Bolt.new vs Lovable
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
Browser-based AI agent that writes, runs, edits and deploys full-stack web apps.
AI tool · Freemium
An AI app builder that creates full-stack web apps from conversation, with code you can export to GitHub.
The short answer
Choose Bolt.new if you need…
- People who want to prototype a full-stack web app quickly without local setup
- Developers who want to see AI-generated code run in a live browser environment
- Non-coders such as PMs or designers who want a working web prototype, per the README's own framing
- Developers who want to study or build on the open-source Bolt codebase
Choose Lovable if you need…
- Non-developers building prototypes
- Quick MVPs
Side-by-side
| Bolt.new | Lovable | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | Coding · App builders |
| Price | Free and open source (hosted plans: freemium) | Freemium |
| Licence | MIT | — |
| GitHub stars | 16.6k | — |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | — |
| How you get it | Use it in the browser (or self-host) | — |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Works with | GitHub, Netlify, Supabase | GitHub, Supabase, Stripe |
| Main language | TypeScript | — |
| Last code update | 23 months ago | — |
| Hands-on tested by us | — | Not yet |
| Last checked | — | 2026-10-29 |
What each one is
Bolt.new
Bolt.new is an AI web development agent you use in your browser. You describe an app in a chat, and the AI builds it, runs it, and can deploy it, without installing anything locally. The README says it runs in an in-browser environment built on StackBlitz's WebContainers, so the AI can install npm packages, run Node.js servers, and edit files.
Lovable
An AI app builder that creates full-stack web apps from conversation, with code you can export to GitHub. Remarkably fast from idea to working prototype. Complex apps can become hard to maintain without engineering review, especially around security and data.
Best for
Bolt.new
- People who want to prototype a full-stack web app quickly without local setup
- Developers who want to see AI-generated code run in a live browser environment
- Non-coders such as PMs or designers who want a working web prototype, per the README's own framing
- Developers who want to study or build on the open-source Bolt codebase
Lovable
- Non-developers building prototypes
- Quick MVPs
Strengths
Bolt.new
- No local setup is required, according to the README
- The AI can control the filesystem, package manager, terminal, and browser console, not only generate code
- The core codebase is open source under the MIT license
Lovable
- Chat-to-app generation
- Supabase backend integration
- GitHub sync
- Hosting and custom domains
Not ideal for
Bolt.new
- People who need to work offline or fully on their own machine, since the README says it runs in the browser
- Teams that need predictable AI costs, because the README describes daily token limits and paid tiers for more tokens
- Anyone expecting a stable production product, since the README states Bolt.new is in beta
Lovable
—
Trade-offs
Bolt.new
- The README says Bolt.new is in beta
- Free use is limited by a daily token limit, after which AI interactions pause until the next day or an upgrade
- The README gives no detail on how well generated apps perform or on which deployment targets are supported
Lovable
—
Getting started
Bolt.new
Clone the open-source codebase (only if you want to build your own tool)
git clone https://github.com/stackblitz/bolt.newFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Bolt.new and Lovable?
Bolt.new: Browser-based AI agent that writes, runs, edits and deploys full-stack web apps. Lovable: An AI app builder that creates full-stack web apps from conversation, with code you can export to GitHub. Bolt.new suits people who want to prototype a full-stack web app quickly without local setup, while Lovable suits non-developers building prototypes.
Are Bolt.new and Lovable free?
Bolt.new: Free and open source (hosted plans: freemium). Lovable: Freemium.
What are other alternatives to Bolt.new and Lovable?
Other options people compare them with include Replit, v0.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.