Windsurf vs Bolt.new
Windsurf (freemium, AI Score 9.1/10) vs Bolt.new (freemium, AI Score 8.7/10). Side-by-side pricing, features, pros and cons, and which to pick.
The verdict
- →overall capability matters more than price (AI Score 9.1 vs 8.7)
- →you need: development, productivity
Side-by-side specs
| Spec | Windsurf | Bolt.new |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | freemium | freemium |
| Headline pricing | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free tier | Unlimited basic completions forever | Limited daily tokens with basic model access |
| AI Score | 9.1/10 | 8.7/10 |
| Best for | — | — |
| Editor's pick | — | ✓ Yes |
| Use cases | development productivity | — |
| Date added | 2025-06-01 | 2026-04-30 |
Pros and cons
Windsurf
Coding · freemium
Pros
- ✓Powerful autonomous agent capabilities
- ✓Generous free tier with unlimited completions
- ✓Excellent multi-step task execution
- ✓Fast and responsive editor
Cons
- ×Newer tool with smaller community
- ×Agent mode can sometimes go off-track
- ×Less mature extension ecosystem than VS Code
- ×Heavy resource usage during agent tasks
Bolt.new
Coding · freemium
Pros
- ✓Zero-setup development — everything runs in the browser with no installs
- ✓Generates full-stack apps with backend, database, and auth out of the box
- ✓Live preview updates in real time as code is generated
- ✓Multiple AI model choices give flexibility for different coding tasks
Cons
- ×Limited to Node.js/web stack — no Python, Go, or native mobile support
- ×Free tier token limits are hit quickly on anything beyond simple apps
- ×Generated code for complex business logic often needs manual intervention
- ×WebContainers environment can feel slower than local development for larger projects
FAQ
Is Windsurf better than Bolt.new? ▾
Windsurf scores 9.1/10 in our evaluation versus Bolt.new at 8.7/10. Windsurf edges ahead overall, but "better" depends on your use case — see the verdict block above.
Does Windsurf or Bolt.new have a free tier? ▾
Both offer free access. Windsurf: Unlimited basic completions forever. Bolt.new: Limited daily tokens with basic model access.
Should I choose Windsurf or Bolt.new in 2026? ▾
If overall capability matters more than price (AI Score 9.1 vs 8.7) pick Windsurf. If you want our editor's pick for this category pick Bolt.new. Both are credible — neither is a wrong choice.
Related comparisons
Updated 2026-06-27. Spec data sourced from official product pages and tracked in our public directory at /tools.