Buildy vs Rork vs Manus
Three ways to build apps with AI. Here is a fair side-by-side — including where the other two are the better pick.
| Buildy | Rork | Manus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Mobile-app builder | Mobile-app builder | General AI agent |
| Native iOS + Android | React Native / Expo | RN/Expo; native SwiftUI on top tier | Yes; framework undisclosed |
| One-tap install, no store account | Yes — instant PWA | No | No |
| Source-code export on the free plan | Yes — free on every plan | Paid plans only | Via your GitHub |
| Two-way GitHub sync | Yes (paid) | Yes (paid) | Yes |
| Frontier model on the entry paid tier | Opus 4.8 on Pro | Top tier only | Per-action model mix |
| Backend included | Supabase built-in | Runtime billed separately | Full-stack (varies) |
| Cost model | One flat monthly budget | Build credits + separate runtime credits | Per-action credits |
This compares each product’s publicly available information at the time of writing against our own. Competitors’ features and pricing change often — check their sites for the latest. Category labels are our summary.
Where Buildy wins
One-tap install with zero app-store accounts. Share a link or QR and it installs to the phone’s home screen — no $99/yr Apple or Google developer account needed to get your app into someone’s hands.
Your code, free on every plan. Export a complete, runnable project as a ZIP on any plan — including free. No lock-in.
A frontier model on the affordable tier. Opus 4.8 powers heavy generation on Pro, not just a premium add-on.
One predictable budget. A single monthly allowance covers building — no juggling separate ‘build’ and ‘runtime’ credit balances.
A real backend, built in. Supabase auth, database and storage wire up as you build.
When another tool fits you better
Need deep native Apple — SwiftUI for Apple Watch, iPad, Vision Pro, widgets or native-performance games? Rork’s premium tier is purpose-built for that.
Want one autonomous agent for research, slide decks, websites and long, unattended tasks — not just mobile apps? That is where Manus shines.
We think Buildy is the best value and the lowest-friction way to ship a real, exportable mobile app — and we will tell you when it is not the right tool. Compare for yourself.
Build your app in minutes
Describe it in plain words, preview it on your phone, and keep the code. Free to start, no card required.