Building AI apps on a zero budget: what actually works
By Anuj Ror · · 1 min read
Where I live, spending money on an experiment is a real decision. So most of what I build starts with one rule: it has to run on free plans first.
Here is the stack I keep coming back to.
My code lives on GitHub. The frontend is a React app, and Vercel hosts it for free for personal projects. If the app needs a database or logins, Supabase has a free plan that is enough for a prototype. For the AI part, several providers give a free API tier with limits on how many requests you can send. I have used Groq's free API for chat replies.
Limits and prices change, so check each provider's pricing page before you rely on them.
Three things to check before you ship:
1. Rate limits. A free API will stop answering when too many people use it. Show a friendly message instead of a blank screen, and keep your prompts short.
2. Secrets. Never put an API key inside frontend code. Anyone can open the browser's network tab and copy it. Keep the key on the server as an environment variable and call the AI through your own /api route.
3. Terms. Read the terms of every free plan. Some are only for personal, non-commercial use. If you start charging clients, you may need to upgrade.
[Optional: The chatbot on this site is one example: it runs on Vercel and uses a free AI API for its replies]
If you are just starting, put a live link on your portfolio before you polish anything.
Topics: AI development, free tools, zero budget, Vercel, Supabase, Groq, self-taught developer, Anuj Ror
