Lovable vs Bolt.new
Both turn a prompt into a working web app, but they aim at different jobs. Lovable is built around Supabase (auth, DB, storage) with a structured edit flow and GitHub sync, so output looks like a real SaaS codebase. Bolt.new runs a full StackBlitz dev environment in your browser and supports more frontend stacks, which makes it faster for prototyping.
Lovable wins for full SaaS apps that need auth and a database. Bolt.new wins for fast prototyping and broader framework support.
The tools at a glance
Lovable
by Lovable
AI app builder that ships full-stack apps with Supabase auth, database, and GitHub sync.
- Best for
- SaaS prototypes and real apps that need auth + data on day one.
- Standout
- Native Supabase integration: auth, Postgres, RLS policies and storage are wired up automatically.
- Weakness
- Locked to a Vite + React + Supabase stack — you do not really pick the framework.
- Pricing
- Free trial; Starter $25/mo; Pro $80/mo; Teams custom
Bolt.new
by StackBlitz
In-browser AI builder with a real WebContainer dev environment and broad framework support.
- Best for
- Rapid prototyping across Astro, Remix, Svelte, Vite, and Next.js.
- Standout
- Full StackBlitz WebContainer in the browser — you can edit, run, and debug a real Node app live.
- Weakness
- Backend story is thinner: you bring your own Supabase/Neon/etc. and wire it up by hand.
- Pricing
- Free tier (limited tokens); Pro $20/mo; Teams $30/seat
Key differences
Backend support
Lovable is Supabase-native: auth, Postgres tables, and storage buckets are provisioned and wired into the app for you. Bolt can scaffold a backend on request but expects you to bring your own DB, auth, and API keys. For anything with users and data, Lovable saves a day of setup.
Frontend stack
Bolt supports Astro, Remix, SvelteKit, Vite, and Next.js, and you pick. Lovable ships a Vite + React + Tailwind + shadcn/ui stack and does not really let you swap it. For non-React projects, Bolt is the only option.
Iteration speed
Lovable uses a structured edit flow — you describe a change, it edits files in a controlled way, and you see a diff. Bolt feels more like a chat with a live IDE. Bolt's loop is faster for tiny tweaks; Lovable's structure pays off as a project grows past 10–20 components.
Deployment
Both can publish to a hosted preview URL one-click. Lovable also pushes to GitHub and integrates with Vercel/Netlify naturally. Bolt deploys via StackBlitz hosting or you export and deploy yourself — fine for prototypes, less production-ready out of the box.
Pricing
Bolt Pro is $20/mo, Lovable Starter is $25/mo. Costs scale with messages/credits, and Lovable runs out faster on Starter for non-trivial apps. Bolt is the cheaper tinkering tool; Lovable is priced for people building one real app.
GitHub and ownership
Lovable's two-way GitHub sync lets you edit locally in Cursor/VS Code and have changes flow back. Bolt has GitHub export but the source of truth is the in-browser project. If you plan to leave the tool and keep building, Lovable's escape hatch is cleaner.
Feature matrix
| Feature | Lovable | Bolt.new |
|---|---|---|
| Native backend | Yes (Supabase) | BYO (Supabase/Neon/etc) |
| Auth out of the box | Yes | Manual setup |
| Frontend frameworks | Vite + React only | Astro, Remix, Svelte, Vite, Next |
| In-browser dev environment | Preview only | Full WebContainer IDE |
| GitHub two-way sync | Yes | Export only |
| Free tier | Trial only | Yes (token-limited) |
| Cheapest paid tier | $25/mo | $20/mo |
| One-click deploy | Yes (Vercel/Netlify) | Yes (StackBlitz) |
| UI library default | shadcn/ui + Tailwind | Stack-dependent |
Pick by use case
Building a full SaaS app prototype with auth and DB
Supabase is wired in from prompt one. Bolt can do this but you spend the first hour gluing things together.
Quick landing page demo
No backend to provision, free tier, in-browser preview. Bolt is friction-free for a one-page Astro or Next site.
Hackathon / weekend project
Cheaper, broader stack support, faster loop. You ship something rough by Sunday night.
MVP that needs hosting included
Auth, DB, hosting, and GitHub sync in one tool. You can hand a real URL to early users without standing up infra.
Prototyping in Astro, Remix, or SvelteKit
Lovable is React-only. Bolt is the only one of the two that supports these frameworks meaningfully.
App you plan to keep building in your IDE
Two-way GitHub sync means the AI changes show up in your local repo cleanly. Bolt is more of a one-way export.