Bolt.new vs Lovable vs Replit Agent
Prompt-to-App Builders
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
Replit Agent
Build Apps with an AI Agent
Free tier / $25/mo Replit Core
★ 4.2/5
Our Verdict
Bolt.new is best for developers who want framework flexibility and fast browser-based iteration. Lovable is the top pick for designers and non-technical founders who want beautiful apps with built-in auth and payments. Replit Agent wins for backend-heavy projects, Python development, and complete beginners who need a full cloud environment.
Bolt.new vs Lovable vs Replit Agent — The Complete 2026 Showdown
These are the three biggest prompt-to-app builders in the vibe coding space. All three let you describe an application in plain English and get working software — but each one is built for a different kind of builder. This guide compares them across every dimension that matters so you can pick the right tool for your project.
At a Glance
| Bolt.new | Lovable | Replit Agent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Developers who want control | Designers and non-technical founders | Beginners and Python developers |
| Approach | Code-first, framework-flexible | Visual-first, design-polished | Plan-first, full-environment |
| Runs on | Browser (WebContainers) | Cloud generation | Cloud containers |
| Primary stack | Any JS framework | React + Tailwind + Supabase | Python, Node.js, and 50+ languages |
| Speed | Fastest | Fast | Slower (plans first) |
| Design quality | Good | Excellent | Basic |
| Backend depth | Moderate | Moderate (via Supabase) | Strong |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Bolt.new | Lovable | Replit Agent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual editing | No — code and file tree | Yes — click-to-edit any element | No — code editor only |
| Framework support | React, Next.js, Vue, Svelte, Astro | React + Tailwind only | Python, Node.js, Go, Ruby, Java, and more |
| Database | Supabase (manual setup) | Supabase (one-click, deep) | PostgreSQL, SQLite (built-in) |
| Authentication | Via Supabase | Built-in Supabase auth | Manual setup |
| Payments | Manual Stripe | Built-in Stripe integration | Manual Stripe |
| Deployment | Netlify one-click | Lovable hosting + custom domains | Replit Deployments (built-in) |
| Hosting included | No (Netlify free tier) | Yes | Yes |
| GitHub sync | Download / manual push | Two-way sync | GitHub integration |
| Image-to-app | Limited | Yes — upload screenshots | No |
| File system access | Full file tree + terminal | Code view available | Full cloud IDE + terminal |
| Collaboration | No | Limited | Real-time multiplayer |
| Mobile access | Browser | Browser | Mobile app |
| Always-on services | No | No | Yes — Repls run 24/7 |
| Agent planning | Generates immediately | Generates immediately | Creates plan first, then builds |
| AI debugging | Yes — reads errors and fixes | Yes — iterates on issues | Yes — plans fixes |
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Bolt.new | Lovable | Replit Agent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Limited tokens | 5 credits/day | Basic Repls, limited compute |
| Entry paid | $20/mo (10M tokens) | $20/mo (100 credits) | $25/mo (Core) |
| Higher tier | $50/mo (Teams) | $50/mo (500 credits) | $40/user/mo (Teams) |
| Hosting cost | Separate (Netlify) | Included | Included |
| Usage model | Token-based | Credit-based | Subscription-based |
Pricing winner: Bolt and Lovable tie at $20/mo for solo builders. Replit is $25/mo but includes hosting. If you factor in hosting costs, all three end up in a similar range. For teams, Bolt is cheapest at $50/mo flat; Replit charges per user.
Target Audience
Bolt.new is built for:
- Developers who want to see code, pick frameworks, and control the stack
- Frontend-focused builders creating React, Vue, or Svelte apps
- Hackathon participants who need the fastest path to a deployed web app
- Indie hackers who want to prototype fast and refine in Cursor later
Lovable is built for:
- Non-technical founders building SaaS products without a dev team
- Designers who want to click-edit visual output, not write code
- Agencies creating quick prototypes for client demos
- Solo builders who need auth, database, and payments out of the box
Replit Agent is built for:
- Complete beginners who've never coded before
- Python developers (data science, automation, ML, bots)
- Students and educators using collaborative cloud environments
- Backend-heavy projects that need APIs, cron jobs, or always-on services
- Chromebook users — everything runs in the cloud
Use Case Recommendations
| Use Case | Winner | Runner-up | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS MVP with auth + payments | Lovable | Bolt.new | Built-in Supabase + Stripe beats manual setup |
| Landing page | Bolt.new | Lovable | Fastest generation, Netlify deploy |
| Python web app / API | Replit Agent | — | Only one that supports Python |
| Vue / Svelte project | Bolt.new | — | Only one with non-React framework support |
| Screenshot to working app | Lovable | — | Best image-to-app capability |
| Discord or Telegram bot | Replit Agent | — | Always-on hosting + bot libraries |
| E-commerce / marketplace | Lovable | Bolt.new | Multi-user auth + database integration |
| Internal tool / admin panel | Bolt.new | Lovable | Full CRUD with framework control |
| Portfolio website | Lovable | Bolt.new | Most polished default design |
| Data dashboard | Replit Agent | — | Python data libraries (Pandas, Plotly) |
| Hackathon project (web) | Bolt.new | Lovable | Fastest from prompt to deploy |
| Learning to code | Replit Agent | — | Full IDE, shows all code, educational |
| Client demo / prototype | Lovable | Bolt.new | Visual editing for live iteration in meetings |
| Full-stack with custom backend | Replit Agent | Bolt.new | Best backend + database flexibility |
| Multi-page app with routing | Bolt.new | Lovable | Best complex app structure support |
| Always-on background service | Replit Agent | — | Only one with persistent compute |
Design & UI Quality
Lovable wins clearly. Its React + Tailwind output is consistently polished: balanced layouts, proper spacing, responsive design, modern aesthetics. Apps look professional out of the box.
Bolt.new is good — output quality depends on the framework and how specific your prompt is. With detailed design instructions, Bolt produces great results. Without them, output can be functional but plain.
Replit Agent is functional. The focus is on getting things working, not on visual polish. You'll likely need to iterate significantly on design if appearance matters.
Backend & Database Capabilities
Replit Agent wins for backend. It supports real server-side code in Python, Node.js, Go, and more. PostgreSQL is built in. You can run cron jobs, background workers, and WebSocket servers.
Lovable is strong for standard web backends via Supabase — auth, row-level security, storage, and real-time subscriptions. It's opinionated but powerful for common patterns.
Bolt.new handles backend basics through Supabase or framework-specific APIs (Next.js server actions, Express routes). Less hand-holding than Lovable, more flexibility than Replit for web-specific backends.
When to Use More Than One
Many builders combine these tools for different stages or parts of their project:
- Lovable → Cursor: Generate the app in Lovable, sync to GitHub, refine in Cursor
- Bolt → Cursor: Prototype in Bolt, download code, continue in a full IDE
- Lovable (frontend) + Replit (backend): Use Lovable for the polished UI, Replit for a Python API
- Bolt (frontend) + Replit (backend): Bolt for the web app, Replit for backend services
Frequently Asked Questions
Which should I pick if I've never coded before? Start with Lovable if you want a web app that looks great immediately. Start with Replit Agent if you also want to learn how code works — it shows you everything and explains its planning process.
Which handles the most complex applications? Replit Agent, because it supports real backend logic, multiple languages, and always-on services. Bolt and Lovable are better for frontend-rich apps but hit limits with complex business logic.
Can I switch between them mid-project? Not easily. All three generate code differently and make different architectural choices. You can export code from any of them and continue in a traditional IDE, but migrating from one builder to another isn't practical.
Which has the best free tier?
- Lovable: 5 credits/day — enough to test one small project
- Bolt.new: Limited tokens — enough for a quick prototype
- Replit: Basic Repls with limited compute — enough to explore All free tiers are limited. You'll likely need a paid plan for real projects.
Do any of them generate mobile apps? None generate native mobile apps (React Native, Flutter). All create responsive web applications that work on mobile browsers.
Which is most likely to produce production-ready code? None produce code that's 100% production-ready for a complex app. Lovable gets closest for standard SaaS products (auth, payments, database are properly configured). Bolt produces clean code that developers can refine. Replit code may need the most cleanup. For production, plan to refine in Cursor or another IDE.
Can I use my own domain with all three?
- Lovable: Yes — custom domains on paid plans
- Bolt.new: Yes — via Netlify (free custom domains)
- Replit: Yes — custom domains on Core plan
Which is shipping features the fastest? All three are actively developing. Lovable has been shipping visual editing and Supabase features rapidly. Bolt launched Bolt Studio with enhanced file management. Replit has been improving Agent planning and Deployments. The space is evolving fast and the gap between them is narrowing.