Bolt.new

Full-stack web apps in your browser with WebContainers

Free, Pro $25/mo app-builderfull-stackwebcontainers

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7.4 /10 Expert Score

Features

Pricing

Ecosystem

Performance

4.7 /5 G2 Rating (200+ reviews)

About

Bolt.new by StackBlitz is a revolutionary AI application builder that generates and runs full-stack Node.js applications entirely in the browser using WebContainers technology. Unlike cloud-based AI builders that execute code on remote servers, Bolt.new spins up a real Node.js environment inside your browser tab, providing instant feedback, full npm package support, and complete code ownership with export capability. Bolt.new is ideal for developers who want to rapidly prototype full-stack applications without sacrificing code quality or control. Describe your app idea, and Bolt generates the complete project—frontend, backend, database schema, and configuration—runnable immediately. You get real files you can inspect, edit, and export. The WebContainers environment means npm install, build steps, and dev servers all run locally in your browser with near-native performance. This is fundamentally different from screenshot-based AI builders: Bolt gives you working code, not just visual mockups. Key capabilities include full-stack generation with React, Next.js, Vue, Svelte, and Express backends, real-time preview as the AI builds, database integration with SQLite and PostgreSQL, environment variable management, and one-click GitHub repository creation. The Pro plan at $25/month increases generation limits and token quotas for larger projects. Bolt.new is best for experienced developers who want to accelerate prototyping and for technical founders who need working code, not no-code lock-in. It is less suitable for non-technical users who may find the code-centric interface intimidating—Lovable provides a more approachable experience for that audience. Compared to v0, Bolt.new generates complete applications rather than just UI components. Against Lovable, Bolt offers full code exports and no platform lock-in, while Lovable provides a smoother non-technical experience. For Replit users, Bolt.new excels at one-shot generation speed, while Replit is better for ongoing collaborative development. The code ownership and zero lock-in philosophy make Bolt.new the top choice for developers who want AI speed without compromising on shipping real applications.

Key Features

Full-stack generation
WebContainer execution
Code export
npm package installation
Real-time preview
GitHub integration

Deals, Discounts & How to Save

Free tier for prototyping and small projectsExport code → self-host on Netlify/Vercel → $0 hosting

Most AI app builders have free tiers suitable for prototyping and MVPs. Export your code and self-host on Netlify, Vercel, or Cloudflare Pages to avoid platform hosting fees. Non-technical founders should evaluate free tiers thoroughly before subscribing.

Pros

In-browser full-stack execution
Complete code ownership and export
Fastest way to prototype modern stacks

Cons

Limited to Node.js stack
Browsers-only (no mobile/desktop)
Free tier usage limits

Pro Tips for Bolt.new

Bolt.new is the fastest way to go from idea to working prototype. Describe your app in natural language — it generates a full-stack app with a running terminal, database, and real-time preview in seconds.

Export to GitHub immediately after the first successful generation. Bolt's WebContainers are ephemeral; pushing to GitHub creates a permanent, editable codebase you can clone locally.

Be specific about your tech stack in the prompt: "use Tailwind CSS, Prisma ORM, and NextAuth.js" produces much better results than "build a SaaS app". Stack constraints prevent Bolt from making wrong assumptions.

For database-driven apps, describe your data model explicitly — Bolt generates the correct schema, migrations, API endpoints, and a basic admin UI automatically.

Use Bolt for the 80% prototype, then export and refine in your IDE. The generated code is production-grade React/Node.js and serves as an excellent foundation.

The real-time preview runs an actual npm dev server inside WebContainers. What you see in the browser is exactly what ships — no emulation gap.

Bolt supports installing any npm package. If the initial generation misses a library you need, just ask: "install and configure react-hook-form with Zod validation" — it handles the full pipeline.

For team projects, share the Bolt.new URL — collaborators can see the same preview and edit in real time without setting up a local environment.

Bolt automatically creates sensible Git commits as you iterate. Use the built-in GitHub integration to push with one click and review the diff before merging.

The free tier is generous enough for most prototypes. Upgrade to Pro (5/mo) when you need more tokens for longer sessions or larger projects.