Deploying Your App Live

The Difference Between a Preview and a Live App

Every Lovable project gives you a preview URL from day one. It works, it's shareable, and it updates automatically every time you make a change. For testing and gathering early feedback, that's all you need.

But a preview is not the same as a live deployed app. A proper deployment means:

• A stable, permanent URL that won't change when you make edits
• Fast load times for visitors anywhere in the world
• Your app available 24/7 regardless of what you're doing in the editor
• Optionally, a branded domain that belongs to you

There are three paths to getting there. Which one is right depends on how serious your app is and what you need from it.

Option 1: Your Free Lovable URL

Every Lovable project gets a free public URL automatically -- something like yourapp.lovable.app. This URL is live from the moment you start, updates every time you make a change, and requires no configuration.

This is the right option when:

• You're building a personal tool for yourself
• You're sharing with a small group for early feedback
• You're not ready to commit to a branded domain yet
• You just want something working and accessible right now

The main limitation: the URL is auto-generated and can't be customized on the free plan. It's not branded, and it won't look professional if you're sharing it with potential customers. For everything else, it works perfectly.

Option 2: Custom Domain via Lovable Pro

If you want your app at your own domain -- myhabittracker.com, app.yourbusiness.com, or anything else you own -- Lovable Pro is the simplest path. At $25 per month, it lets you connect a custom domain directly through the Lovable interface.

The process:

1. Buy a domain from Namecheap, GoDaddy, or Cloudflare Domains (typically $10--15 per year)
2. Upgrade to Lovable Pro in your account settings
3. Go to Settings → Custom Domain in your Lovable project
4. Enter your domain and follow the DNS configuration instructions -- Lovable walks you through it step by step
5. Wait 15--60 minutes for the DNS to propagate. Your app is now live at your domain.

This is the right option when you're ready to share your app with real users under your own brand, and you want the simplest possible path to get there.

Option 3: Export to Vercel or Netlify (Free)

Lovable can export your project code to a GitHub repository. Once it's on GitHub, you can deploy it to Vercel or Netlify -- both offer free hosting plans that include custom domains.

Why choose this path:

• You want a custom domain without paying for Lovable Pro
• You want automatic deployments every time you push code to GitHub
• You want access to more advanced hosting configuration
• You're planning to eventually hire a developer who can work with the exported code

The tradeoff: this path involves a few more steps. You'll need GitHub and Vercel or Netlify accounts (both free), and you'll need to configure the connection between them. It takes about 20 minutes the first time, and then subsequent deploys are automatic.

For Vercel: Connect your GitHub repo at vercel.com, import the project, and click Deploy. Add a custom domain in the Vercel dashboard under Domains.

For Netlify: Connect your GitHub repo at netlify.com, configure the build settings, and deploy. Custom domains are added under Site Settings → Domain Management.

Which Option Is Right for You?

Here's a simple decision guide:

• Personal tool or early experiment -- Free Lovable URL. No setup required.
• Sharing with real users, branded domain needed, simplest path -- Lovable Pro.
• Custom domain for free, comfortable with a few extra steps -- Export to Vercel or Netlify.

The right answer almost always starts with the free option. Ship your app. Get real feedback. Upgrade to a custom domain when you know the app is worth the investment.

In the next lesson, you'll level up to Cursor -- the tool that gives you full control over your code when Lovable's conversational interface isn't enough.