Zeltro › A Lovable alternative that runs on your own machine

Zeltro as a Lovable alternative

Q: Can I run a Lovable app on my own computer?

The front end, yes: sync to GitHub, clone it, then npm install and npm run dev . But the app still talks to its Lovable Cloud backend, so local changes affect real data, and some server features only work inside Lovable.

Lovable builds and hosts React apps in its cloud with its own AI and credits. Zeltro builds on your own computer with the AI you already pay for, in PHP, Python or JavaScript. What differs, what Lovable's own docs say about local development, and when each is the better fit.

Lovable is one of the best-known prompt-to-app builders. You describe an app in chat and it builds a React front end, wires up a backend, and hosts the result. For a first prototype it is hard to beat.

People start looking for an alternative for a handful of reasons: credits that run out faster than expected, an app that needs PHP or Python, a backend they cannot get at, or simply wanting the whole thing on their own computer. This page is about those reasons.

Lovable and Zeltro side by side#

As of September 2026:

	Lovable	Zeltro
Where it runs	Lovable's cloud	Your own computer, or servers you control
Whose AI builds it	Lovable's, bundled into credits	Yours: Claude Code, Codex, Gemini, Qwen Code, Aider, or a local model
What you pay	From $25/month for 100 credits; credits expire	Free for personal use; US$99.99 once per business (lifetime). Plus your AI provider, or nothing with a local model
Languages	TypeScript and React	PHP, Python and JavaScript: Laravel, WordPress, Django, FastAPI, Next.js and 16 more
Backend	Lovable Cloud by default (runs on Supabase, managed by Lovable)	Real databases on your machine: MariaDB, Postgres, MongoDB, Redis
Your code	Git sync on all plans; zip download on paid plans	Plain folders on your disk from the first command
Local development	Clone and run the front end; the backend stays in Lovable's cloud	Everything is local
Live URL	Yes, one click	No. It runs locally; hosting is up to you
Your content used for training	Free and Pro: yes unless you opt out (since 9 Sept 2026)	Up to the AI provider you choose; your code and prompts never go to Zeltro

Can you run a Lovable app on your own computer?#

Partly, and Lovable's own documentation is clear about which part.

The builder does not run locally. "The Lovable agent requires an internet connection to run." Lovable's desktop app for macOS and Windows is a client for the cloud service, not a local version of it.

The code does. Connect the project to GitHub (available on every plan), clone the repository, and run it with npm install and npm run dev. Lovable keeps syncing in both directions, so you can edit locally on a branch and keep using its AI in the browser.

The backend mostly does not. By default a Lovable project uses Lovable Cloud: a database, sign-in and file storage that Lovable runs for you. In Lovable's words, "A clone gives you the code, not the services the app calls." The cloned project's .env points at the same cloud backend as your published app, so "records you create or delete locally change real data." In projects created since 13 May 2026, "connector and AI calls fail locally", because "the credentials behind app + chat connectors and Lovable AI are managed by Lovable and cannot be copied out."

Leaving the backend behind is manual. A Lovable Cloud database does not appear in your own Supabase dashboard, and you do not get its service keys or a direct database URL. Lovable states that "there is no automatic migration" between Lovable Cloud and your own Supabase project.

None of this is hidden. Lovable is a hosted platform and says so. It only matters if you want the whole application, backend included, under your own control.

What Zeltro does differently#

Zeltro is a do-it-yourself dev platform for your own machine. You 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.

The backend is local too. Projects use real MariaDB, Postgres, MongoDB and Redis databases running on your computer, shared across all your projects.
It is not only JavaScript. Build in Laravel, WordPress, Django, FastAPI, Next.js, Express and more, or install one of 214 ready-made apps.
You choose the AI and who pays for it. Use a subscription you already have, a low-cost model through OpenRouter, a local model, or a client's API key for client work.
Your code stays yours. Your code, prompts and keys never go to Zeltro, and there is no account. The app is free for personal use (businesses pay US$99.99 once) and its command line tool is open source.

Bringing a Lovable project over#

Clone the Lovable repository into Zeltro and it runs like any other Node project:

zeltro clone work-directly https://github.com/you/your-lovable-app

The front end works straight away. The backend is the real job: point the app at your own Supabase project, or have your AI agent move the data and sign-in to a database Zeltro runs for you. Lovable's docs note that data, sign-in providers and secrets have to be moved by hand when you leave Lovable Cloud, so plan for that part.

Where Lovable is the better choice#

You want a live URL tonight and do not want to think about hosting. Zeltro gives you a running app on your own machine, not a public link. (If you want it live and someone else handling the server, I do that as a service.)
You never want to touch Docker or a terminal. Zeltro has a desktop app, but it installs Docker underneath and runs real containers.
You are building a small, front-end-heavy React app and Lovable's credits cover it comfortably.

Where Zeltro fits#

You want the app and its data on your own computer or your own server.
You need PHP or Python, or a database Lovable does not offer.
You already pay for Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini and do not want a second AI bill on top.
You run many projects and want them in one place.

Sources#

Checked on 28 September 2026: Lovable's plans, credits, desktop app, Git sync, Supabase and training opt-out pages, and Supabase's note on Lovable Cloud backends. Plans and terms change, so check them before you commit.

Questions

Is there a Lovable alternative that runs locally?

Yes. Zeltro runs entirely on your own computer: the builder, your app, and its databases. Lovable itself needs an internet connection for its AI agent, and its default backend runs in Lovable's cloud.

Can I use my own AI model or API key instead of Lovable credits?

Not with Lovable: building always uses Lovable's credits. Zeltro works the other way round. It has no AI of its own, and uses the agent and key you choose, including a local model through Ollama.

Can I run a Lovable app on my own computer?

The front end, yes: sync to GitHub, clone it, then npm install and npm run dev. But the app still talks to its Lovable Cloud backend, so local changes affect real data, and some server features only work inside Lovable.

Does Zeltro build PHP or Python apps?

Yes. Laravel, WordPress, Drupal, October CMS, Django, FastAPI and Flask are all built in, alongside the JavaScript frameworks.

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.