Bolt.new Review 2026: The Full-Stack Vibe Coding Builder, Tested

Quick definition: Bolt.new is a browser-based AI builder that takes natural language prompts and produces full-stack web applications — frontend, backend, database — with one-click deployment. No terminal, no local setup, no environment wrangling.

One-minute highlights

• Type what you want in plain English; Bolt generates a complete app with live preview in seconds.
• Built-in Supabase integration handles auth, database, and backend without manual config.
• Free tier gets you started; paid plans unlock heavier usage, priority models, and team features.

Jump to the specs? Visit the dedicated Bolt.new tool page for feature lists, signup links, and related reads.

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Introduction to Bolt.new

Bolt.new came out of the StackBlitz ecosystem — the same team behind the WebContainers technology that runs Node.js entirely in the browser. With $105M in funding behind it, Bolt isn't a weekend side project. It's a serious bet that the future of app building starts with a prompt, not a terminal.

The pitch is straightforward: describe what you want, and Bolt's AI agents build it. Not just a static page — a full-stack application with routing, authentication, database tables, and deployment. The whole thing runs in your browser tab. No npm install, no Docker, no "works on my machine" headaches.

What makes Bolt interesting in the crowded AI builder space is where it sits on the spectrum. Tools like Cursor assume you're a developer who wants AI help while coding. Tools like Lovable target people who may never want to see code at all. Bolt lands in the middle — you can use it without writing a line of code, but the full codebase is right there if you want to dig in. That flexibility is why it's become one of the most-discussed tools in the vibe coding community.

Core Features of Bolt.new

Prompt-to-App Generation

The core loop: type a description of what you want ("build me a task management app with user login and team workspaces"), and Bolt generates the full application. Not a wireframe, not a mockup — actual running code with a live preview you can interact with immediately.

The AI handles file structure, component architecture, routing, and styling decisions. You can steer things with follow-up prompts ("make the sidebar collapsible" or "add a dark mode toggle"), and the agents iterate on the existing codebase rather than starting from scratch each time.

For simple apps — landing pages, dashboards, CRUD tools, portfolio sites — the output is genuinely usable on the first try. For anything with complex business logic or unusual UX patterns, expect a few rounds of refinement.

Supabase Integration

This is one of Bolt's strongest selling points. Instead of treating the backend as an afterthought, Supabase is wired in from the start. Ask for user authentication, and Bolt sets up Supabase Auth with proper session handling. Ask for a database, and it creates tables with row-level security policies.

The integration isn't just surface-level "connect to Supabase" — it generates the actual migration files, API calls, and client-side hooks. For founders building MVPs, this saves days of boilerplate backend work. You go from "I need a user dashboard" to "here's a working dashboard with login, data persistence, and proper auth" in minutes.

Figma and GitHub Imports

You don't have to start from a blank prompt. Bolt can import Figma designs and turn them into functional components, preserving layout, spacing, and styling decisions from your design files. It can also pull in existing GitHub repositories as a starting point, which is useful for extending or rebuilding parts of an existing project.

The Figma import is particularly relevant for teams where a designer hands off mockups and a builder needs to turn them into working code. Instead of the usual design-to-code translation headaches, Bolt bridges the gap directly.

One-Click Deployment

When the app looks right, deployment is a single click. Bolt handles hosting, SSL, and production builds without you touching a deployment pipeline. The result is a live URL you can share with users, investors, or teammates immediately.

For prototypes and MVPs, this eliminates one of the biggest friction points in the build cycle. You go from idea to live URL without configuring Vercel, Netlify, or any other hosting provider manually. For production-scale apps, you'll eventually want more control over your infrastructure — but for getting something live fast, the built-in deployment is hard to beat.

Agentic Workflows

Bolt v2 introduced more agentic capabilities — the AI doesn't just generate code on command, it plans, iterates, and fixes issues autonomously. If a build fails, the agent reads the error and tries to fix it before you even ask. If a feature request requires changes across multiple files, the agent coordinates those changes rather than making you specify each file manually.

This is where Bolt moves beyond "fancy code generator" into genuine AI-assisted development. The agents aren't perfect (complex logic and edge cases still trip them up), but for the 80% of app building that's boilerplate, routing, and standard patterns, they handle it well.

Visual Editor with Live Preview

Every change shows up in a real-time preview next to the code. You can switch between visual editing and code editing, which means you can tweak spacing by dragging rather than guessing pixel values. The preview isn't a static render — it's the actual running application, so you can click through flows, submit forms, and test interactions as you build.

Pricing, Plans, and Hidden Costs

Free Tier

Bolt offers free access with limited usage. You can create projects, prompt the AI, and deploy — but you'll hit caps on agent runs and compute fairly quickly. For exploring the tool or building a simple one-off project, the free tier works. For sustained building, you'll outgrow it within a session or two.

Paid Plans

• Pro (subscription): Unlimited agent runs, priority access to frontier models, faster builds, and more compute. The sweet spot for individual builders and indie hackers.
• Team (per-seat): Everything in Pro plus collaboration features, shared workspaces, and admin controls. Aimed at small teams building together.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing with SSO, advanced security controls, and dedicated support. Implied "enterprise-grade" infrastructure per the v2 launch announcement.

Exact pricing has shifted since launch — check the current plans directly at bolt.new. At the time of writing, Pro runs around $20/month.

Hidden Costs and Gotchas

The main gotcha is the free tier's usage caps. A complex project can burn through your free allotment in a single session, especially if you're iterating heavily with the AI agents. The jump from free to paid is where Bolt monetizes, and power users will hit that wall fast.

Also worth noting: while deployment is included, scaling a production app beyond prototype traffic may require moving to your own infrastructure eventually. Bolt gets you live, but it's optimized for the 0-to-1 phase rather than the 1-to-1000 phase.

Pros and Cons

What We Like

• Speed to live app. Going from a text prompt to a deployed, working application with auth and database in under an hour is genuinely transformative for prototyping.
• Supabase-first backend. The integration is deep, not bolted on. Auth, database, storage, and row-level security work out of the box.
• No environment setup. Everything runs in the browser via WebContainers. No local Node.js, no Docker, no dependency conflicts.
• Figma import. Design-to-code without the usual manual translation. Huge time saver for designer-developer handoffs.
• Accessible to non-developers. The prompt-first approach means founders and designers can build functional prototypes without writing code.

What Could Be Better

• Cloud-only. No offline mode, no local fallback. If your connection drops, you're stuck.
• AI accuracy on complex logic. Standard CRUD operations and UI work great. Custom business logic, complex state management, and edge-case handling still need manual intervention.
• Free tier caps. The limits are tight enough that serious exploration requires paying. Not ideal for students or budget-conscious builders evaluating tools.
• Web-focused output. Bolt builds web apps. If you need a native mobile app, look at Rork instead.
• Code quality varies. The generated code is functional but not always clean. If you plan to maintain the codebase long-term, expect to refactor.

How Bolt.new Compares

Bolt.new vs Cursor

Cursor is a desktop IDE (VS Code fork) with AI built in — inline completions, chat, and multi-file agentic editing. Bolt is a browser-based builder that generates entire apps from prompts.

The audience split is clear: Cursor is for developers who already know how to code and want AI to accelerate their workflow. Bolt is for anyone — developer or not — who wants to go from idea to working app without managing a local dev environment. If you're comfortable in an IDE and want granular control, Cursor is the better tool. If you want to skip the IDE entirely and ship a prototype from your browser, Bolt wins.

Bolt.new vs Lovable

Lovable is the closest direct competitor — another prompt-to-app builder targeting MVPs and prototypes. The main differences: Bolt has stronger backend integration via Supabase and more developer-facing features (terminal access, code editing). Lovable leans harder into the no-code experience with a simpler, more guided interface.

For pure non-technical users who never want to touch code, Lovable might feel more approachable. For builders who want the option to drop into the code when the AI gets something wrong, Bolt gives you that escape hatch.

Bolt.new vs v0

v0 by Vercel generates UI components and pages from prompts, with tight Vercel/Next.js integration. It's excellent for frontend work but doesn't handle full-stack generation — no database, no auth, no backend logic out of the box.

If your focus is beautiful UI components within the Vercel ecosystem, v0 is more specialized. If you need a complete application with backend and deployment, Bolt covers more ground.

Who Should Use Bolt.new

Best For

• Indie hackers and founders. If you need to validate an idea with a working prototype before investing in a full engineering team, Bolt gets you there fast.
• Hackathon builders. The speed from prompt to deployed app is ideal for time-boxed building sessions.
• Designers who want to build. Figma import plus prompt-based iteration means designers can create functional apps from their own mockups.
• Non-technical founders. If you can describe what you want in plain English, Bolt can build it. No coding required for the initial version.

Not Ideal For

• Developers who want full IDE control. If you need terminal customization, extension ecosystems, and deep debugging tools, a desktop IDE like Cursor or Windsurf is a better fit.
• Complex production applications. Bolt excels at 0-to-1. For apps that need sophisticated architecture, custom infrastructure, and long-term maintenance, you'll outgrow the browser environment.
• Native mobile development. Bolt builds web apps. For iOS/Android, look elsewhere.

Verdict

Bolt.new has earned its reputation as one of the leading vibe coding tools for good reason. The combination of prompt-based generation, Supabase integration, and instant deployment creates a workflow that genuinely compresses the build cycle from days to hours — or even minutes for simpler projects.

The StackBlitz foundation (WebContainers, $105M in funding) gives it more technical depth than most browser-based builders. You're not just dragging widgets around — there's a real development environment under the hood, and you can access it when you need to.

The weak spots are predictable for any AI builder in 2026: complex logic still needs a human, the free tier pushes you to pay quickly, and generated code isn't always production-quality. But for the use case Bolt is designed for — getting from idea to working prototype as fast as possible — it delivers.

If you're building an MVP, validating a concept for investors, or shipping a hackathon project, Bolt.new should be on your shortlist. For long-term production development, pair it with a proper IDE for the maintenance phase.

Rating: 8/10