howtomake series · Hands-on record · November 2026
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One year ago, I tried building a family care app with AI
Hello, I’m teco. In October 2025 I published a video about creating a family care support app with Base44.
The idea was simple: a family member could press a button such as “Wheelchair,” “Go for a meal” or “Go to bed” to notify other family members by email. I gave Base44 a prompt and a PDF describing the app. It quickly generated screens and a database.
But one important problem remained: the screen said “Sent,” yet no email actually arrived. About a year later, I reopened the same app to find out whether delivery would work now.
The November 2026 video: what changed after a year?
Watch the 2026 retest on YouTube
Reopening the original app
The app was still in my account, but its preview returned a 404 and displayed “Infrastructure Update Required.” After I ran the update, the app appeared again. Button shapes and some display details had changed, but the database created previously was still there.
Trying the email again
I chose “Go to bed” and confirmed with “Yes.” Once again the app said “Sent.” This time, the email actually arrived, while the app was on Base44’s Free plan. I had not upgraded to a paid plan before sending it.
What this establishes is limited: delivery succeeded for this existing app, configuration and recipient. It does not prove unrestricted delivery to every address in every app. I also cannot determine whether the infrastructure update itself caused the improvement or whether the email feature had changed separately. Nevertheless, the issue encountered a year earlier did not recur in this test.
The October 2025 video: what happened originally?
Watch the original Base44 experiment
I described a simple app with around three pages through a PDF and a prompt. Base44 generated the screens, mobile layout and database quickly. It was impressive to see a working-looking interface take shape so fast.
However, the final sending test displayed a success message without delivering email. A finished-looking interface is not the same as a working app. The experiment underlined the importance of testing the actual outcome.
Comparing the two tests
| Check | 2025 | November 2026 retest |
|---|---|---|
| Screens | Generated quickly by AI | Original app displayed after infrastructure update |
| “Sent” appeared, but nothing arrived | Actual receipt confirmed | |
| Database | Created with the app | Previous data remained |
| Interface | The interface available then | Changes in Japanese labels and button appearance |
| MCP / external AI connection | Not tested in this comparison | A setting was found; connection and operation were not tested |
This was a retest of the app built in 2025, not a newly rebuilt application.
Can the Free plan send email? Understand the credits
Email arrived on Free in this test, but that does not mean unlimited free email. Base44 distinguishes message credits, used for AI building and editing requests, from integration credits, used for actions such as email and external integrations.
Official information checked in November 2026 lists 25 message credits and 100 integration credits per month for Free. The video’s suggestion that “25 credits means about 25 emails” is therefore not accurate. Email capacity depends on the relevant integration usage and recipient conditions; it is not the same as the message-credit allowance.
What is the value of a paid plan?
A prototype and an app used every day have different needs. More AI revisions, regular notifications and a custom domain may justify a paid plan.
| Plan | Monthly billing, USD | Message credits / month | Integration credits / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 25 | 100 |
| Starter | $20 | 100 | 2,000 |
| Builder | $50 | 250 | 10,000 |
| Pro | $100 | 500 | 20,000 |
Checked November 2, 2026. These are monthly-billing prices, not the lower monthly equivalents of an annual contract. Check current official terms. Integration credits are not a guaranteed count of emails.
Starter provides more room to refine an app. The current pricing table lists custom-domain connection on Starter, while Base44’s separate pricing guide describes domains under Builder; verify eligibility in the plan you purchase. Builder adds higher allowances and features such as GitHub integration. Try the essential behavior on Free before choosing a paid plan.
MCP is interesting, but email is the subject of this test
I also noticed an MCP setting related to external AI assistants such as ChatGPT and Claude. This video does not demonstrate MCP operations. Available actions and connection requirements need a separate investigation.
Try Base44 from the free plan
An email that did not arrive a year ago arrived in this test. The experience shows why it matters to keep testing and improving an app after its first generation.
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Click is another option for building with a free account
AI generation is not the only approach. Click is a Japanese no-code tool for assembling screens and behavior visually. Its official manual lists email sending from the Free plan. However, Free allows 10 database records per app, so it is not suitable for storing large amounts of data. Do not interpret the email feature as unlimited sending.
The following tutorial demonstrates a simple family care support app made in about 20 minutes with a free account.
[Watch the Click tutorial from 6 seconds](YouTube)
Consider Base44 when you want to describe an app to AI, and Click when you prefer to assemble its behavior yourself. The important question is whether the essential features work for your purpose. Compare all three videos and test your own requirements.