The AI-powered web development platform that generates full-stack code instantly in your browser.
Bolt.new, built by StackBlitz, is an in-browser AI app builder that generates, runs, and deploys full-stack web applications from a prompt — entirely in the browser, with no local setup. Its distinguishing technical trick is WebContainers: it runs a real Node.js environment in the browser tab, so the generated app actually executes live as you build it, with a real preview rather than a mockup.
Pricing is token-based. The Free plan is genuinely functional — 1M tokens per month with a 300K daily limit, no credit card required — enough for real learning and prototyping, though deployed sites carry Bolt branding and cannot use a custom domain. Pro ($25/mo) gives 10M+ tokens, removes the daily limit, adds token rollover, custom domains, and drops the branding. A key detail: tokens are consumed mostly by syncing your project's file system to the AI, so larger projects cost more per message regardless of how small your change is.
Its strength is the genuine full-stack, run-it-live experience with zero setup. For developers who want to go from idea to a working, deployed full-stack app fast — and who are comfortable reading and steering the generated code — Bolt is one of the most capable options, particularly for Next.js and modern JS frameworks.
The honest weaknesses: the token economics are the real catch. Because tokens scale with codebase size, costs climb as your project grows, and heavy users can burn through even the Pro allotment on a larger app. Like all AI builders, it also struggles as complexity increases. Compared with Lovable (full-stack but aimed at non-developers) and v0 (UI-and-developer-focused), Bolt sits in the middle: full-stack, but best for developers. See Bolt.new vs Lovable.
Who it is for: developers who want a zero-setup, run-live, full-stack builder and can steer the generated code. Who it is not for: complete non-coders (Lovable is gentler), or anyone building a large app where token costs will scale uncomfortably.
Bolt's signature use: describe an app and watch it build and run live in the browser via WebContainers — no local environment, no install. For quickly testing a full-stack idea with real execution, it removes all the setup friction.
Because the free tier is genuinely functional and the app runs live, beginners use Bolt to learn modern web development by watching working code get generated and being able to tweak it immediately, with instant feedback.
Developers spin up a working, deployed full-stack demo for a client or stakeholder in a single session. On Pro, custom domains and no Bolt branding make these demos look professional rather than like a prototype.
Bolt offers Free (1M tokens/month, 300K daily limit, no credit card, but Bolt branding and no custom domain), Pro ($25/mo or ~$22.50 annually, 10M+ tokens, no daily limit, token rollover for up to two months, custom domains, no branding), and Teams ($30/member/month). The crucial pricing mechanic: Bolt is token-based and most tokens are consumed syncing your project's files to the AI — so the larger your codebase, the more each message costs, independent of how small the edit is. Heavy users on bigger projects can exhaust even the Pro allotment, so budget by project size, not just message count.
WebContainers — Bolt runs a real Node.js environment inside the browser tab, so the app you build actually executes live as you go, with a real preview rather than a static mockup. Combined with zero local setup, this run-it-live experience is its main differentiator.
Because tokens are consumed mostly by syncing your project's file system to the AI, not just by your prompt length. As your codebase grows, each message costs more tokens regardless of how small the change is. This is the most common surprise for users on larger projects.
For learning and prototyping, yes — 1M tokens/month with a 300K daily limit and no credit card is genuinely functional. The limits are the Bolt branding on deployed sites and no custom domain, so anything client-facing or production-ready pushes you to Pro at $25/mo.
Both build full-stack apps, but Bolt is aimed at developers who want to steer the code and run it live, while Lovable is gentler and targeted at non-developers. Choose Bolt if you can read and direct the generated code; choose Lovable if you want the AI to handle as much of the stack as possible. See our Bolt.new vs Lovable comparison.
Only on paid plans. The free tier deploys with Bolt branding and no custom domain support. Pro ($25/mo) and Teams add custom domains and remove the branding, which is why anything beyond prototyping generally requires upgrading.
Full review coming soon.