Start with the job
Define the user, task, information, permissions, and successful result before comparing tools.
Test the operational stack
A polished frontend is not enough for most commercial apps. Test authentication, saved data, permissions, payments, email, integrations, deployment and error handling.
Check ownership
Understand source-code export, database export, domain portability and the work required to move elsewhere.
Compare total cost
Include the subscription, AI usage, hosting, database, storage, payment processing and connected services that your actual app needs.
Make the decision
Choose the product that lets you build and maintain the smallest version of the app successfully—not the one with the longest feature list.