Croft vs public AI-app hosts vs DIY VPS
When you build an internal app with AI, you face a choice: deploy it to a public AI-app host, spin up your own VPS and wire together Docker, or use a platform built for private team apps. Here's how they differ for the apps you run inside your business.
| Need | Public AI-app host | DIY VPS + Docker | Croft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private by default | No (public unless you lock it down) | You build login | Yes |
| Agent can deploy | Sometimes | Rarely | Yes (via MCP) |
| Team login for colleagues | You build it | You build it | Built in |
| Backups and rollbacks | Varies | Your problem | Included |
| Connectors (Stripe, HubSpot, Xero) | Your problem | Your problem | Built in |
| Monitoring and error tracking | Your problem | Your problem | Built in |
| Keep iterating with AI | Varies | Rare | Yes |
| No devops required | Sometimes | No | Yes |
What each option means
Public AI-app host
Services built for launching public products: Vercel, Netlify, Replit, Lovable. They're fast and powerful, and they're designed for apps where strangers sign up, scale matters, and the builder is thinking about product-market fit. For internal apps running inside a business, they come with friction. Access control has to be built per app. Monitoring, error tracking, and backups are your problem. Iteration with an AI assistant usually means copying code in and out, not direct deployment. They're good for what they're for. They're just not built for private team apps.
DIY VPS + Docker
Rent a virtual private server from DigitalOcean, Hetzner, or AWS, install Docker, wire up a reverse proxy, and run containers. It's the most flexible option, and the most work. You get control and you own the infrastructure, but you also own the maintenance. Every app needs a login you build. Backups, monitoring, SSL certificates, security updates, and keeping it all running are on you. If you have the time and the skill, it's a solid choice. If you just want the app to work, it's a second job.
Croft
A platform built for the apps your team builds with AI. Every app is private by default, behind single sign-on that works the same way across every app. Your AI assistant can deploy directly over MCP. Backups, rollbacks, monitoring, and error tracking are built in. Connectors for Stripe, your CRM, and other services are included, with approval flows and an audit trail. The server is yours, and you can export everything and run it anywhere Docker does. It's for teams that want the apps, not the infrastructure.
More comparisons: Croft vs Vercel + Supabase · Croft vs Replit · Croft vs Lovable · Croft vs Base44 · Croft vs Cloudflare OS · Croft vs Retool · Croft vs Superblocks · Croft vs Island · Croft vs ChatGPT Sites · Croft vs Taskade Genesis · the app builders
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does private by default mean?
On a public AI-app host, apps are usually live on the internet unless you explicitly add authentication. On Croft, every app sits behind your team’s single sign-on automatically. No one can access an app unless you invite them. No code required, no per-app wiring, no risk of forgetting.
How does MCP deploy work?
MCP (Model Context Protocol) lets your AI assistant talk directly to Croft. You connect Claude, ChatGPT, Grok, or Cursor to your croft, describe an app, and the assistant writes the code and deploys it in one conversation. No copy-pasting, no separate deploy step.
How does Croft compare to Vercel + Supabase?
Vercel and Supabase are both excellent services. Together they’re a stack you assemble: hosting on one, database and auth on another, environment variables to wire up, and something or someone to build and maintain it all. Croft is one platform with hosting, database, sign-in, and backups already joined up. See the full comparison.
What about Replit or Lovable?
Replit and Lovable are built for launching public products. They’re aimed at founders and makers building something for the internet. Croft is built on a different premise: the apps are small, the people using them know each other, and the app should work quietly for years. Different goal, different design. Compare Croft with Replit or Lovable.
What does Croft cost?
Solo is $24/month billed annually, $29 monthly. Team is $69/month billed annually, $79 monthly. Both are flat prices with no usage meter. You bring your own AI, so no tokens are resold and no AI markup. See the pricing page.
What if I want to leave?
Export your apps as a single Docker image with the code, database, and files included. Run it anywhere Docker runs: your own server, AWS, DigitalOcean, wherever you want. It was yours all along.
Is monitoring included on every plan?
Yes. Every app on every plan gets built-in monitoring and error tracking. Request counts, response times, errors, and stack traces are all there. No extra service to wire in, no usage fees. Learn about monitoring.
What connectors are available?
Stripe, HubSpot, Xero, Slack, Notion, Airtable, GitHub, and dozens more. Connectors hold API keys securely and require admin approval for sensitive services. Your apps can use them without putting credentials in code. See all connectors.
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