Blocks

Every tool that appears in a build or comparison, grouped by the layer it fills. Each page says what it does, what it suits, what will catch you out, how our builds use it and where the figures come from.

HOSTHosting 6

Where your app runs and how people reach it on the web. Hosts deploy your code and serve it on your domain.

DATADatabase 5

Where your app keeps its data: users, orders, messages. Most builds use Postgres, the most widely used open-source database.

AUTHSign-in 2

How people sign up and log in, and how your app knows who they are.

PAYPayments 3

How you take money. Either you are the seller (Stripe) or a merchant of record sells for you and handles tax.

MAILEmail 5

The emails your app sends on its own: confirmations, password resets and receipts.

AIAI models 3

AI models your app calls while it runs, paid for by how much text they read and write.

BUILDApp builders 7

Tools that build the app for you or package it, from AI app builders to mobile build services.

OPSMonitoring and security 7

Checks that keep the app safe and healthy: code review, secret scanning and dependency alerts.