Bolt.new

Bolt.new is an AI-powered app builder designed to help you create full-stack web apps right from your browser. Instead of setting up a local development environment, installing packages, and wiring everything together manually, you can describe what you want in plain English and let Bolt generate the project for you.

Built by StackBlitz, Bolt.new blends AI prompting with a live in-browser development environment. That means you are not just getting code suggestions. You can prompt, run, edit, test, and publish an app in one place, which makes the tool especially appealing for people who want to move from idea to working product much faster.

What Bolt.new does

Bolt.new helps users build websites, web apps, and even mobile-ready projects using natural language prompts. It can scaffold an application, install packages, run a backend with Node.js, work with APIs, and deploy the finished result without requiring local setup.

This makes Bolt.new more than a simple AI coding assistant. It acts more like an AI development workspace where the model can work with files, packages, servers, and app previews inside the browser. For many users, that removes a lot of the friction that usually comes with early-stage product building.

Who Bolt.new is for

Bolt.new is a strong fit for developers, indie hackers, startup founders, product managers, designers, and non-technical creators who want to prototype and launch web apps quickly. Experienced developers can use it to speed up scaffolding and iteration, while beginners can use it to create projects without needing to configure everything from scratch.

It is especially useful for people who prefer building by describing features in plain language first and refining the result as they go.

Main features

One of Bolt.new’s standout features is full-stack app generation from prompts. You can describe an app idea, choose a JavaScript-based stack, and let the tool generate a working starting point in the browser.

Another major feature is the live development environment powered by StackBlitz WebContainers. This allows Bolt.new to run Node.js servers, install npm packages, and preview your app without needing local software setup.

Bolt.new also includes code view, so you can switch from prompting to manual editing whenever you want. This is useful for developers who want direct control over the project after the initial AI-generated build.

The platform also supports built-in publishing, version history, collaboration, and project sharing. For apps that need data and authentication, Bolt Cloud can handle databases, user management, hosting, domains, analytics, storage, secrets, and server functions in one place.

On top of that, Bolt.new supports external workflows through tools and services such as GitHub, Supabase, Stripe, Netlify, Figma, Google Stitch, Expo, and MCP servers.

Common use cases

Bolt.new works well for building startup MVPs, internal tools, landing pages, dashboards, CRUD apps, authenticated web apps, admin panels, and quick prototypes. It is also useful for testing product ideas before investing time in a full traditional development cycle.

Teams can use it to create demo apps, validate flows, or share working previews with collaborators and stakeholders. Solo makers often use it to move from idea to deployed prototype in a single session.

How to use Bolt.new

Getting started is simple. Open Bolt.new in a Chrome or Chromium-based desktop browser, then enter a prompt describing the app you want to build. For example, you might ask it to create a task manager, a booking form, or a dashboard with login and database support.

After you submit the prompt, Bolt generates the project and shows a live preview. You can then continue refining the app through follow-up prompts, such as changing the layout, adding features, improving mobile responsiveness, or connecting services.

If you want more control, switch to code view and edit the files directly. Bolt.new also lets you inspect project settings, review database information, restore earlier versions from version history, and publish the project when you are ready to share it.

For best results, start with a clear prompt that explains the app goal, target users, key pages, and important features. If you already know your preferred framework or libraries, mention them upfront so Bolt can scaffold the project more accurately.

Pricing

Bolt.new uses a freemium, token-based pricing model. It is free to get started, and the official documentation says free accounts include a token allowance with daily usage limits. Paid subscriptions are available for users who need more AI tokens or private project features.

If you are just exploring the platform, the free plan is enough to test the workflow and build smaller projects. For more frequent usage, larger apps, or team collaboration needs, a paid plan will be the better fit.

Supported platforms

Bolt.new works best on desktop in Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers such as Edge, Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi. Mobile browsers are not fully supported yet.

The platform focuses on JavaScript-based web technologies. It supports Node.js for backend work and browser-native JavaScript frameworks on the frontend. It can also generate Expo-compatible projects for users who want to turn their work into mobile apps.

Why people like Bolt.new

The biggest benefit of Bolt.new is speed. It reduces the gap between idea and working product by combining AI generation, live coding, and deployment in one browser-based workspace.

Another big advantage is accessibility. Non-developers can build more than a static mockup, while developers can skip repetitive setup work and focus on refining the product. Because you can prompt, edit, preview, and publish in one place, the workflow feels much simpler than stitching together multiple separate tools.

If you want an AI tool that can help you build real web apps instead of just generating snippets, Bolt.new is one of the more practical options to try.