Bolt

What is Bolt?

Bolt, built by StackBlitz and often called Bolt.new, is an AI coding tool that generates and runs full-stack web applications directly inside your browser. You describe what you want to build, and Bolt writes the code, installs the packages it needs, starts a development server and shows you a live, interactive preview — all without touching your local machine. It’s built on WebContainers, StackBlitz’s technology for running a real Node.js environment inside a browser tab, which is what lets Bolt install dependencies and run a working app without any local setup.

Because everything happens in-browser, a Bolt project is a real, functioning codebase from the first prompt: an actual file tree, real package.json, real terminal output. That makes it a tool developers can drop into and start editing, not just a black box that spits out a preview image.

Key features

• Prompt-to-app generation. Describe an application and Bolt scaffolds the frontend, backend and configuration needed to run it.
• In-browser execution. Uses WebContainers to install packages and run a real development server without local installation.
• Editable file tree. Open, read and modify any generated file directly, alongside making changes through chat.
• Live preview. See the running app update as you or the AI make changes.
• Terminal access. View and interact with the command-line output behind the running project.
• One-click deployment. Publish finished projects to a live URL from inside the editor.

How to get started

1. Go to bolt.new and sign in.
2. Describe the app you want to build, including the main pages or features.
3. Watch Bolt generate the project structure and open the live preview.
4. Ask for changes through follow-up prompts, or edit files directly in the built-in editor.
5. Deploy the app when it’s ready, or export the project to continue elsewhere.

Who Bolt is for

Bolt suits developers who want to prototype quickly without setting up a local environment, and it works just as well for non-developers testing an app idea before involving an engineering team. It’s a good fit for hackathon-style projects, quick internal tools, and anyone who wants to see and touch the actual generated code rather than a black-box output. Teams already using StackBlitz for other projects will find the workflow especially familiar.

Tips for getting the most out of Bolt

• Start with a clear, scoped prompt. Describing one core feature at a time keeps the generated code easier to follow than one giant request.
• Read the file tree. Since Bolt generates real code, skimming the structure early helps you understand what to ask for next.
• Use the terminal output. When something breaks, the visible terminal log usually shows exactly what failed, which you can paste back into the prompt.
• Validate any generated config or API payloads with the free JSON formatter before wiring them into other services.
• Test generated regex or validation logic with the regex tester instead of trusting it blindly.

Bolt vs alternatives

Lovable targets similar prompt-to-app generation but leans toward polished, database-connected products built to be maintained over time, rather than fast disposable prototypes. v0 focuses specifically on generating UI components and pages for React and Next.js, without running a full app environment. Replit offers a broader cloud IDE with an AI agent, better suited to people who want persistent projects and more control over infrastructure. Cursor is a code editor built around AI assistance for developers who want to write and review code directly rather than generate a full app from a single prompt.

Is Bolt worth it?

For quickly testing whether an app idea works, or for developers who want to prototype without setting up a project locally, Bolt is a genuinely fast option. The free plan is enough to try the workflow and see whether in-browser development suits how you work. Heavier or more frequent projects will need a paid plan to avoid running out of usage mid-build, and larger production apps will still benefit from moving the generated code into a proper local or CI/CD workflow eventually.

See more app-building and coding tools in the AI tools catalog.