Bolt.new vs Open Lovable
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
Browser-based AI agent that writes, runs, edits and deploys full-stack web apps.
Open source · MIT
Chat with an AI to build and recreate React apps, with a Firecrawl-made example app.
The short answer
Choose Bolt.new if you need…
- People who want to prototype a full-stack web app quickly without local setup
- Developers who want to see AI-generated code run in a live browser environment
- Non-coders such as PMs or designers who want a working web prototype, per the README's own framing
- Developers who want to study or build on the open-source Bolt codebase
Choose Open Lovable if you need…
- Developers who want a self-hosted example of an AI app builder
- Developers exploring how Firecrawl and an LLM can be combined
- People who already have API keys for one of the supported AI providers
- Designers who want a quick React starting point from a website they like
Side-by-side
| Bolt.new | Open Lovable | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source (hosted plans: freemium) | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 16.6k | 28.8k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Use it in the browser (or self-host) | Clone and build from source |
| Platforms | Web | — |
| Works with | GitHub, Netlify, Supabase | — |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 23 months ago | 28 days ago |
What each one is
Bolt.new
Bolt.new is an AI web development agent you use in your browser. You describe an app in a chat, and the AI builds it, runs it, and can deploy it, without installing anything locally. The README says it runs in an in-browser environment built on StackBlitz's WebContainers, so the AI can install npm packages, run Node.js servers, and edit files.
Open Lovable
Open Lovable is a web app where you chat with an AI model to build React apps. It is described as an example app from the Firecrawl team, and the project description says it can clone and recreate a website as a modern React app. The README is short and does not fully explain how the cloning works beyond the setup steps.
Best for
Bolt.new
- People who want to prototype a full-stack web app quickly without local setup
- Developers who want to see AI-generated code run in a live browser environment
- Non-coders such as PMs or designers who want a working web prototype, per the README's own framing
- Developers who want to study or build on the open-source Bolt codebase
Open Lovable
- Developers who want a self-hosted example of an AI app builder
- Developers exploring how Firecrawl and an LLM can be combined
- People who already have API keys for one of the supported AI providers
- Designers who want a quick React starting point from a website they like
Strengths
Bolt.new
- No local setup is required, according to the README
- The AI can control the filesystem, package manager, terminal, and browser console, not only generate code
- The core codebase is open source under the MIT license
Open Lovable
- MIT licensed, so the code can be reused and modified
- Supports several AI providers through environment variables
- Clear setup steps with an example environment file in the README
Not ideal for
Bolt.new
- People who need to work offline or fully on their own machine, since the README says it runs in the browser
- Teams that need predictable AI costs, because the README describes daily token limits and paid tiers for more tokens
- Anyone expecting a stable production product, since the README states Bolt.new is in beta
Open Lovable
- Non-developers who want a hosted, no-setup builder: the README points to Lovable.dev for a complete cloud solution
- People without API keys or accounts for Firecrawl, an AI provider, and a sandbox provider, since setup needs several of these
- Teams needing production-ready code: the README does not describe production readiness
Trade-offs
Bolt.new
- The README says Bolt.new is in beta
- Free use is limited by a daily token limit, after which AI interactions pause until the next day or an upgrade
- The README gives no detail on how well generated apps perform or on which deployment targets are supported
Open Lovable
- Requires multiple third-party API keys and accounts to run fully
- The README is brief and does not document architecture, limits, or costs
- Vercel sandbox setup has two authentication methods, which adds configuration decisions
Getting started
Bolt.new
Clone the open-source codebase (only if you want to build your own tool)
git clone https://github.com/stackblitz/bolt.newOpen Lovable
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/firecrawl/open-lovable.gitEnter the project folder
cd open-lovableFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Bolt.new and Open Lovable?
Bolt.new: Browser-based AI agent that writes, runs, edits and deploys full-stack web apps. Open Lovable: Chat with an AI to build and recreate React apps, with a Firecrawl-made example app. Bolt.new suits people who want to prototype a full-stack web app quickly without local setup, while Open Lovable suits developers who want a self-hosted example of an ai app builder.
Are Bolt.new and Open Lovable free?
Bolt.new: Free and open source (hosted plans: freemium). Open Lovable: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Bolt.new or Open Lovable?
Bolt.new is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Open Lovable is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Bolt.new or Open Lovable more popular?
Open Lovable has more GitHub stars (28.8k) than Bolt.new (16.6k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Bolt.new and Open Lovable?
Other options people compare them with include Lovable, Replit, v0, OpenHands.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.