Bolt.new Overview

Bolt.new is an AI-powered full-stack web development environment built by StackBlitz, launched in October 2024. Unlike Lovable or other AI app builders, Bolt.new runs an entire Node.js development environment inside your browser - powered by StackBlitz's WebContainers technology. You get a real terminal, real npm packages, and real dev server output, all without installing anything locally.

WebContainers: The Core Technology

WebContainers is StackBlitz's technology that emulates a Unix environment in WebAssembly inside the browser. This means:

• A real Node.js runtime running client-side (no server)
• Real npm install - packages download and execute in the browser
• A real file system (in-memory, synced to cloud)
• A real terminal with shell commands
• A live-reloading dev server in an embedded preview pane

What Bolt.new Builds

Bolt.new can build almost any web-based project that runs in Node.js:

AI Integration

Bolt.new uses Claude (Anthropic) for code generation. You describe what you want to build or change; Claude generates or modifies files directly. Unlike Lovable, you always see the code - every file is visible in the file tree, and you can edit them manually at any time.

The AI context includes the current file, the project structure, and your prompt history within the session. For large projects, the context may be truncated.

Pricing

Token pricing is approximate - check current pricing at bolt.new.

Who Is Bolt.new For?