Cloud Platforms & Prototyping
The line between local development and cloud deployment is blurring. <strong>Cloud Platforms and Prototyping tools</strong> like <strong>Bolt.new</strong> and <strong>Replit Agent</strong> provide complete development environments in your browser. They allow you to spin up a full-stack application, database included, with a single prompt, and deploy it to the world instantly.
Top Cloud Platforms & Prototyping tools right now
Bolt.new
Bolt.new
Free tier available, Team & Enterprise plans
Part of StackBlitz ecosystem. AI-driven full-stack builder with Supabase integration. Raised $105M in funding. Works for coders, nocoders, and marketers to spin up web apps quickly.
String
String
Paid plans
AI agent builder to prompt, run, edit, and deploy agents to automate workflows quickly.
GitHub Spark
GitHub Spark
Paid plans / TBA
GitHub platform to build and deploy full-stack intelligent apps using natural language, visual tools, or code.
bolt.diy
bolt.diy
Open Source (Free)
Open-source platform for prompting, running, editing, and deploying full-stack web apps with multiple model providers.
Databutton
Databutton
Paid plans
AI developer that collaborates with you to build and deploy business applications.
Co.dev
Co.dev
Paid plans
Platform focused on generating full-stack Next.js applications from natural language.
Tempo
Tempo
Paid plans
Designer-developer collaboration tool with drag-and-drop visual editing for React code.
Replit
Replit
Free tier, Core $25/mo, Teams
The complete browser-based development environment. Features Replit AI (Ghostwriter) for code generation, explanation, and autonomous agent capabilities. Zero setup required.
Instant Development Environments in the Cloud
The Power of Ephemeral Environments
Imagine having a fresh, pre-configured computer for every project. That's the promise of cloud development environments. You don't need to install Node.js, configure Docker, or mess with local ports. You just open a URL, and you're ready to code.
AI-Driven Full Stack Generation
Tools like Bolt.new take this a step further. They don't just give you an editor; they give you an AI web developer. You can ask them to "Build a Trello clone," and they will:
- Set up the project structure (Vite, Remix, Next.js).
- Install dependencies.
- Write the frontend and backend code.
- Set up a database (often using Supabase).
- Deploy it to a live URL.
Ideal for MVPs and Hackathons
Speed is the name of the game here. If you have an idea on a Friday night, these platforms let you have a working, shareable product by Saturday morning. They handle the "undifferentiated heavy lifting" of DevOps and setup, letting you focus purely on the product.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cloud IDEs fast enough for daily work?
Yes, modern cloud IDEs run on powerful servers and use technologies like WebAssembly to feel almost as responsive as local editors.
Can I use my own domain name?
Absolutely. Tools like Replit and Bolt allow you to connect custom domains to your projects easily.
What happens if I lose internet access?
Since these tools run in the cloud, you generally need an active internet connection. However, many allow you to download your codebase to work locally if needed.
Find the best Cloud Platforms & Prototyping tool for your workflow
Use this category page as a curated shortlist of Cloud Platforms & Prototyping tools. You can explore each tool’s features on its tool page, then compare options via their alternatives pages. If you want to browse everything, head back to All Tools.
Popular starting points in this category include Replit, Bolt.new and String.
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