Zeltro › A Hercules alternative that runs on your own machine
Zeltro as a Hercules alternative
Hercules (hercules.app) builds business apps in its cloud with its own AI, credits and backend. Zeltro builds on your own computer with the AI you already pay for. What differs, what Hercules says about exporting and self-hosting, and when each is the better fit.
Hercules, at hercules.app, is an AI app builder aimed at business owners who want custom software without hiring a developer. You chat, and it builds a web or mobile app with sign-in, payments, email and file storage already wired in, then hosts it for you.
It is a good fit for exactly that. People look elsewhere when they want to see and edit the code in their own tools, keep the app and its data on their own machines, or stop paying for credits that expire each month.
Hercules and Zeltro side by side#
As of September 2026:
| Hercules | Zeltro | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Hercules's cloud (Cloudflare, AWS and Convex) | Your own computer, or servers you control |
| Whose AI builds it | Hercules's, bundled into credits | Yours: Claude Code, Codex, Gemini, Qwen Code, Aider, or a local model |
| What you pay | Free tier; paid plans from $25/month; credits expire after about a month | Free for personal use; US$99.99 once per business (lifetime). Plus your AI provider, or nothing with a local model |
| Languages | React front end on a Convex backend | PHP, Python and JavaScript: Laravel, WordPress, Django, FastAPI, Next.js and 16 more |
| Backend | Managed by Hercules; the Convex deploy key is not shared | Real databases on your machine: MariaDB, Postgres, MongoDB, Redis |
| Your code | Yours; download on Pro and above | Plain folders on your disk from the first command |
| Your own editor | "Not currently" | Any editor you like |
| Local development | Not supported | Everything is local |
| Live URL | Yes, on onhercules.app | No. It runs locally; hosting is up to you |
| Your content used for training | May be used to train models; opting out is limited to higher plans | Up to the AI provider you choose; your code and prompts never go to Zeltro |
Can you run a Hercules app on your own computer?#
Not in any supported way. Hercules's documentation is direct about it:
- Your own editor: "Can I use my own IDE? Not currently." The built-in code editor needs Pro, and Hercules says it "cannot support you if you make manual changes to the codebase."
- Exporting: on Pro and above you can download the code and a database snapshot, and "self-host it on any provider you choose", but "Hercules is unable to provide support for self-hosted deployments."
- The backend: apps run on a Convex backend that Hercules manages, and it cannot give you the deploy key "for security reasons". Sign-in runs through Hercules's own service, so moving to your own Convex means reconfiguring auth.
- Everything else: secrets, the AI gateway, payments, email and file storage are Hercules services too, and each one needs replacing if you leave.
There is no desktop app. Hercules does offer a remote connection for tools like Claude Code and Cursor, but the building still happens in its cloud and still uses its credits.
None of this is a trick. Hercules is a managed platform built for people who do not want to handle code or servers, and it says so. It only matters if owning and running the whole thing yourself is the goal.
What Zeltro does differently#
Zeltro is a do-it-yourself dev platform for your own machine. Describe what you want and it suggests how to build it: a ready-made app if one already does the job, or a framework and a database if it needs building from scratch. Then your AI agent builds it in a real project on your disk, in a codebase you can open in any editor.
- Everything is local. The app, its database and its files live on your computer. There is no platform backend to untangle later.
- Pick from 214 ready-made apps. CRMs, wikis, analytics, shops and more install in a couple of clicks, so you are not paying an AI to rebuild software that already exists.
- You choose the AI and who pays for it. A subscription you already have, a low-cost model, a local model, or a client's key for client work. No credits that expire.
- No account, no monthly plan. Free for personal use; businesses pay US$99.99 once. The command line tool is open source.
Where Hercules is the better choice#
- You do not want to deal with code or servers at all. Hercules handles hosting, sign-in, payments and email, and publishes to the app stores for you. Zeltro installs Docker on your machine and leaves hosting up to you. (If you want it live and someone else handling it, I do that as a service.)
- You need native mobile apps in the stores. Hercules publishes to the App Store and Google Play. Zeltro builds web apps and APIs.
Where Zeltro fits#
- You want to own and run the app and its data yourself.
- You want to open the code in your own editor and change it freely.
- You need PHP or Python, or one of 214 existing open-source apps.
- You already pay for Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini and do not want a second AI bill with credits that expire.
Sources#
Checked on 28 September 2026: Hercules's plans, AI credits, code editor, export, backend and cloud credits pages, its terms and privacy policy. Hercules tests different plan prices, and plans change, so check them before you commit.
Questions
Is there a Hercules alternative that runs locally?
Yes. Zeltro runs entirely on your own computer: the builder, your app and its databases. Hercules builds and hosts in its own cloud and does not support local development.
Can I export my Hercules app and host it myself?
On Pro and above you can download the code and a database snapshot. Hercules says you may self-host it but does not support doing so, and the backend, sign-in and other built-in services are Hercules's own, so expect to replace them.
Can I use my own AI key with Hercules?
Not for building: building always uses Hercules credits. Zeltro has no AI of its own and uses the agent and key you choose, including a local model.
What does Zeltro cost?
The Zeltro app is free for personal use, hobby projects and learning, with no account.
A business using it, including for paid client work, buys a
lifetime commercial license once, for US$99.99. The zeltro command line
tool is open source (MIT). Separately, you pay for your AI: a subscription you
already have, an API key billed per use, or nothing with a local model.
Checked 2026-09-28. Other products change often — if something here is out of date, tell us and it gets fixed.