Bolt.new
In-browser AI coding environment by StackBlitz that builds full-stack web apps from natural language prompts. No local setup needed.
Updated 2026-04-30
Overview
Bolt.new, built by the team behind StackBlitz, takes a fundamentally different approach to AI-assisted coding: everything runs in your browser. Using StackBlitz's WebContainers technology, it spins up a full Node.js dev environment without touching your local machine — no installs, no terminal commands, no dependency headaches. You describe what you want in plain English, and Bolt scaffolds a working full-stack application with live preview in seconds.
What sets Bolt apart from tools like Lovable or v0 is the depth of its output. It doesn't just generate UI components — it handles backend routes, database schemas, authentication flows, and API integrations. You can watch the code being written in real time, edit it inline, and deploy the result with one click. The iterative chat interface lets you refine features conversationally, making it genuinely useful for building MVPs and internal tools.
The free tier is generous enough for experimentation, but serious projects will hit token limits quickly. The paid plans unlock more tokens and faster model access. One notable limitation: because everything runs in WebContainers, you're constrained to the web stack — there's no support for native mobile, Python backends, or non-Node runtimes.
What sets Bolt.new apart
- Runs a full Node.js dev environment in the browser via StackBlitz WebContainers, no installs required
- Generates complete full-stack apps — backend routes, database, and auth — not just UI
- Live preview updates in real time as code is written
- Choice of multiple AI models (Claude, GPT-4o, Gemini) for code generation
Key features
Full-Stack Apps
Generates complete applications including frontend UI, backend API routes, database integration, and authentication — not just isolated components.
In-Browser Dev
Runs a full Node.js environment in the browser via StackBlitz WebContainers. No local setup, no dependency installation, no CLI required.
Instant Deploy
One-click deployment to Netlify and other hosting providers directly from the browser. Go from prompt to production URL in minutes.
Multi-Model Support
Choose between multiple AI models including Claude, GPT-4o, and Gemini for code generation, letting you pick the best model for your task.
Pricing
Free tier: Limited daily tokens with basic model access
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Limited daily tokens, basic model access, community support |
| Pro | $20/mo | Increased token limits, faster models, priority support |
| Pro 50 | $50/mo | 50M tokens/mo, all models, priority queue |
| Teams | Custom | Shared workspaces, admin controls, SSO |
Limited daily tokens, basic model access, community support
Increased token limits, faster models, priority support
50M tokens/mo, all models, priority queue
Shared workspaces, admin controls, SSO
Pros & cons
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
How it compares
| Tool | Best for | Pricing | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolt.new | Developers building full-stack MVPs and internal tools who want a working app with backend, database, and auth generated from a prompt with no local setup. | Freemium | 8.7/10 |
| Cursor vs Cursor → | Professional developers handling complex, multi-file refactors who want AI built into a familiar VS Code-based editor. | Freemium | 9.5/10 |
| GPT-5.5 vs GPT-5.5 → | Developers and teams needing a frontier reasoning model for agentic coding workflows and large-codebase context handling. | API: $5/$30 per 1M tokens (in/out). ChatGPT Plus $20/mo, Pro $200/mo | 9.4/10 |
| Windsurf vs Windsurf → | Developers who want an AI IDE that autonomously plans, codes, tests, and iterates across a project with minimal input. | Freemium | 9.1/10 |
Compare head-to-head
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Ready to try Bolt.new?
Head to the official site to start with Bolt.new — pricing and plans are listed above.
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