xhostd vs Base44: portable app hosting or a prompt-based builder

Base44, owned by Wix, turns prompts into web apps and hosts them with a built-in database, file storage, and sign-in. xhostd hosts code built with your preferred AI coding agent, on standard runtimes with PostgreSQL included. Both offer an integrated backend. xhostd stands out when you want standard technology you can take elsewhere and a predictable hosting price that does not depend on credits.

What xhostd and Base44 both offer

Both xhostd and Base44 host web apps with a built-in database, file storage, and sign-in.

• A database that comes with the app.
• File storage for uploads.
• Built-in Google sign-in.
• An MCP server for external AI agents.
• No per-seat price.

The differences are in how the app is built and published, the backend runtime, and the database.

Key differences between xhostd and Base44

Your own AI agent or Base44's builder

xhostd: You keep working with Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, or any agent and model you like. Your code lives in your own git repository, and xhostd charges for hosting, not for AI usage.

Base44: Base44's builder writes the app, and building is paid with message credits: 25 a month on Free and 100 to 1,200 a month on paid plans. External agents can connect through Base44's MCP server on the Builder plan ($50 a month) and higher.

Why it matters: Your agent and model are the tools you know best, and they keep improving. With xhostd you can switch models at any time, and you don't pay a second AI bill inside your hosting.

Always-on servers or per-request functions

xhostd: Every app runs in an always-on container, on every plan, with no sleep mode and no cold starts. It runs Node.js, Python, or any Dockerfile, and long-running workers, bots, and queue consumers run the same way.

Base44: Backend logic runs as TypeScript functions that start per request, on a schedule, or on a database event, and each run is limited to 5 minutes. Base44 doesn't document always-on servers, Python, or Dockerfiles.

Why it matters: A chat bot, a queue worker, or a long data job needs a process that keeps running. On xhostd it runs as part of your app; on Base44 it has to fit into short function runs.

Standard PostgreSQL or a database tied to Base44

xhostd: Each code-running environment gets its own PostgreSQL database. You use standard SQL and tools, and you can export your PostgreSQL data and files to run elsewhere.

Base44: The built-in database is a NoSQL, MongoDB-compatible store that you use through the Base44 SDK. New apps have size caps from 200 MB on Free to 50 GB on Business, one request returns at most 5,000 items, and data exports as one CSV file per table. The backend cannot be self-hosted.

Why it matters: Your data is the hardest part of an app to move. PostgreSQL works with almost every tool and host, so you can move your data elsewhere.

One known price or two kinds of credits

xhostd: Fixed monthly plans: free, then $10, $20, $40, or $80. For example, the $10 Builder plan includes 10 channels, 1 GB of memory, 10 GB of database storage, and 50 GB of file storage. There are no traffic or seat charges.

Base44: Plans cost $20 to $200 a month ($16 to $160 billed yearly). Message credits pay for building, and integration credits pay for what the live app does: about 1 credit per email, file upload, or AI call, and about 1 per 100 function calls. When integration credits run out, those features stop working for your users until you upgrade or the month resets.

Why it matters: With xhostd, a busy month doesn't change the bill or switch off features your users rely on.

Compute and runtime

xhostd: Each channel runs in an always-on container, on every plan, with no sleep mode and no cold starts. You can run a static site on nginx, an app on a template with Node.js 22, Python 3.13, and uv, or your own Dockerfile. CPU is a guaranteed share that can burst to 2x, from 0.1 core on Basic to 4 cores on Pro, and memory is an account total from 128 MB to 8 GB. A process has no run time limit, so workers, bots, and queue consumers keep running.

Base44: Base44 apps use React frontends with TypeScript backend functions on Deno. A function starts per request, on a schedule, or on a database event, and each run stops at 5 minutes. Always-on servers, Python, and Dockerfiles are not documented.

Summary: Both run backend code for the app. The difference: xhostd runs it in an always-on container with any Dockerfile and no time limit, while Base44 runs TypeScript functions per request, for up to 5 minutes each.

Deploys and AI agents

xhostd: Every app has its own git repository. A push stores the code, and a deploy publishes a chosen branch or commit; GitHub-connected apps can also deploy on each push. Every deploy passes a health check before a blue-green switch, and a failed deploy leaves the previous version serving. Agents work through a hosted MCP server, an HTTP API with an OpenAPI spec, and plugins for Claude Code and Codex.

Base44: Base44 publishes the app from its builder, and there are no git deploys. Builder and higher plans add two-way GitHub sync on the main branch, and code exports as a ZIP file. The builder writes the app with message credits: 25 a month on Free, at most 5 a day, and 100, 250, 500, or 1,200 and more on paid plans. An official MCP server on Builder and higher lets external agents create and edit apps and change data, and a beta CLI supports your own agent.

Summary: Both let external AI agents work on the app through an MCP server. The difference: xhostd deploys a chosen branch or commit from the app's git repository, while Base44 publishes from its builder and its MCP server needs the Builder plan or higher.

Database

xhostd: Every code-running channel gets its own PostgreSQL database, included in the plan. Your app receives a main connection, a direct connection for migrations, and a read-only connection; on newer database servers the main connection is pooled through PgBouncer in transaction mode. PostGIS is available. Database storage is an account total across all your apps and channels, from 500 MB on Basic to 80 GB on Pro, as a soft limit: xhostd reaches out instead of stopping your app.

Base44: Base44 stores data in a built-in NoSQL, MongoDB-compatible database, reached through the Base44 SDK. For apps created from October 18, 2026, size caps run from 200 MB on Free to 50 GB on Business, and one request returns at most 5,000 items. Data reads and writes use no credits. Each table exports as a CSV file, and there is no self-hosting.

Summary: Both include a database with the app. The difference: xhostd runs standard PostgreSQL with pooled, direct, and read-only connections, while Base44 runs a NoSQL store that you reach through its SDK.

File storage

xhostd: Each channel gets its own S3-compatible bucket, so standard S3 libraries work. Versioning is always on, and old versions and deleted files are kept for 120 days. File storage is an account total across all your apps and channels, from 2 GB on Basic to 400 GB on Pro, as a hard limit. Files are served through your app; there are no public object URLs.

Base44: A built-in file library holds public and private files. No S3-compatible API is documented. Each upload uses about 1 integration credit.

Summary: Both store the app's files. The difference: xhostd gives each channel an S3-compatible bucket with 120 days of old versions, while Base44 has a file library with no documented S3 API, and uploads use integration credits.

Environments and previews

xhostd: Production, staging, and previews are separate channels. Each channel is its own container with its own URL, file bucket, environment overrides, up to 5 custom domains and, for code-running apps, its own PostgreSQL database. A new preview starts with an empty database, so tests never touch production data. Channels come from one account-wide pool: 3 on the free plans, then 10, 20, 40, or 80.

Base44: On Builder and higher, a Test Data toggle gives previews a separate, empty database. The live app always uses production data. Separate staging or per-branch environments are not documented.

Summary: Both can give previews an empty database. The difference: xhostd makes each channel a full environment with its own app, URL, files, and domains, while Base44 offers a test-data toggle on Builder and higher, next to one live app.

User sign-in

xhostd: Google sign-in is built into every channel and custom domain, on every plan, with no OAuth app to create. After sign-in, your app receives a signed token with the user's ID, email, and name, and verifies it against xhostd's public keys. Your app decides which pages need sign-in.

Base44: Built-in sign-in covers email, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and Apple, with single sign-on (SSO) on Business and higher. Google sign-in shows base44.com unless you add your own client and a custom domain on Builder and higher.

Summary: Both build Google sign-in into the app. The difference: xhostd needs no OAuth app on any plan, while Base44 offers more providers but shows base44.com on Google sign-in unless you add your own client on Builder or higher.

Backups and recovery

xhostd: Nightly snapshots cover the database and files, and xhostd also takes a snapshot before each deploy. Free plans keep 24 hours of nightly snapshots and the last pre-deploy snapshot; paid plans keep 7 days and the last 3. A restore can run read-only, behind a maintenance page, or live, and a code rollback boots the previous image without a rebuild. xhostd restores to these snapshots, not to any chosen moment.

Base44: Table-data backups are kept for 7 days on Elite and 30 days on Business and Enterprise, and they exclude files and users. Checkpoints can roll the app's code back to an earlier version. Point-in-time recovery is not documented.

Summary: Both can return the app's code to an earlier version. The difference: xhostd snapshots the database and files on every plan, while Base44 backs up table data only on Elite, Business, and Enterprise and leaves out files and users.

Networking and domains

xhostd: Every channel gets an HTTPS address, and each channel can add up to 5 custom domains with automatic certificates, on every plan. Paid plans add one public TCP endpoint per channel, with an optional IP allowlist.

Base44: Base44 offers custom domains with automatic HTTPS from the Starter plan. Raw TCP, a CDN, and region choice are not documented.

Summary: Both include custom domains with automatic HTTPS. The difference: xhostd includes them on every plan and adds TCP on paid plans, while Base44 starts custom domains at Starter.

Logs and monitoring

xhostd: You get deploy and runtime logs, including logs from earlier containers, plus health findings with latency percentiles (p50, p95, and p99) and resource readings. Visitor analytics show visits, unique visitors, top pages, broken links, and status codes, without adding a script to your pages.

Base44: Base44 provides app analytics, activity logs, and backend function logs. Log retention is not documented.

Summary: Both include logs and app analytics. The difference: xhostd adds health findings with latency percentiles, while Base44 adds activity logs.

xhostd and Base44 pricing

xhostd: Fixed monthly plans: Basic free, Builder $10, Indie $20, Studio $40, and Pro $80. For example, Builder includes 10 channels, 0.5 CPU core, 1 GB of memory, 10 GB of database storage, and 50 GB of file storage. Hosting, PostgreSQL, storage, and backups are included, with no traffic, egress, or seat charges; xhostd might throttle disproportionate traffic after contacting you. See xhostd plans.

Base44: Plans are Free, Starter at $20, Builder at $50, Pro at $100, and Elite at $200 a month, or $16, $40, $80, and $160 billed yearly. Message credits pay for building, and integration credits pay for app features: about 1 per email, file upload, or AI call, and about 1 per 100 function calls. When integration credits run out, those features stop working. There is no per-seat price.

Summary: Both start free and have no seat price. The difference: xhostd charges a fixed monthly price with no traffic or egress charges, while Base44 meters building and app features in two kinds of credits.

Price example: On xhostd, a small always-on app with PostgreSQL and file storage costs $0 on the free Basic plan (0.1 CPU core, 128 MB of memory), or $10 a month on Builder (0.5 core, 1 GB). On Base44, the Free plan includes 25 message credits, but a custom domain needs Starter at $20 a month ($16 billed yearly), and app features use integration credits. For hosting with a custom domain, xhostd costs less: custom domains come with every xhostd plan, the free plan included.

Where xhostd is a better fit

xhostd is the stronger choice when:

• You build with Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex and want your agent to deploy from git. xhostd deploys a chosen branch or commit, while Base44 publishes from its builder and connects external agents on Builder ($50 a month) and higher.
• You want your data in standard PostgreSQL that you can move. Base44 keeps data in a NoSQL store that you reach through its SDK, and it exports one CSV file per table.
• You need Python, a Dockerfile, or a process that runs longer than 5 minutes. xhostd runs always-on containers with no run time limit, while Base44 functions are TypeScript and stop at 5 minutes.
• You want app features that keep working in a busy month. xhostd charges a fixed price, while Base44 meters app features in integration credits, and those features stop when the credits run out.

Where Base44 is a better fit

Consider Base44 if you want:

• One builder for everything. Base44 writes, designs, and publishes the app from your prompts. xhostd doesn't require you to write code either, but you need to be familiar with a coding agent such as Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex.
• More built-in sign-in options. Besides Google, Base44 supports Microsoft, Facebook, and Apple, plus SSO on Business and higher. xhostd's built-in sign-in is Google.
• Built-in app features. Email, file uploads, and AI calls are ready to use inside the app, and reading and writing data uses no credits.
• AI building included. Base44's plans include message credits, from 25 a month on Free. xhostd works with the coding agent you already have.

xhostd vs Base44 at a glance

	xhostd	Base44
Compute model	Always-on containers	Per-request Deno functions
Sleep and cold starts	None, on every plan	Not documented
Run time limit	None	5 minutes per function run
Languages and Docker	Node.js, Python, any Dockerfile	TypeScript functions; Docker not documented
Database	PostgreSQL in every code-running channel, included	NoSQL, MongoDB-compatible, through SDK
File storage	S3-compatible bucket per channel, included	File library, no S3 API
Previews with their own data	Yes, every channel	Test Data toggle, Builder and higher
Point-in-time recovery	No; nightly and pre-deploy snapshots	Not documented; table backups from Elite
AI agent access	Hosted MCP server, API, plugins	MCP server on Builder and higher
Pricing model	Fixed plans, $0 to $80	$0 to $200, plus credits