Build Websites and Apps Without Coding
Build a working website or app by describing what you want in plain English. No coding required.
Two of the most common requests I hear from people discovering AI tools: "Can I build a website?" and "Can I build an app?" The answer to both is yes, with caveats.
Building websites
If you need a simple website, a personal portfolio, a landing page for a small business, a blog, or an event page, AI tools can build one for you in minutes. You describe what you want in plain English, the AI generates the code, and you get a live site you can share.
The tools below all handle website creation. Bolt.new and Lovable are the most straightforward for basic sites. For something more polished or content-heavy, you might also consider platforms like Squarespace, Wix, or Ghost (which now have AI features built in), though those are more traditional website builders with AI bolted on rather than AI-first tools.
For anything involving e-commerce, complex forms, user accounts, or payment processing, you will still benefit from a professional developer or a dedicated platform like Shopify. AI-built sites are excellent for getting started and for simple use cases, but they have limits.
Building apps and tools
Beyond websites, you can now describe a simple application and have AI build it: a workout tracker, a budget calculator, a reading list manager, a booking form, a discussion guide generator. These tools write the code, set up the hosting, and give you a working link to share.
A word of honesty: while these tools are impressive, the results are best for simple to moderately complex projects. Anything requiring complex logic, user accounts, or handling payments will still benefit from a developer. But for personal tools and prototypes, the capability is real.
No-code AI builders
| Bolt.new | |
|---|---|
| What it is | Browser-based AI builder that generates and deploys full-stack websites and applications from prompts |
| Best at | Quick website creation, landing pages, simple web apps, turning an idea into a working demo in minutes |
| Free tier | Free tier with limited daily usage tokens |
| First paid tier | Pro Plan - US$20/month (~A$32/month) |
| Ken's take | Of the no-code AI builders, Bolt is arguably the most accessible for people who have never touched code. You describe what you want, it builds it in the browser, and you can deploy it immediately. The results are surprisingly polished for simple projects. Good starting point. |
| Sign up | https://bolt.new |
| Lovable | |
|---|---|
| What it is | AI-powered app builder focused on producing clean, well-structured code from natural language |
| Best at | Higher-quality code output, more polished UI, good for apps you want to develop further |
| Free tier | Free tier with limited message credits |
| First paid tier | Starter Plan - US$20/month (~A$32/month) |
| Ken's take | I have used Lovable extensively. The code quality it produces is a step above most competitors. The challenge for non-developers is that when things go wrong (and they will), debugging requires some technical understanding. Be warned on cost: credits get consumed fast when you are iterating on a complex app. I spent close to A$2,000 on one consulting project. Start small, set a budget, and keep track of your spending. |
| Sign up | https://lovable.dev |
| Replit | |
|---|---|
| What it is | Browser-based coding environment with an AI Agent that builds apps from plain English |
| Best at | Full development environment, AI that writes and deploys code, learning to code alongside AI |
| Free tier | Free Starter tier with limited AI Agent access and one published app |
| First paid tier | Core Plan - US$20/month (~A$32/month) |
| Ken's take | Replit is more of a full development platform than a simple app builder. The AI Agent is powerful but costs can be unpredictable as credits get consumed fast. Best for people who are curious about how code works and want to learn alongside the AI, rather than people who just want a finished product. |
| Sign up | https://replit.com |
Try this right now (free)
Open Bolt.new and type: "Build me a simple one-page website for a freelance graphic designer called Sarah. Include sections for About, Services, Portfolio (with placeholder images), and Contact. Use a clean, modern design with a blue and white colour scheme." Watch it build a complete, deployable website in minutes. Then try tweaking it: "Make the colour scheme warmer" or "Add a testimonials section."