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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 data residency. Plans start at €2.50 per month; the trial doesn't require a credit card.

Start a free trial — no credit card

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Different by design

A platform purpose-built for PHP. More than the sum of its parts.

Pay in arrears

Daily prorated, post-paid billing. No upfront payment, no yearly commitment.

Modular pricing

Pay per component and scale each one from xs to 2xl on its own.

No dark patterns

No vendor lock-in, no upselling, no misleading messages.

Humans in support

Eye-level developer chat over the support bubble. No sales calls.

Developer-first

Git-push deploy, SSH access, bring your own code. No 1-click bloat.

Managed platform

A hardened, service-oriented PHP stack. Deploy code, skip the server admin.