Lovable Limitations: What It Can't Do
Lovable.dev is ai-powered app builder that generates react applications from natural language prompts. While it excels at quick prototypes, mvp validation, simple crud apps, it has significant limitations for complex business logic, production apps, enterprise software. The main issues are: credit system burns through budget, bug-fixing loops, code not production-ready.
Key Takeaway: Lovable gets you about 70% of the way to a working app. The last 30% typically requires professional development to achieve production quality.
Main Limitations of Lovable
Credit System Burns Through Budget
Every prompt, edit, and bug fix consumes credits. Users report spending $500-2,000 on a single project, especially when fixing AI-generated bugs.
Bug-Fixing Loops
The AI often introduces new errors while fixing old ones. Users get stuck in endless debugging cycles that consume credits without progress.
Code Not Production-Ready
Generated code has inflexible data structures and tightly-coupled logic. Simple apps work, but complex business logic breaks easily.
The 70% Problem
Lovable gets you 70% of the way to a working app, but the last 30% requires significant manual work or professional development.
Authentication Issues
Complex auth flows, OAuth integration, and session management frequently fail or require extensive manual fixes.
Deployment Failures
Projects that work in preview often fail in production. Blank screens, missing files, and partial deployments are common.
When Lovable Works Well
Lovable is best for: Quick prototypes, MVP validation, simple CRUD apps
- Fast prototyping from prompts
- Good UI generation
- Supabase integration
- GitHub sync
When to Avoid Lovable
Lovable is NOT suitable for: Complex business logic, production apps, enterprise software
- Won't deploy to production
- Authentication not working
- Database connections failing
- Styling breaks on mobile
- API integrations failing
Taking Your Lovable Project to Production
Export code to GitHub, refactor architecture, add proper error handling, implement security, optimize performance
Need help taking your Lovable project to production?
We specialize in taking AI-built prototypes and turning them into production-ready applications. Our team has rescued dozens of Lovable projects.
Learn About Our Prototype-to-Production Service →Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Lovable keep making the same mistakes?
Lovable's AI doesn't maintain long-term context. Each prompt is processed somewhat independently, so it may 'forget' previous fixes. This is why you can get stuck in loops where the same bug keeps returning.
Is Lovable good for production apps?
No. Lovable is designed for prototyping and validation, not production. The generated code lacks proper architecture, security hardening, and scalability considerations needed for real-world deployment.
How much does Lovable actually cost?
While Lovable offers a free tier, most users report spending $200-500 for simple apps and $1,000-3,000+ for more complex projects due to the credit system charging for every interaction including bug fixes.
Can I hire someone to fix my Lovable project?
Yes. Many developers specialize in taking Lovable prototypes to production. Expect to pay $5,000-15,000 depending on complexity, as significant refactoring is usually required.
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