Bolt.new - Claude code alternative

Bolt.new uses AI to generate and deploy full-stack web apps that use modern frameworks. Build and scale high-performing websites & apps using your words. Just describe what you want, and Bolt creates it for you. You can then change things through simple chat prompts. Solo developers benefit from instant deployment, visual previews, and browser-based development without local setup requirements.

Strengths

No coding knowledge required: just bring your ideas and feedback, and Bolt will do the rest
Real-time visual preview during development with instant feedback on changes
Generate and deploy full-stack web apps that use modern frameworks
Browser-based environment eliminates local development setup requirements
Built-in deployment capabilities for immediate web hosting
Open-source Bolt codebase allows customization and self-hosting

Weaknesses

Token-based pricing can become expensive for heavy usage
Getting "lost in the forest" seems to be a common issue with its design
Error handling feels self-serving, like it's more about looking busy than actually fixing problems
Limited to web applications and may not support all programming languages
Requires internet connection for all development activities

Best for

New to coding? Bolt removes the technical roadblocks - beginners building web applications

Pricing plans

Free Plan — Free — Up to 150,000 tokens per day, capped at 1 million tokens per month
Team Plans — Unknown — Designed for teams and priced per user, with scalable tiers and collaboration features
Enterprise — Custom pricing — Bolt offers custom pricing. You'll need to contact their team for a quote

Tech details

Type: AI-powered web application builder
IDEs: Browser-based editor with built-in development environment
Key features: Prompt, run, edit, and deploy full-stack web applications, visual previews, instant deployment
Privacy / hosting: Cloud-based service, open-source Bolt codebase available for self-hosting
Models / context window: Uses Claude, GPT-4 and other AI models, context size unknown

When to choose this over Claude code

Need visual web application development with real-time previews
Want instant deployment without infrastructure setup
No coding knowledge required and prefer natural language prompting

When Claude code may be a better fit

Working on non-web projects or desktop applications
Need deeper integration with existing development workflows
Prefer terminal-based development with local file system access

Conclusion

Bolt.new serves as a Claude code alternative focused on web application development. Bolt gives you speed, flexibility, and full control for web projects with visual feedback. Bolt has higher industry adoption (69% vs 68%), but Claude Code might be better for specific cli assistant needs. Solo developers seeking rapid web app prototyping will find Bolt.new's browser-based approach compelling.

Sources

FAQ

What makes Bolt.new different from other AI coding tools? Bolt removes the technical roadblocks by providing a complete browser-based development environment with instant deployment. Unlike tools that require local setup, Bolt.new works entirely in your browser with real-time visual previews.

How does the token-based pricing work? Each plan includes a monthly token allowance you can spend on AI completions (e.g. Claude, GPT-4). Free Plan gets up to 150,000 tokens per day, capped at 1 million tokens per month.

Can I use Bolt.new without coding experience? Yes. No coding knowledge required: just bring your ideas and feedback, and Bolt will do the rest. The platform is designed for natural language prompting to create web applications.

What frameworks and technologies does Bolt.new support? If you want to use specific frameworks or libraries (like Astro, Tailwind, ShadCN, or any other popular JavaScript framework), mention them in your initial prompt to ensure proper scaffolding.

Is Bolt.new suitable for production applications? Build and scale high-performing websites & apps suggests production readiness, though specific scalability limits depend on your chosen hosting and deployment options.

Can I self-host Bolt.new? Yes. For developers interested in building their own AI-powered development tools with WebContainers, check out the open-source Bolt codebase available on GitHub for self-hosting and customization.

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