Bolt.new
Full-stack web apps in your browser with WebContainers
AICoding score
Quick Verdict
8.2 / 10 — The best browser-based AI full-stack builder — runs your app locally in a tab via WebContainers, with the most generous free tier in the category.
For developers who want to go from prompt to running full-stack app in minutes without installing anything, Bolt.new delivers the fastest in-browser iteration loop in the category. The trade-off: token consumption is hard to predict, WebContainers can't run native binaries, and production apps need developer review.
Use Bolt.new if…
- You want a running full-stack app from a prompt in minutes
- You value in-browser zero-setup prototyping (no installs)
- You want full code ownership and export
- You want the most generous free tier (1M tokens/mo)
Skip Bolt.new if…
- You need native binaries (Docker, native Postgres, ML pipelines) — WebContainers can't run them
- You need heavy backend logic or large codebases in-browser (gets unwieldy)
- You are non-technical and want polish without reading code (Lovable better)
Core Features
WebContainers (in-browser runtime)
The Linux runtime, npm, file system, and HTTP server run inside your browser via WebAssembly. Zero cold start — the dev server is ready the moment the agent finishes writing files, and compute is your laptop, not a cloud VM. This is why a $25 Pro plan can bundle 10M tokens.
Full-Stack Generation
One prompt generates frontend, backend APIs, database schemas, and server logic. Unlike v0 (frontend only) or Lovable (React + Supabase only), Bolt builds a complete runnable application end-to-end.
Multi-Framework Support
React, Next.js, Astro, Vue, Svelte, SvelteKit, Remix, Vite, plus Node.js backends (Express/Fastify) — and the only major AI builder that produces React Native/Expo mobile apps.
Fast Edit-Run-Fix Loop
The browser-local runtime makes iteration feel instant: edit, preview, fix — no cloud sandbox reload between changes. The closest thing to "pair-programming with an AI" in a browser tab.
Complete Code Ownership
Download a full-project zip or sync to GitHub. Export and continue in Cline/Aider/local editors with your own key — no lock-in, no token pressure. This is the biggest difference from "demo toy" builders.
bolt.diy (open-source clone)
A community-maintained open-source version of Bolt you can self-host with your own API key — escape the token ceiling entirely by running Bolt's engine locally against free Gemini/OpenRouter models.
Pricing
The most generous free tier in the category: 1M tokens/mo (150-300K/day cap), realistically 3-8 prompts/day. Enough to scaffold and refine a small project. Limits: Bolt branding + public projects only.
- 1M tokens/month
- Full-stack generation
- Code export
- Bolt branding + public only
10M tokens with rollover (up to 2x allocation), no branding, priority models (Opus on paid plans). The sweet spot for regular prototyping work.
- 10M tokens, rollover
- No branding
- Premium models (Opus)
- Faster generation
Shared token pool, collaboration features, and centralized management for small teams building together in the browser.
- Shared token pool
- Team collaboration
- Central billing
- Same features as Pro
Self-host the open-source clone with your own API key (free Gemini/OpenRouter). Full control, no token limits, runs locally — the escape hatch for heavy users.
- Open source
- Your own API key
- No token caps
- Self-hosted
* Estimates from published usage reports & community benchmarks. Your API cost depends on model choice and volume. Local models via Ollama cost $0.
Bolt.new vs The Field
Bolt.new vs Lovable
Developer control vs non-technical polishBolt runs the full stack in-browser (WebContainers), supports more frameworks, and gives you readable, editable code. Lovable targets non-technical founders: built-in Supabase, one-click deployment, and polish over control. If your team reads code: Bolt. If the team is non-technical and output looks good matters most: Lovable. This is the most-searched comparison in the category.
Bolt for devs · Lovable for foundersBolt.new vs v0 (Vercel)
Full-stack vs frontend componentsv0 generates polished React/Next.js UI components (shadcn/ui, Tailwind) — frontend only. Bolt builds complete full-stack apps with backend, database, and server logic. Landing page or UI components: v0. Working full-stack app: Bolt. They are complementary — many teams use v0 for UI and Bolt for the API layer.
Complementary, not rivalsBolt.new vs Replit Agent
In-browser speed vs cloud autonomyReplit runs a cloud VM with 50+ languages, built-in hosting/database, and the most autonomous agent. Bolt runs in-browser (Node ecosystem) with near-instant iteration and more predictable token pricing, but needs export to deploy. Language flexibility + built-in hosting: Replit. Speed + cost predictability: Bolt.
Bolt for speed · Replit for autonomyWho Bolt.new Is Best For
Prompt-to-prototype
From "build a Next.js todo app with Supabase auth" to a running app in under a minute — the fastest way to validate an idea in the browser.
Frontend + backend scaffold
One prompt generates a full-stack app with APIs and database setup, unlike frontend-only tools. The scaffold-to-production foundation.
Mobile prototypes via Expo
The only major AI builder producing React Native/Expo mobile apps — extend your web prototype to mobile in the same tool.
Teaching & demos
No setup, no install — a running full-stack app in a browser tab. Perfect for workshops, hackathons, and interactive demos on any machine.
Scaffold then export
Use Bolt for structure, then export the zip to Cline/Aider with a free key and iterate without token pressure. The recommended power workflow.
Self-host with bolt.diy
Escape token ceilings entirely by self-hosting the open-source clone with free Gemini/OpenRouter keys — full control, unlimited iteration.
Getting Started
Open bolt.new
Sign in with GitHub or email in any Chromium browser (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Arc; Firefox works with slightly slower WebContainers). No credit card.
Write a tight first prompt
The single biggest free-tier optimization. Include pages, routes, data model, and integrations — e.g. build a Next.js todo app with Supabase auth and a /tasks page.
Iterate with edit-run-fix
Watch the live preview, ask for changes. WebContainers make edits instant — no cloud reload between iterations.
Deploy or export
One-click deploy to Netlify, or sync to GitHub / download the zip for full code ownership.
Continue in a local agent
Open the exported code in Cline or Aider with a free Gemini/OpenRouter key to keep iterating with no token budget pressure.
Consider bolt.diy
For heavy use, self-host the open-source clone with your own API key — unlimited generation, fully under your control.
FAQ
Is Bolt.new free?
Yes — Bolt has one of the most generous free tiers among AI app builders: 1M tokens per month (roughly 150-300K per day hard cap), which realistically delivers 3-8 meaningful prompts a day. That is enough to scaffold a small project and refine it. The free tier has two limits: Bolt branding on deployed sites and public projects only (no private). To escape the token ceiling, scaffold in Bolt then export the code and continue in a free CLI agent with your own key.
How much does Bolt.new cost?
Free tier: $0 with 1M tokens/month. Pro: $25/mo with 10M tokens and rollover (up to 2x allocation). Teams: $30/user/mo with a shared pool and collaboration. Enterprise: custom with SSO. The token-based model is more predictable than Replit's effort-based billing, but complex prompts burn tokens fast — a medium edit to a 5-file Next.js app can consume 30-60K tokens.
Is Bolt.new better than Lovable?
They serve different users. Bolt is developer-friendly: it runs the full stack in your browser via WebContainers, supports more frameworks (React, Vue, Svelte, Angular, Astro, Expo), and gives you full code ownership you can read and edit. Lovable is built for non-technical founders: built-in Supabase, one-click deployment, and polish over control. If you want to read/edit the code yourself: Bolt. If the team is non-technical and output polish matters most: Lovable.
Is Bolt.new better than v0?
They are complementary. v0 (by Vercel) generates polished React/Next.js frontend components with shadcn/ui and Tailwind — frontend only. Bolt generates complete full-stack applications including backend APIs, database setup, and server logic. If you need a landing page or UI components: v0. If you need a working full-stack app with a Node.js backend: Bolt. Many developers use v0 for UI and Bolt for the API layer.
How does Bolt.new compare to Replit Agent?
Both are browser-based full-stack AI builders, but differently. Replit runs on a cloud VM supporting 50+ languages with built-in hosting and database; Bolt runs in-browser via WebContainers (Node.js ecosystem, WASM) with near-instant iteration but requires export to deploy. Replit's Agent is more autonomous on long-running tasks; Bolt's edit-run-fix loop is faster and its token pricing more predictable. Language flexibility + built-in hosting: Replit. Speed + predictable cost: Bolt.
What is a WebContainer?
WebContainer is StackBlitz's technology that runs a Node.js-compatible Linux environment entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly. The Node runtime, npm, file system, and HTTP server all run in the tab — no remote server. This means zero cold start (the dev server is ready the moment code is written), and your compute is local. The trade-off: WebContainers cannot run native binaries not compiled for WASM — no Docker-in-Docker, native Postgres, or NumPy/Pandas for ML pipelines.
What frameworks does Bolt.new support?
React, Next.js, Astro, Vue, Svelte, SvelteKit, Remix, Vite, and plain HTML/CSS/JS, plus Node.js backends with Express/Fastify. It is also the only major AI builder that can produce React Native/Expo mobile apps. This multi-framework flexibility is Bolt's main differentiator over v0 (React/Next.js only) and its broadest advantage in the category.
Can I export my Bolt.new project?
Yes — the "Download" button ships a full-project zip with complete code ownership, and GitHub sync is built in. A common workflow: use Bolt to scaffold + structure, export the code, then continue iterating in Cline, Aider, or your local editor with a free Gemini/OpenRouter key — no token budget pressure. For production, export and deploy to Netlify, Vercel, or any host.
Why does Bolt.new run out of tokens so fast?
Every prompt resends the entire file tree, conversation history, and tool definitions to Claude. A medium-complexity edit to a 5-file Next.js project ("add a search bar that filters the post list") typically consumes 30-60K tokens of context. On the free tier's 300K daily cap that is 5-10 meaningful prompts. Two workarounds: plan offline first (tight design doc before opening Bolt), and use Bolt for scaffold then export to a local agent.
Is Bolt.new good for production apps?
For getting to a working prototype fast: yes, excellent. For production hardening: Bolt generates production-quality code you can export to GitHub and deploy anywhere, but complex apps with custom auth, intricate database schemas, or heavy backend logic typically need developer review and refinement. It excels at the scaffold-to-prototype phase; production usually means manual work on top.