Bolt.new vs Lovable
Prompt-to-App
Bolt.new
Prompt to Full-Stack App
Free tier / $20/mo Pro / $50/mo Teams
★ 4.5/5
Lovable
Build Software with AI
Free tier / $20/mo Starter / $50/mo Pro
★ 4.4/5
Our Verdict
Bolt.new is the better pick for developers who want framework flexibility and a more technical, code-centric experience. Lovable is the winner for non-technical builders, designers, and anyone who values visual editing and polished default designs. Both are excellent prompt-to-app builders — your choice depends on your technical background and project needs.
Bolt.new vs Lovable — Full Comparison for 2026
Bolt.new and Lovable are the two most popular prompt-to-app builders in the vibe coding ecosystem. Both let you describe an application in plain English and get a working, deployed app — but they approach the problem differently. Bolt is more developer-oriented; Lovable is more designer-oriented. Here's everything you need to know.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Bolt.new | Lovable |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Editing | Code-focused with file tree | Click-to-edit visual mode |
| Framework Support | React, Next.js, Vue, Svelte, Astro, and more | React + Tailwind (primarily) |
| Database Integration | Supabase (manual setup) | Supabase (one-click deep integration) |
| Authentication | Via Supabase or manual | Built-in auth via Supabase |
| Deployment | Netlify one-click deploy | Lovable hosting + custom domains |
| GitHub Sync | Download code / manual push | Two-way GitHub sync |
| Runtime | WebContainers (in-browser Node.js) | Cloud-based generation |
| Image-to-App | Limited | Upload screenshots/designs to recreate |
| Payment Integration | Manual Stripe setup | Built-in Stripe integration |
| Templates | Community templates | Community showcase + forkable projects |
| Real-time Preview | Instant (runs in browser) | Fast (cloud-generated preview) |
| Code Access | Full file tree visible | Code view available, visual editing default |
| Mobile Responsive | Depends on prompt specificity | Responsive by default |
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Bolt.new | Lovable |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Limited tokens | 5 credits/day |
| Starter/Pro | $20/mo (10M tokens) | $20/mo (100 credits) |
| Pro/Higher | $50/mo (Teams) | $50/mo (500 credits) |
| Usage Model | Token-based | Credit-based |
Bottom line on pricing: Both cost $20/mo at the entry level. Bolt uses token-based pricing (how much text the AI processes), while Lovable uses credits (per AI interaction). For heavy iteration, Bolt's 10M tokens tend to go further than Lovable's 100 credits, but mileage varies by project complexity.
Target Audience
Choose Bolt.new if you are:
- A developer who wants to see and control the code
- Someone who needs Vue, Svelte, Astro, or frameworks beyond React
- A builder who values framework flexibility
- Someone who prefers Netlify for deployment
- A developer who wants the files running locally in the browser (WebContainers)
Choose Lovable if you are:
- A non-technical founder building your first product
- A designer who wants to click-edit the visual output
- Someone who needs built-in auth, database, and payments
- A builder who values polished, beautiful default designs
- Someone who wants two-way GitHub sync for continued development in an IDE
Use Case Recommendations
| Use Case | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| SaaS MVP with auth + payments | Lovable | Built-in Supabase auth + Stripe integration |
| Landing page | Tie | Both generate excellent landing pages |
| Vue or Svelte project | Bolt.new | Lovable is React-only |
| Design-to-code from a screenshot | Lovable | Image-to-app is more mature |
| Internal tool / admin panel | Tie | Both handle CRUD apps well |
| Non-technical founder building alone | Lovable | Visual editing doesn't require code knowledge |
| Developer prototyping quickly | Bolt.new | More control, framework flexibility |
| Portfolio website | Tie | Both create polished results |
| Multi-page app with routing | Bolt.new | Better support for complex app structures |
| Client demo / rapid prototype | Lovable | Visual editing allows fast iteration in meetings |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export my code from both tools? Yes. Bolt lets you download the full source code or connect to GitHub. Lovable has two-way GitHub sync so you can push to a repo and continue in Cursor or any IDE.
Which generates better-looking apps? Lovable generally produces more polished default designs — its UI output tends to be more consistent and visually refined. Bolt's output quality depends more on your prompt specificity and the framework chosen.
Which is better for complete beginners? Lovable. Its visual editing mode means you can modify your app without ever looking at code. Bolt shows you the file tree and code by default, which can be overwhelming for non-developers.
Can I use my own backend with either tool? Both primarily generate frontend code with Supabase as the backend. For custom backends (Express, Django, etc.), Bolt has more flexibility since it supports various frameworks. Lovable is more opinionated about its stack.
Which handles complex business logic better? Neither is great for highly complex business logic — both shine at UI-heavy applications with standard CRUD operations. For complex logic, consider generating the frontend in Bolt or Lovable and building the backend separately.
Do the apps work on mobile? Both generate responsive web apps that work on mobile browsers. Neither generates native mobile apps (React Native, Flutter, etc.).
Can I use both together? Some builders prototype in Lovable for the visual experience, then export to GitHub and refine in Bolt or Cursor. This workflow combines Lovable's design quality with more technical tools for fine-tuning.