Thunkable vs Vibecode

Thunkable

• Non-developers who want a native app in the App Store and Google Play
• Students and teachers, who can apply for discounted Education plans
• Trying ideas for free with public projects before paying

Vibecode

• Building an iPhone app from a phone or browser without owning a Mac
• People who want a native Swift codebase for iOS
• Makers who want AI usage billed at provider rates

Thunkable

• Free and Accelerator do not list a live published app; Builder includes 1 and Advanced is unlimited.
• The Free plan has no private projects, and private projects become read-only if a paid subscription lapses.
• If a subscription expires, published apps become unavailable to their end users.
• Monthly billing costs far more on the higher tiers: Builder is $59 billed monthly against $37 billed yearly.

Vibecode

• The Free plan's $2.50 in credits is a one-time grant, and it excludes database and auth, App Store submission and code download.
• Downloading source code and SSH access need Pro at $50 a month or Max.
• Native Swift projects run on Apple devices only; reaching Android needs a React Native project.
• Vibecode calls its pricing tiers experimental and says tier limits may change at any time.

Thunkable

AI Builder

A text description generates a mobile or web app's screens, logic and design, and follow-up prompts change it. Each build prompt uses roughly 250 AI tokens.

Discuss Mode and Plan mode

Discuss Mode helps plan a project and troubleshoot issues at about 100 tokens a prompt. Plan mode has the AI outline an app for review before it builds anything.

Live testing on a phone

The Thunkable Live app for iOS and Android runs a project on a real device during building. A generated code can also open the test in a browser without logging in.

App store and web publishing

One project targets both iOS and Android and is submitted to the App Store and Google Play from inside Thunkable, or published as a mobile or responsive web app.

Data and backend options

App data can stay on the device or live in Supabase, and the docs cover Firebase authentication, RevenueCat purchases, AdMob ads and OneSignal push notifications.

Code editor and version history

Generated apps can be edited directly in a code editor alongside AI prompts, and an earlier version of a project can be restored.

Vibecode

Swift, React Native or web projects

Each project is a native Swift and SwiftUI app for iPhone and iPad, a React Native and Expo app for iOS and Android, or a web app, chosen when the project is created.

Build from a phone or a browser

Apps are built by prompting in the iOS or Android app or on the web. Native iOS projects compile on cloud Macs and stream from a cloud simulator, so no Mac is needed.

Vibecode Cloud backend

A single prompt adds a database, authentication and file storage. Vibecode Cloud is available on Plus and above, and Supabase or Firebase can be connected instead.

App Store submission

A built-in wizard builds, signs and uploads an app to the App Store without opening Xcode. It needs a paid plan and an Apple Developer membership ($99 a year).

Wholesale credit pricing

Vibecode states that $1 of credits buys $1 of AI usage at the providers' rates, with no markup. Unused credits roll over while a plan is active.

Code export and SSH

Pro and Max can download the full source project, such as an Xcode project for iOS apps, and connect over SSH to keep working in an editor like Cursor.

Thunkable

• Free$0

  2,000 AI tokens a month, 3 public projects and 5 screens per project. Private projects are not included.

• Accelerator$18

  per month, billed yearly; $19 billed monthly

  20,000 AI tokens a month, 5 public projects, 1 private project, 10 screens per project and Intercom support.

• Builder$37

  per month, billed yearly; $59 billed monthly

  50,000 AI tokens a month, 10 private projects, unlimited screens, 1 live published app, custom branding and chat support.

• Advanced$99

  per month, billed yearly; $189 billed monthly

  100,000 AI tokens a month, unlimited private projects and live published apps, custom branding and priority support.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Plans for whole teams and custom arrangements, priced on request through a sales form.

• EducationCustom

  Special plans and pricing for students, teachers and districts, requested through an application form.

Vibecode

• Free$0

  $2.50 in one-time credits. No image or sound generation, database and auth, App Store submission, code download or SSH.

• Plus$20

  per month, billed monthly; $200 billed annually

  $20 in credits a month, image and sound generation, Vibecode Cloud database and auth, App Store submission and chat support.

• Pro$50

  per month, billed monthly; $500 billed annually

  $55 in credits a month. Adds source code download, SSH access for Cursor and priority technical support.

• Max$200

  per month, billed monthly; $2,000 billed annually

  $220 in credits a month. Adds 24/7 priority support and 1 live coding session.

Thunkable

• Annual discount

  Lower monthly price with yearly billing

  Billed yearly, Builder is $37 a month instead of $59 and Advanced is $99 instead of $189. Accelerator drops from $19 to $18.

• Education

  Discounted Education plan

  Thunkable's pricing page offers discounts for students and educators. Applicants fill in a form and receive a promo code for the Education plan by email.

Vibecode

• Annual discount

  Two months free with annual billing

  The pricing page labels annual billing as 2 months free: Plus is $200 a year instead of $20 a month, Pro is $500 instead of $50, and Max is $2,000 instead of $200.