free usage limits.
Which should you use?
| If you want… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Fast MVPs, simple web apps, visual editing | Lovable.dev |
| Full control, flexible tech stacks, mobile apps, and no upfront cost | Firebase Studio |
| Tight Supabase integration | Lovable.dev |
| Firebase and Google Cloud integration | Firebase Studio |
| Guided AI development | Lovable.dev |
| Traditional coding workflow with AI help | Firebase Studio |
Conclusion
Both Lovable.dev and Firebase Studio are pushing app development toward an AI-first future, but they suit different needs. If you want a fast and guided path to launching a web app, Lovable.dev is a strong choice. If you prefer flexibility, a broad range of tech stacks, and powerful backend services, Firebase Studio is better — especially while it’s free to use.
Trying both for small projects is the best way to see which fits your style.
FAQs
Yes. Lovable.dev lets you export the generated project files so you can host or maintain them yourself outside the platform.
Yes. Firebase Studio supports web and mobile apps. You can use frameworks like Flutter or native Android (Java/Kotlin).
No, but it’s optimized for Firebase. You can export code and deploy elsewhere, but backend services like database and auth are tightly integrated with Firebase by default.
Yes. Lovable.dev’s chat-driven workflow and visual editing make it accessible to people with limited coding experience.
It’s still in preview. It’s usable for serious projects, but some rough edges and missing features are expected until the full release.