Bolt.new: Build Websites and Web Apps With AI, No Code Required

Bolt is an AI-powered app builder by StackBlitz that lets you create websites, web apps, and even mobile applications just by describing what you want – no coding required. It belongs to a category that has exploded since 2025: AI tools that turn ideas into live products through conversation.

For SMEs, the appeal is simple. Building even a basic web application traditionally means hiring a developer or agency, waiting weeks, and spending a significant chunk of a small team’s budget. This tool aims to put that power directly in the hands of founders, marketers, and product managers – turning what used to take weeks into a matter of hours.

AgentAya Verdict

This is one of the most complete AI app builders available today. Within a single interface, you can build a full-stack JavaScript web application with databases, authentication, payments, email templates, hosting, and SEO – all without writing code. The integration of multiple Anthropic Claude models gives users control over the speed-quality-cost tradeoff, and the built-in infrastructure (Bolt Cloud) eliminates the need to manage third-party services for most use cases.

That said, the platform has clear boundaries. It only builds JavaScript-based applications. The token-based pricing introduces unpredictability. And while security features exist, there are no documented compliance certifications, and the Privacy Policy dates from 2017 with no mention of GDPR or CCPA. A strong choice for SMEs that need to build and ship web applications quickly, provided they are comfortable working in English and can manage token consumption carefully.

Score Breakdown

CategoryScoreDescription
Features and capabilities⭐⭐⭐⭐ 3.5Full-stack JS app builder with databases, auth, payments, hosting, AI image generation, and design system support. Limited to JavaScript only.
Integrations⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0MCP connectors (8 built-in + custom), Stripe, Supabase, GitHub, Netlify, Expo, Figma, Google SSO. 
Language and support⭐⭐⭐ 4.0Comprehensive English-only resources: Help Center, video tutorials, best practices. Enterprise tier offers 24/7 priority support. 
Ease of use⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.5Conversational interface, selector tool, version history, zero-token actions, Enhance Prompt, Plan Mode. Learning curve around token management.
Value for money⭐⭐⭐ 3.5Generous feature set on paid plans with token rollover. Free tier is very limited. Token consumption is variable and hard to predict. Enterprise pricing is opaque.

Overall AgentAya Score: 3.9/5.0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A powerful, feature-rich AI app builder with excellent ease of use, held back by English-only availability and token cost unpredictability for budget-conscious SMEs.

Ideal for:

  • Entrepreneurs and founders who need to go from idea to live web application in hours or days, not weeks.
  • Small marketing teams that want to spin up landing pages, campaign sites, or internal tools without depending on developers.
  • Agencies delivering multiple client projects that need to scale output without scaling headcount.
  • Product managers who want to prototype and test ideas with real, functional applications before committing development resources.
  • Students and side-project builders learning by doing, turning ideas into fully working apps.

Not ideal for:

  • SMEs that require backends in Python, PHP, or other non-JavaScript languages.
  • Teams that need a fully localized experience in Spanish or other non-English languages. 
  • Organizations with strict compliance requirements that need documented certifications before adopting a tool.
  • Users on a very tight budget who cannot absorb the variability of token consumption across different tasks.

Key Features

  • Two AI agents: Claude Agent (recommended, production-quality) and v1 Agent (legacy, faster but less reliable).
  • Five AI model options
  • Bolt Cloud: Built-in infrastructure including hosting (bolt.host), unlimited databases, user management and authentication, SEO optimization, analytics, and custom domains.
  • Stripe integration: One-click payment processing with support for one-time payments and subscriptions.
  • Google SSO: Built-in authentication integration via Google Cloud Console OAuth 2.0.
  • Six customizable email templates: Confirm sign-up, invite user, magic link, change email, reset password, and reauthentication – all editable with brand-aligned HTML.
  • Version history: Automatic backups with zero-token restore.
  • Code view: Direct code editing without consuming tokens.
  • Figma and GitHub import: Bring in existing designs or repositories directly.
  • Expo integration: Build mobile applications from the same project.
  • Netlify integration: Alternative publishing with editable URLs.
  • Team features: Shared workspaces, private NPM registries, design system knowledge, team templates, per-member token tracking, and spending limits.
  • Secrets management: A dedicated section for storing API keys and credentials outside of code.

These features allow an SME to go from concept to a fully deployed, database-backed web application with user authentication, payments, and branded email communications – all within a single platform and without managing external services.

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AI Functions

  • Agent-driven building: Describe what you want in natural language; the AI agent plans, generates code, sets up databases, and deploys the application.
  • Plan Mode (Claude Agent): Develops detailed build strategies before executing, reducing errors and wasted tokens on complex projects.
  • Enhance Prompt: Bolt auto-improves your initial prompt before building, producing more detailed and effective instructions.
  • Model selection: Choose between fast, lightweight models (Haiku 4.5) for quick edits and deep-reasoning models (Opus 4.6) for complex architectural decisions.
  • AI image generation: Describe an image and Bolt creates it with transparent background support and automatic WebP conversion.
  • Selector tool: Click any UI element directly to target changes via prompts.
  • Automatic error handling

What makes Bolt genuinely “intelligent” is the agent-driven workflow: users describe their goals and the AI handles everything from database schema to frontend layout to deployment. Model selection adds strategic control.

Integrations

  • 8 built-in MCP Connectors: Notion (notes, databases, collaboration), Linear (issue tracking, project management), GitHub (repos, issues, pull requests, code analysis), Miro (whiteboards, diagramming), Sentry (error tracking, performance monitoring), Context7 (up-to-date docs for LLMs), Granola (AI-powered meeting notes and transcripts), and Jira (issue tracking, project management). Custom connectors are supported via any remote MCP server URL.
  • Stripe: Automatic product sync, one-time and subscription payments, webhook handling, test mode.
  • Supabase: Alternative database provider with hosted SQL, authentication, and edge functions.
  • GitHub: Also supports importing existing repositories and CI/CD workflows.
  • Netlify: One-click publishing with editable URLs.
  • Figma: Import designs directly into projects.
  • Expo: Package web applications for iOS and Android app stores.
  • Google SSO: OAuth 2.0 user authentication.
  • Lovable: Import projects via GitHub.

The MCP system is built on an open standard, so any tool with a remote MCP server can become a connector. Each connector’s individual actions (read, create, edit, delete) can be toggled on or off for granular access control. 

Bolt does not offer a general-purpose public API. The Terms of Service reference a WebContainer API limited to 500 sessions per month for commercial plan customers.

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Security and Data Compliance

Bolt’s Terms of Service (last updated January 2024) state that users retain ownership of all data, content, and material they submit. The available documentation does not address whether customer data is used to train AI models. Since Bolt uses Anthropic’s Claude models, data handling is also subject to Anthropic’s policies.

For credential management, Bolt provides environment variables and a dedicated Secrets section for storing API keys and database passwords outside of plain code. Authentication integrations (Google SSO) use OAuth 2.0.

On the Teams and Enterprise tiers, Bolt includes several security-oriented features: automated security scans that detect vulnerabilities such as missing Row-Level Security policies, mutable function search paths, and disabled password protection – with a one-click “Ask Bolt to fix” button. Teams also get admin deploy controls that determine where code ships, role-based permissions, and the ability to connect existing production databases rather than starting from scratch. The Enterprise plan adds SSO, audit logs, and compliance support.

The Privacy Policy (effective July 2017) describes “commercially reasonable safeguards” but does not mention specific encryption protocols, GDPR, CCPA, or any modern data protection regulation. The outdated Privacy Policy and the absence of documented certifications are notable gaps for SMEs in regions with strict data protection requirements.

Language – Customer Support and Interface

Bolt’s interface, Help Center, documentation, video tutorials, and support channels are entirely in English. The platform offers a comprehensive set of English-language resources – including a QuickStart guide, best practices articles, a video onboarding series on YouTube, and detailed feature documentation.

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Language – The AI Itself

Bolt is powered exclusively by Anthropic’s Claude model family. These models are inherently multilingual and capable of understanding and generating content in multiple languages. For example, this means users can write prompts in Spanish and the AI will understand and respond accordingly, while generated applications can include Spanish-language content.

However, the platform itself – its interface, documentation, error messages, Plan Mode, and all supporting infrastructure – operates in English. Additionally, the quality of multilingual output in generated applications has not been independently validated in the provided materials.

Mobile Access (iOS, Android, Others)

Bolt does not have a dedicated mobile application for iOS or Android. The platform is a browser-based tool that works best on Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers (Edge, Brave, Vivaldi, Opera, Epic) on desktop. The documentation explicitly states that mobile browsers are not fully supported.

While Bolt cannot be used as a builder on mobile devices, it can build mobile applications. Through its Expo integration, users can create projects that are packaged for iOS and Android app stores. Including the words “mobile app” in the initial prompt directs Bolt to create an Expo-compatible project.

Support, Onboarding, and Account Management

Bolt provides a structured onboarding experience through its Help Center, including a QuickStart guide that walks users through building, editing, and publishing a complete web app in 10 to 15 minutes. Key resources include:

  • QuickStart guide: Covers databases, authentication, token management, code view, version history, and publishing – step by step.
  • Best practices documentation: Planning your app, prompting effectively, maximizing token efficiency, supported technologies, environment variables, and integrations.
  • Official video tutorial series on YouTube with tips, tricks, and onboarding walkthroughs.

For teams, Bolt offers centralized billing, per-member token tracking, spending limits, shared team knowledge, private NPM registries with packages knowledge, and reusable team templates. Teams can be created from scratch or from an existing GitHub organization.

The Enterprise plan adds a dedicated account manager, hands-on onboarding, enterprise training, and 24/7 priority support.

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Ease of Use / UX

Bolt’s interface centers on a chatbox where users describe what they want to build and iterate through conversation. The experience is intuitive: type a prompt, watch the AI build your application in real time, then preview and test it directly in the browser. The selector tool lets users click any UI element to target changes, removing the need to describe element locations in text.

Several thoughtful design decisions reduce friction. Version history provides automatic backups that can be restored without consuming tokens. Code view allows direct edits for users who want to make small changes without prompting. The Enhance Prompt feature improves initial prompts automatically. Plan Mode (Claude Agent) generates a detailed build strategy before executing, which reduces errors on complex projects.

The primary learning curve is in understanding which actions consume tokens and which do not (publishing, version restore, direct code edits), choosing the right model for each task, and writing efficient prompts all require experience. The documentation addresses this directly with best practices and efficiency guides, but new users should expect an adjustment period. The desktop-only limitation may also be inconvenient for users who expect to work across devices.

Pricing & Plans

Bolt offers four plan tiers – Free, Pro, Teams, and Enterprise – with monthly and yearly billing (up to 28% savings annually).

  • Free: Public and private projects, built-in hosting, unlimited databases. Includes a daily and monthly token cap, Bolt branding on published sites, and smaller file upload limits. Functional for exploring the platform but limited in practice – the QuickStart tutorial alone can consume nearly a full day’s token allowance.
  • Pro: No daily token limit, higher monthly token allocation, no Bolt branding, custom domains, SEO features, AI image editing, expanded database capacity, choice of database provider, private site sharing, and larger uploads. Unused tokens roll over for one additional month.
  • Teams: Everything in Pro plus centralized billing, team-level access management, admin controls, user provisioning, private NPM registries with design system knowledge, and team templates.
  • Enterprise: Custom-priced. Adds advanced security (SSO, audit logs, compliance support), a dedicated account manager, 24/7 priority support, custom workflows, SLAs, data governance, and hands-on onboarding.

Since July 2025, unused tokens on paid plans roll over for up to two months total (active subscription required). Tokens can also be purchased separately, though pricing details for additional purchases are not specified in the available materials.

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Case Study

A two-person creative agency needed to deliver a branded landing page with user sign-up, a password-protected client portal, Stripe subscription payments, and branded email communications – all within 48 hours.

Using Bolt with Sonnet 4.5, they described the project in a detailed first prompt, enhanced it with the Enhance Prompt feature, and had a working version with database, authentication, and payments within an hour. They refined the design using the selector tool and code view – customizing fonts, colors, and layout, and importing a custom shader background for a premium feel. Plan Mode generated brand-aligned HTML for all six email templates without affecting the live project. Stripe was configured in one click.

The site was published to a custom domain via Bolt Cloud with SEO enabled from day one. From first prompt to live deployment: under six hours across two sessions – a process that would have previously taken one to two weeks. The team saved the project as a team template for future client engagements.

Bolt vs Alternatives

ToolWhen to choose itKey advantagesKey limitations
BoltThose who need to build and deploy JavaScript web applications quickly, with built-in infrastructure, hosting, databases, payments, and design flexibility.Full-stack JS app builder with 5 Claude models, Bolt Cloud (hosting, databases, auth, SEO), Stripe payments, MCP connectors, Figma import, team collaboration, version history, zero-token actions.JavaScript-only backends. English-only interface and documentation. No documented security certifications. Token consumption is variable and hard to predict. Desktop browsers only. No dedicated mobile app for the builder.
ManusProjects requiring research, development, automation, and content generation in a single autonomous agent.General-purpose agent: Wide Research (parallel sub-agents), Browser Operator, web/mobile app development, Mail Manus, scheduled tasks, multilingual interface and support, SOC 2 Type I/II + ISO 27001 + ISO 27701 certifications, native mobile apps (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows).Variable credit consumption that does not roll over. Poor human support (multiple user reports of unanswered emails). Code is not exportable based on available information. Errors in multilingual content require manual review.

Bolt and Manus serve fundamentally different needs. Bolt is a specialized web application builder from an idea to a fully deployed JavaScript app with databases, authentication, payments, and hosting in a single session. Manus is a general-purpose AI agent whose strength is breadth across research, automation, content generation, and development, though it operates on managed infrastructure where code export options are not documented.

For SMEs focused on building and shipping web applications, Bolt offers a more focused, infrastructure-complete experience. For those needing a versatile digital assistant across research, automation, and multiple content formats, Manus offers capabilities Bolt does not – notably Wide Research, Browser Operator, and native mobile apps for the platform itself. Both use variable consumption models (tokens vs. credits), but Bolt’s paid plans include token rollover while Manus credits do not.

FAQ

Is Bolt a good AI tool for SMEs? 

Yes, particularly for SMEs that need to build JavaScript-based web applications without a dedicated development team. 

Does Bolt support languages other than English? 

The interface, documentation, and support are English-only based on available information. However, since Bolt uses Anthropic’s Claude models, which are inherently multilingual, users can write prompts in other languages and the AI will understand them. Generated applications can include content in any language the underlying models support, though the quality of non-English output has not been independently verified.

What are the best alternatives to Bolt? 

For general-purpose AI agent work that includes research, automation, and development, Manus is the most direct comparison – though it serves a broader purpose. For web application building with exportable code, Lovable is another option.

Can I build mobile apps with Bolt? 

Yes, through Bolt’s Expo integration. Including “mobile app” in your initial prompt directs Bolt to create an Expo-compatible project that can be packaged for iOS and Android app stores. 

Does Bolt have a free version? 

Yes. The Free plan includes public and private projects, website hosting, unlimited databases, and a daily and monthly token limit. It is suitable for exploring the platform, but the token limits are restrictive, and upgrading to a paid plan is necessary for sustained use.