Lovable alternative for PHP hosting
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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.
Lovable alternative for PHP at a glance
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 data residency. Plans start at €2.50 per month; the trial doesn't require a credit card.
Lovable vs fortrabbit — feature comparison
| 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 (Germany) |
| 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.