Skip to main content

Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://archie.com/docs/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

The 50 most common questions from people evaluating and building with Archie, organized into eight categories. If your question isn’t here, ask in Discord or email support@archie.com.

​
Getting started

What is Archie?

Archie is an agentic AI platform that turns an idea into a fully structured, production-ready application. Where other AI builders only hand you a prototype, Archie produces a blueprint first — user personas, tech stack, feature map, architecture — then builds the full-stack app from it. The platform covers everything from prompt to deployed software, including the database, API, authentication, file storage, and hosting.

Who is Archie for?

Archie is built for founders, product teams, designers, and developers who want to move fast without ending up with throwaway code. If you are validating an idea, building your first MVP, or shipping a production app, Archie gives you the clarity and structure to build right from the start. You don’t need to know how to code to use Archie, but technical users get full access to the code, architecture, and infrastructure.

Do I need to know how to code to use Archie?

No. You describe what you want to build in plain language and Archie generates the blueprint, prototype, and eventually the full application. Technical users can inspect and edit the code directly, but non-technical users can build and ship complete applications without ever opening a code editor.

How do I get started with Archie?

Sign up for a free account, type your idea into the prompt bar, and Archie starts generating your blueprint and live prototype immediately. The free plan requires no credit card and lets you explore the platform, iterate on your prototype, and refine your idea before upgrading.

How long does it take to build an app with Archie?

A complete blueprint — personas, features, tech stack, and a working prototype — appears within seconds of your initial prompt. Converting that prototype into a real, deployed full-stack application takes a few more minutes and is a one-time process. Ongoing iteration happens in real time as you prompt changes.

What happens after I submit my first prompt?

Archie immediately starts generating your blueprint alongside a live prototype. You can interact with the prototype, refine it through follow-up prompts, and watch the blueprint update as your app takes shape. When you’re ready to ship, you upgrade to Pro and convert the prototype into a real application with a production database, API, and hosting.

​
Building with Archie

What can I build with Archie?

Archie builds full-stack web applications — SaaS products, marketplaces, internal tools, dashboards, CRMs, and more. Archie is designed for production-grade software, not just prototypes. The apps you build run on real infrastructure with real databases, real APIs, and real hosting.

Can I build a SaaS product with Archie?

Yes. SaaS is one of the most common use cases for Archie. The platform includes everything a SaaS needs out of the box: user authentication, role-based access control, subscription-ready payment integration through Stripe, transactional email through SendGrid, and a scalable backend that grows with your user base.

Can I build a marketplace with Archie?

Yes. Archie handles the complexity marketplaces require — multi-sided user models, permissions per role, listings, messaging, payments, and notifications. The blueprint process maps out all the user personas and their interactions before any code is written, which is critical for getting marketplace logic right.

Can I build internal tools and dashboards with Archie?

Yes. Internal tools are one of Archie’s strongest use cases because they benefit from the built-in backend, authentication, and role-based access control. Dashboards, admin panels, CRMs, inventory systems, and reporting tools can be built and deployed in hours rather than weeks.

Can I build a mobile app with Archie?

Archie generates responsive web applications that work on mobile browsers. The apps are designed mobile-first and adapt to any screen size. Native iOS and Android app generation is coming soon.

Can I use images or design references when prompting?

Yes. You can attach screenshots, mockups, or design references to your prompts. Archie uses these to inform the visual direction and overall design of your application.

How do I edit my app after it's built?

You can edit your app three ways: keep prompting Archie in natural language, use the visual editor to adjust the UI directly, or use the built-in IDE to modify the code. All three modalities work together — changes made in one are reflected in the others.

Can I revert to an earlier version of my app?

Yes. Archie keeps a full history of your project and lets you revert to any previous version at any time.

Can I collaborate with my team on Archie?

Yes, with different levels of collaboration depending on your plan. On Pro, you can invite builders who have their own Pro subscription, plus unlimited viewers. On Team, you get full collaboration features including role assignment, per-member credit limits, shared workspaces, and activity tracking.

​
The Blueprint and how Archie works

What is the Archie blueprint?

The blueprint is the structured plan Archie generates before and alongside your prototype. It includes who your app is for (user personas), what it does (feature breakdown), how it’s built (tech stack), how it will scale, and how the pieces connect. It’s the shared source of truth for everyone working on the project. The blueprint is what separates Archie from tools that just generate code from a prompt — it gives you clarity before code.

Why does Archie create a blueprint instead of jumping straight to code?

Because skipping the planning step is the single biggest reason AI-generated apps fall apart. Tools that generate code directly from a prompt produce something that looks right but has no underlying architecture, no clear user model, and no plan for scale. When you try to extend them, everything breaks. The blueprint solves this by establishing structure first, which makes everything that comes after more reliable, more extensible, and more production-ready.

Can I export the blueprint?

Yes. You can export your blueprint as a PDF at any time, including on the free plan. This is useful for sharing with cofounders, investors, developers, or anyone else who needs to understand what you’re building.

What tech stack does Archie use?

Archie recommends a tech stack as part of the blueprint process, tailored to your app’s requirements. The backend runs on Archie Core and includes PostgreSQL or MySQL, auto-generated GraphQL and REST APIs, authentication, file storage, and real-time subscriptions. The frontend stack is selected based on your use case. If you want to override the defaults, you can configure the stack yourself.

How is Archie different from other AI app builders?

Other platforms give you a prototype. Archie gives you a production-ready application with a blueprint, real infrastructure, and a full-stack backend included. Specifically: Archie generates the blueprint before writing code, Archie Core provides the database and API instead of making you wire up Supabase separately, and Archie hosts the deployed app instead of making you set up Vercel. Everything is one platform, one subscription, one bill.

​
Archie vs. other tools

How does Archie compare to Lovable?

Lovable generates frontend code from prompts and requires you to connect Supabase separately for a backend. Archie generates the full stack — frontend, backend, database, API, auth, hosting — as one integrated platform, with the blueprint produced before any code is written. For a side-by-side view: Lovable Pro is $25/month with 100 credits and requires you to add Lovable Cloud or Supabase for backend; Archie Pro is $25/month with 200 credits and includes a production backend and hosting.

How does Archie compare to Bolt?

Bolt is a prompt-to-code tool focused on rapid prototyping in the browser. It doesn’t include a production backend, doesn’t generate a blueprint, and bills based on tokens, which makes costs unpredictable. Archie generates the blueprint first, includes the full backend (database, API, auth) through Archie Core, and charges based on credits that are weighted by task complexity with upfront cost transparency.

How does Archie compare to Base44?

Base44 is an AI app builder focused on quick app generation with built-in database and auth. Archie differs in three important ways: Archie produces a full blueprint (personas, architecture, feature map) before building, Archie Core runs on real PostgreSQL or MySQL databases (not a proprietary data store), and Archie apps are designed to scale from prototype to production on real cloud infrastructure.

How does Archie compare to Cursor or Windsurf?

Cursor and Windsurf are AI-assisted IDEs for developers who are already writing code. They help you code faster but assume you know how to architect, deploy, and operate a full-stack application. Archie is for people who want to go from idea to production app without doing those things themselves. If you’re an experienced developer who just wants better autocomplete, Cursor is likely a better fit. If you want the full application built, deployed, and operated, Archie is the right tool.

How does Archie compare to v0 by Vercel?

v0 generates React UI components from prompts. It’s useful for building individual screens and components, but it doesn’t produce a full application, doesn’t include a backend, and doesn’t handle deployment or hosting of a full app. Archie generates the complete application — frontend, backend, database, API, authentication, hosting — from a single prompt, with the blueprint guiding the architecture.

How does Archie compare to Replit?

Replit is a cloud development environment with AI assistance, aimed at developers who want to code in the browser. It’s flexible but generalist — you bring the architecture, the stack, and the infrastructure decisions. Archie is opinionated and end-to-end: the blueprint provides the architecture, Archie Core provides the infrastructure, and the AI agents handle most of the build. Replit is better for exploration and learning; Archie is better for shipping production apps fast.

​
Pricing and plans

How much does Archie cost?

Archie has four plans. Free is $0 with no credit card required. Pro starts at $25/month for a single builder and scales up through a credit selector to $1,500/month. Team is $30 per seat per month (minimum 5 seats, maximum 25) with pooled credits. Enterprise is custom-priced for larger organizations that need compliance, SSO, and dedicated support.

Does Archie have a free plan?

Yes. The free plan lets you generate blueprints and interactive prototypes with 10 AI credits per day and 50 per month. You can export your blueprint as a PDF. To convert a prototype into a real, deployed application, you upgrade to Pro.

Is there a free trial of Pro?

The free plan is the trial. You get full access to the blueprint and prototype experience without paying anything, and you only upgrade when you’re ready to convert your prototype into a real application.

What are AI Credits and how do they work?

AI Credits are the currency for AI-assisted work in Archie. Every AI task — generating code, creating a data model, building a feature — consumes credits based on the complexity of the work. Manual edits, deploying, and exporting code are always free. Archie shows you the cost of heavier tasks before executing so there are no surprises.

What happens when I run out of AI credits?

Your completed work is preserved and manual editing still works. Only new AI tasks are blocked. You can continue by buying a top-up credit pack, selecting a higher credit level within your plan, or waiting until your credits renew on your next billing cycle.

Do unused credits roll over?

Yes, with limits. On monthly plans, unused credits roll over for one billing cycle. On annual plans, unused credits roll over for three cycles. Top-up credits never expire while your subscription is active.

Can I change plans or credit levels later?

Yes. Up-leveling within Pro happens immediately with pro-rated billing — you get the additional credits right away. Down-leveling takes effect at the start of your next billing cycle. Upgrading from Pro to Team or to Enterprise is handled through your account settings.

What is the prototype-to-app conversion fee?

When you upgrade to Pro and convert your prototype into a real, deployed application, there is a one-time conversion fee based on the scope of your app — the number of screens, data models, and integrations. This fee is separate from your monthly subscription, which means your monthly credits are fully preserved for ongoing development after conversion. Enterprise plans include unlimited conversions.

Does Archie offer annual plans?

Yes. Annual plans are available at a 20% discount compared to monthly. Annual subscribers also get an extended credit rollover window — three months instead of one — which is useful for teams that build in bursts.

​
Infrastructure and Archie Core

What is Archie Core?

Archie Core is the AI-native backend that powers every app built on Archie. It provides the database (PostgreSQL or MySQL), auto-generated GraphQL and REST APIs, authentication, role-based access control, file storage, notifications, and frontend hosting. Pro includes one Starter backend; Team includes three. You can also use Archie Core directly without Archie if you’re a developer looking for a full-featured backend-as-a-service.

Does Archie handle hosting and deployment?

Yes. Every Archie app is deployed on Archie Core, which includes a global CDN for the frontend and managed infrastructure for the backend. You don’t need to set up Vercel, Netlify, AWS, or any other hosting provider separately.

What database does Archie use?

Archie Core runs on real relational databases — PostgreSQL or MySQL — not a proprietary data store. This means your data is portable, queryable with standard SQL, and not locked into Archie’s infrastructure.

Can I connect a custom domain?

Yes. You can connect a custom domain to any app you build with Archie. Configure it directly from your project settings once your app is ready to go live.

What happens if I need to scale my app?

Archie Core is designed to scale from prototype to production without requiring a rewrite. As your app grows, you can upgrade individual backends from Starter to Professional for dedicated compute, multi-environment support, and higher quotas. Enterprise backends add dedicated infrastructure, region selection, and higher uptime SLAs.

​
Security, compliance, and data

Is Archie secure?

Yes. Security is built into the platform from the ground up. Archie Core encrypts credentials at rest using AES-256-GCM, enforces configurable CORS policies, includes API rate limiting, and ships with Role-Based Access Control. There is no prototype mode that requires hardening later — your app is production-grade from the start.

Is Archie SOC 2 compliant?

SOC 2 compliance is available as an add-on for Enterprise plans. The infrastructure is built to be compliance-ready, and the formal certification is layered on as part of a dedicated enterprise engagement.

Is Archie HIPAA compliant?

HIPAA compliance is available as an add-on for Enterprise plans. If you’re building healthcare applications that handle protected health information, we provide the compliance framework, Business Associate Agreement, and required controls as part of an enterprise engagement.

Is Archie GDPR compliant?

GDPR compliance is available as an add-on for Enterprise plans. This includes Data Processing Agreements, data residency controls, right-to-erasure workflows, and breach notification procedures as part of the engagement.

Who owns the code and data I create with Archie?

You do. Every application built with Archie belongs to you — the code, the architecture, and the data. You can export your code to GitHub at any time, and your data lives in standard PostgreSQL or MySQL databases that are fully portable. Full ownership and IP terms are outlined in our Terms of Service.

Can I export my code?

Yes. Paid plans include GitHub integration and full code export. You can push your codebase to your own GitHub repository and work with it in your own environment anytime.

​
Account and support

How do I create an Archie account?

Sign up at archie.com with your email. The free plan requires no credit card and gets you started immediately.

How do I delete my account?

You can delete your account and all associated data from your account settings at any time. If you need help, email support@archie.com.

How do I get support?

All users get Discord community and email support. Team users get priority email support with a 24-hour response time. Enterprise users get dedicated customer success management and priority support channels. You can reach the team at support@archie.com.

Where is Archie based?

Archie is built and headquartered in Miami, FL. Archie.com, Inc. is the legal entity behind the platform.