I built the same website using Lovable and Wix AI. One took twice as long and told me to solve problems myself.

Creating a website has become increasingly accessible due to advancements in AI technology. However, how much easier has it truly become? Tools like Lovable and Anthropic's Claude Code are enabling users to generate websites from simple prompts with minimal human input. In contrast, established platforms like Wix allow users to create sites without coding skills, yet still require manual decisions on design and layout. To stay competitive against emerging challengers such as Lovable, Wix has incorporated AI features into its offerings. Last June, the company acquired the vibe-coding startup Base44 for $80 million, and in January, it launched Wix Harmony, an AI-driven website builder that blends human creativity with artificial intelligence. This innovation arrives amidst concerns over a potential "SaaSpocalypse," where AI could disrupt traditional business models for companies like Workday and Salesforce. Wix's stock has declined approximately 23% since the beginning of the year, reflecting investor apprehensions. Wix's head of product, Yaara Asaf, emphasized that Wix Harmony is designed for anyone looking to establish an online presence, regardless of their technical or design background. Meanwhile, Lovable's design lead, Nad Chishtie, highlighted that their platform aims to empower those without technical skills to bring their ideas to life simply by conversing with AI. I decided to put these two platforms to the test to see if Wix's years of experience in website building would give it an advantage over Lovable, a startup founded in 2023. With previous experience using Lovable to create a virtual newsroom, I anticipated a straightforward process. I began by asking Lovable to generate a clean, simple website featuring my headshot and biography, along with five sections for different story types. Lovable delivered a nearly perfect result, presenting a homepage with essential components and placeholder articles. However, I encountered my first challenge: editing the text. Unlike what I expected from a user-friendly interface, Lovable required me to either edit the code or submit my changes via chat. As someone without coding experience, I resorted to providing a lengthy prompt for all the necessary edits, which Lovable processed efficiently. I also asked it to retrieve images for my articles, and it managed that without issue. After about 20 minutes, I had a usable digital portfolio, which left me quite impressed. In contrast, my experience with Wix Harmony was a bit disheartening. I used the same prompt, but the generated site resembled a basic PowerPoint template, lacking attention to detail such as text alignment and distinct sections for my stories. Instead, it merged everything onto the homepage and created unnecessary placeholders. When I requested corrections, Wix provided a list of steps for me to follow, which was frustrating. After attempting to regenerate the site, I found that while it improved the layout, it still failed to populate the story cards with the correct information. Unlike Lovable, Wix allowed me to edit text directly in the preview, which I found more intuitive. The experience highlighted the different user focuses of the two platforms. Lovable seems better suited for those who thrive on spontaneity and quick creativity, while Wix may appeal to users who prefer a more hands-on approach to design and control over their websites. Asaf noted that Wix Harmony allows for easy transitions between AI-generated content and manual adjustments, aiming to provide a professional-grade website building experience. Ultimately, this comparison sheds light on the looming fears of the SaaSpocalypse. If Wix's AI capabilities do not keep pace with those of contenders like Lovable and Claude, it risks losing users who prioritize efficiency and ease of use in creating their online presence.