# Lovable alternative for PHP hosting

> 

## 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

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Feature
    </th>
    
    <th>
      Lovable
    </th>
    
    <th>
      fortrabbit
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      Category
    </td>
    
    <td>
      AI builder + hosting
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Managed PHP PaaS
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Audience
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Non-coders, prompts
    </td>
    
    <td>
      PHP developers
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      PHP support
    </td>
    
    <td>
      No, JS/React only
    </td>
    
    <td>
      PHP only
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Code ownership
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Generated
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Your repo, your code
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Deployment
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Auto, builder UI
    </td>
    
    <td>
      git push
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Managed MySQL
    </td>
    
    <td>
      —
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Native
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      SSH access
    </td>
    
    <td>
      —
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Full SFTP + SSH
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      File storage
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Builder-managed
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Persistent app storage
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Region
    </td>
    
    <td>
      US-based
    </td>
    
    <td>
      EU (Germany)
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Pricing model
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Subscription, credits
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Per-app, monthly
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Support
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Community + tiered
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Human chat, all plans
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Long-term fit
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Prototypes, MVPs
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Production sites and apps
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

## Pricing comparison

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Use case
    </th>
    
    <th>
      Lovable
    </th>
    
    <th>
      fortrabbit
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      Hobby / demo
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Free tier + paid tiers from <strong>
        ~$20 / mo
      </strong>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      <strong>
        €5 / mo
      </strong>
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Small production
    </td>
    
    <td>
      <strong>
        $25–$50 / mo
      </strong>
      
       subscription
    </td>
    
    <td>
      <strong>
        €30 / mo
      </strong>
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      Real app at scale
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Limited at higher tiers
    </td>
    
    <td>
      <strong>
        €60–€120 / mo
      </strong>
      
       depending on tier
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Numbers are illustrative — Lovable's pricing is subscription / credit-based and changes often. See <content-link href="/pricing" text="fortrabbit pricing">



</content-link>

 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.

1. **Pick your PHP framework.** Laravel, Symfony, Craft CMS, Statamic, or Kirby — see our <content-link href="/guides" text="install guides" prefix="docs">



</content-link>

.
2. **Provision the app on fortrabbit.** Pick a region (EU) and a plan. The free trial is enough to validate the stack.
3. **Add the MySQL component.** If you have data to bring across, `mysqldump` and import via fortrabbit's SSH tunnel — see <content-link href="/guides/general/mysql-import" text="MySQL import guide" prefix="docs">



</content-link>

.
4. **Connect your git provider.** Install the fortrabbit GitHub App (or connect GitLab / Bitbucket) and link your repo to the new fortrabbit app — see <content-link href="/platform/deployment/intro" text="deployment intro" prefix="docs">



</content-link>

. Pushes to your branch trigger an automatic deploy; Composer install runs as part of it.
5. **Set environment variables.** Configure DB credentials and secrets in the fortrabbit dashboard.
6. **Move uploads and assets.** rsync into your fortrabbit app's persistent storage via SFTP / SSH.
7. **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.

<content-button property="dashboard" route="/signup" text="Start a free trial — no credit card">
<content-button property="www" route="/pricing" text="See pricing" variant="secondary">



</content-button>
</content-button>