What is Bolt.new?
Bolt.new by StackBlitz is an AI app builder that generates, runs, and hosts complete full-stack applications in the browser – without any local setup. The free tier provides a daily and monthly token allowance; paid plans increase the token quota, remove branding, and allow custom domains.
Under the hood, Bolt.new runs on StackBlitz's WebContainer technology, which executes a full Node.js environment directly in the browser. You describe your app in natural language, and the AI generates frontend, backend, and configuration, installs packages, and starts the application in a live preview — all in a single window. Unlike pure UI generators such as v0, Bolt.new targets the whole app rather than individual components. Through integrations you can wire up databases, authentication, and deployment, so a single prompt can turn into a running, published project.
Bolt.new: Strengths and weaknesses
Bolt.new's biggest strength is the interplay of generation and instant in-browser execution. You see changes immediately in the preview, can edit the generated code directly, and publish the result without a local toolchain. This makes the tool especially attractive for fast prototypes and MVPs. Its tight integration with the StackBlitz ecosystem ensures that package installation and builds also run smoothly in the browser.
On the downside is token consumption: more complex apps and many iterations quickly burn through the quota, which can drive up running costs. As with most AI builders, larger projects require manual intervention, and results aren't always production-ready on the first try. If you want full control and a classic local environment, an editor like Cursor is often the better fit.
Pricing and plans
Bolt.new offers a free tier with a daily and monthly token allowance that's well suited for trying it out. Paid plans start at around $25 per month (Pro) and mainly raise the token allowance; higher tiers provide even more tokens. The paid plans also remove Bolt branding and allow you to connect custom domains. Because billing is based on how many tokens the AI consumes, your effective costs depend heavily on the complexity of your projects and the number of iterations.
Who is Bolt.new for?
Bolt.new is especially well suited for founders, designers, and developers who want to get from idea to a working prototype quickly, without local setup. Technically minded non-developers also benefit from the browser-only experience. If you regularly build complex, long-lived applications or run a great many iterations, keep an eye on token consumption and consider comparing alternatives like Lovable or Replit.