Bolt.new is a code editor from StackBlitz that runs in your browser. You describe an app in plain English, and an AI model writes the code, runs it and deploys it. You don't install anything on your machine. This guide covers how Bolt works, its main features, the five steps of a first project, its limits, and its pricing as of September 15, 2026.
Bolt.new: what it is and who it's for
Bolt.new in simple terms
Bolt.new is an online code editor powered by an AI model. You write what you want to build in natural language, Bolt generates the code for the frontend and backend, runs it in a container inside your browser tab and shows you the result live. You then make corrections with a new instruction, or directly in the code.
A traditional development environment expects you to know a programming language. Bolt doesn't. You describe what you need, Bolt turns it into working files, and your job is to check that the result matches what you expected.
Who uses it: beginners, freelancers, startups
Bolt has three kinds of users. Beginners with no programming experience get a working app by describing what they want. Freelancers ship a first version to clients faster and keep the code for later. Startup founders build an MVP without hiring a developer for the first version.
Why pick Bolt over another tool?
Compared with the alternatives to Bolt.new, Bolt has three things going for it. There's no training to sit through: the interface is just a chat panel, an editor and a preview. You see a first page running within minutes, while a local environment makes you install and configure tools before you write a single line of code. And you aren't locked into a rigid template: Bolt produces a showcase site, an online store or an internal management tool depending on what you describe.
The free plan lets you try Bolt before paying, with a daily and monthly token quota detailed in the pricing section.
How does Bolt.new work?
How Bolt works: it's all about prompts
You drive Bolt with prompts, which are instructions written in natural language. Instead of coding, you explain what you want and Bolt turns the request into working code.
To flesh out a prompt that's too short, Bolt offers an Enhance prompt feature:
- Type your request in the chat panel.
- Click the "+" icon at the bottom left of the chat panel, then click "Enhance prompt".
- Answer Bolt's questions, and it generates a detailed version of your request.
Bolt also offers project templates as a starting point, so you begin from a base that already runs instead of a blank page.
The interface, explained simply
Bolt's interface has three areas. The code editor shows the generated files; right-click a file and choose "Target file" to tell Bolt where to focus its changes. The chat panel takes your prompts and shows the assistant's replies. The preview displays your app in real time, and a visual inspector lets you click any element on the page and change it with a prompt.
Bolt code: a look at the generated code
Bolt edits code with diffs: it only rewrites the lines your request touches, which saves tokens and reduces regressions in the rest of the project.
Bolt generates a full-stack project, frontend and backend. The code runs in the browser right away, with no local setup.
When something breaks, ask Bolt to find the error and fix it. Split complex requests into small steps: you'll pin down problems faster and use fewer tokens.
Bolt.new's main features
AI code generation
Bolt turns a sentence into files. "Build me a React app with a responsive navigation bar" is enough to get the structure, components and styling. On request, Bolt reads compilation errors and fixes them, which saves you hours of debugging.
An intuitive, browser-based interface
Bolt runs entirely in your browser, with nothing to install locally. The screen is split in two: the conversation with the AI on the left, the code and its preview on the right. Your attention stays on the project instead of on menus.
Full-stack support: frontend, backend, database
Bolt supports React, Vite, Next.js, Astro and Svelte on the frontend, and sets up a Node.js backend with Express. Your browser becomes a complete development environment.
Fast deployment with Netlify
Bolt has Netlify built in for hosting. Click "Deploy", Netlify publishes the app, and you get a public URL to share. You skip configuring a server and a deployment pipeline.
GitHub and Supabase integrations
Bolt connects to GitHub for version control and to Supabase for the backend: a hosted SQL database, user authentication, and edge functions to expose an API. Add the Stripe integration and you can build an app with user accounts, data storage and payments.
Building your first app with Bolt.new
Step 1: Sign up and open Bolt
Go to bolt.new and create an account. There's nothing to install, since Bolt runs in the browser. The free plan is enough for a first test. Once you're logged in, you'll see the chat panel you use to talk to the AI.
Step 2: Write an effective prompt
The quality of the output depends on the quality of the prompt. Before writing, pin down four things: the product you're building, who will use it, the features it can't do without, and its visual style.
Use "Enhance prompt" to turn "Build me a blog" into a description that spells out the pages, the tech and the design you expect.
Step 3: Customize the generated interface
After generation, right-click a file and choose "Target file" to limit Bolt's changes to that file. The visual inspector lets you click an element in the preview and change it without hunting for the matching line of code.
Step 4: Test and fix errors
Work in small steps: one feature, one test, then the next. To analyze a problem without touching the code, switch to Plan mode: Bolt discusses and diagnoses without modifying the project, and uses fewer tokens than Build mode. As a project grows, the npx knip command lists unused files and dependencies you can delete.
Step 5: Deploy your project
Click "Deploy" at the top right of the interface. Bolt publishes to Netlify and gives you a public URL. You can then move the site to your own Netlify account and link the project to a GitHub repository to track versions.
Bolt.new: strengths, limits and alternatives
What Bolt AI does well
Bolt is fast for prototyping: a first version takes hours. Sidetool reports the case of a founder who built a CRM with invoicing in three weeks for €286.26 in tokens.
Bolt lowers the barrier to entry: if you can describe your product in plain English, you get a working app without any prior technical skills.
Limits to know about (design, complexity)
Bolt struggles with highly customized interfaces, such as in-house design systems and bespoke animations. Token usage climbs on large projects; Trickle quotes a user who burned through 1.3 million tokens in a single day.
On a complex app, Bolt gets the core built quickly, but the finishing touches take manual work, either in the code or through a series of targeted prompts.
Bolt reviews: what users say
Feedback is mixed. Happy users point to how quickly a prompt becomes a running app. The criticism, reported in the Trickle review mentioned above, centers on Bolt rewriting entire components for a small change, which wastes tokens and sometimes breaks code that was working.
Is Bolt.new free or paid? Pricing
Pricing as of September 15, 2026 on bolt.new/pricing, billed monthly.
| Plan | Price | Tokens | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 300,000 per day, 1 million per month | public and private projects, hosting, Bolt banner on sites, files up to 10 MB |
| Pro | $25 per month | 10 million per month, no daily limit | no Bolt banner, custom domain, files up to 100 MB |
| Teams | $30 per month per member | everything in Pro | centralized team management |
Since July 1, 2025, unused tokens on a paid plan roll over to the following month. Annual billing cuts the price by up to 28%, according to Bolt.
Bolt.new alternatives: what else is out there?
If Bolt doesn't fit your needs, there are four similar tools. UI Bakery targets apps connected to existing APIs or databases. OpenBolt.dev is an open-source take inspired by Bolt.new. Lovable puts the emphasis on interface design. Bubble suits apps with a lot of business logic, though it takes longer to learn. Our Cursor vs Lovable vs Bolt comparison breaks down the differences, and our roundup of AI tools for startups covers the rest of the stack: marketing, agents and operations.
Frequently asked questions
Does Bolt.new work offline? No. Bolt runs in the browser and relies on a remote AI model to generate code. You can export the project to GitHub and keep working in your local editor.
What happens when the free quota runs out? The Free plan caps usage at 300,000 tokens per day and 1 million per month. Once you hit the cap, you either wait for the reset or upgrade to the Pro plan at $25 per month, which removes the daily limit.
Can I get the code Bolt generates? Yes. Push the project to a GitHub repository or download the files, then work in your own editor. The code is yours.
Is Bolt.new a good fit for a startup MVP? Yes, for testing an idea with early users, with a Supabase database and Stripe payments. Our guide to vibe coding an MVP as a non-technical founder explains when to hand things over to a developer.
Building your first product with Bolt and looking for long-term support? swanbase backs early-stage founders in Paris and remotely, at no cost, by application; swanbase takes equity. Apply.
