Lovable alternative for PHP hosting
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Reviewedbyfl
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fortrabbit vs Lovable.
fortrabbit is the alternative for developers who write their own PHP code — predictable hosting, persistent storage, no AI lock-in.
Why move a Lovable prototype to fortrabbit for real PHP?
fortrabbit is a managed PaaS built exclusively for PHP. Lovable is an AI-powered app builder that generates and hosts JavaScript-stack web apps based on prompts. It's great for prototypes and demos, but it's not a hosting platform you'd choose deliberately for a real PHP project — there's no PHP runtime, no MySQL component, no SSH, and limited control over the underlying stack.
If you've been prototyping in Lovable and want to move to a serious hosting platform — or if you're a PHP developer evaluating "where do I host my Laravel / Symfony / Craft / Statamic / Kirby project" — fortrabbit gives you a tuned PHP environment with git-push deployments, integrated MySQL, atomic releases, persistent storage, and EU hosting (AWS Ireland). Plans start at €2.50 per month; the trial doesn't require a credit card.
Start a free trial — no credit cardHow does fortrabbit compare to Lovable for real PHP?
| Feature | Lovable | fortrabbit |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI builder + hosting | Managed PHP PaaS |
| Audience | Non-coders, prompts | PHP developers |
| PHP support | No, JS/React only | PHP only |
| Code ownership | Generated | Your repo, your code |
| Deployment | Auto, builder UI | git push |
| Managed MySQL | — | Native |
| SSH access | — | Full SFTP + SSH |
| File storage | Builder-managed | Persistent app storage |
| Region | US-based | EU (Ireland) |
| Pricing model | Subscription, credits | Per-app, monthly |
| Support | Community + tiered | Human chat, all plans |
| Long-term fit | Prototypes, MVPs | Production sites and apps |
Pricing comparison
| Use case | Lovable | fortrabbit |
|---|---|---|
| Hobby / demo | Free tier + paid tiers from ~$20 / mo | €5 / mo |
| Small production | $25–$50 / mo subscription | €30 / mo |
| Real app at scale | Limited at higher tiers | €60–€120 / mo depending on tier |
Numbers are illustrative — Lovable's pricing is subscription / credit-based and changes often. See fortrabbit pricing for the current fortrabbit matrix.
Moving from a Lovable prototype to a real PHP project
Lovable doesn't produce PHP, so "migration" here usually means: rebuilding the project on a real stack and hosting it properly.
- Pick your PHP framework. Laravel, Symfony, Craft CMS, Statamic, or Kirby — see our install guides.
- Provision the app on fortrabbit. Pick a region (EU) and a plan. The free trial is enough to validate the stack.
- Add the MySQL component. If you have data to bring across,
mysqldumpand import via fortrabbit's SSH tunnel — see MySQL import guide. - Connect your git provider. Install the fortrabbit GitHub App (or connect GitLab / Bitbucket) and link your repo to the new fortrabbit app — see deployment intro. Pushes to your branch trigger an automatic deploy; Composer install runs as part of it.
- Set environment variables. Configure DB credentials and secrets in the fortrabbit dashboard.
- Move uploads and assets. rsync into your fortrabbit app's persistent storage via SFTP / SSH.
- Cut over DNS. Add the domain in the fortrabbit dashboard, update the CNAME, and watch the certificate issue automatically via Let's Encrypt.
Why developers switch
- You own the code. Real repo, real framework, no vendor-generated black box.
- PHP-first ergonomics. Composer, OPcache, PHP version pinning, integrated MySQL.
- Predictable bills. Per-app monthly pricing, no message / credit metering.
- Owner-run support. You talk to the engineers who run the platform.
# Frequently asked
Can I move my Lovable project to fortrabbit if it was generated by an AI?If it is real PHP
If it is real PHP - The project has to be a real PHP application — your own code in your own repo. Export the code, push it to a Git provider, and connect it to a new fortrabbit app. The deploy uses Composer like any other PHP project. Lovable apps that depend on Lovable-hosted services or proprietary runtime helpers are not portable, since those services do not exist outside Lovable.
#Why pick fortrabbit over Lovable for a serious PHP app?Built for production
Built for production - Lovable is a prototyping environment. The platform makes building easy by handling almost everything itself, which is the same reason it is a poor fit for production — you do not own the runtime, the data path, or the deployment story. fortrabbit gives you a predictable PHP host where your repo is the truth, the deploy is `git push`, and you can leave whenever you want without breaking your app.
#Does fortrabbit support code generated by AI agents like Claude or Copilot?Yes
Yes - PHP is PHP, whether you typed it or an agent did. fortrabbit's value to AI-assisted development is the predictable platform underneath: git-push deploys an agent can drive, scriptable environment configuration, and a CLI that is documented well enough for an agent to use. The platform does not care who wrote the code, as long as it is your code in your repo.
#Is fortrabbit a cheap way to host a PHP app I prototyped in Lovable?Yes
Yes - For a small PHP app, fortrabbit starts at €5 a month — a per-app plan with PHP runtime, a MySQL component, SSL, and persistent storage. There is no metered usage in the middle, and the free trial does not require a credit card, so the app can be validated on the platform before committing.
#Can fortrabbit run the database and uploads a prototyped app needs?Yes
Yes - A native MySQL component covers the database, and persistent storage holds user uploads and assets — both part of the per-app plan rather than separate services to wire up. There is no e-mail hosting, domain registration, or cPanel; the platform stays focused on running PHP apps.
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