Chat-based AI software engineer that builds full-stack web apps and sites from prompts.
Bolt.new vs Claude Code
Features, pricing, strengths and trade-offs — and which one fits your situation.
The verdict
Summary
Bolt.new is best for building and running full-stack JavaScript apps entirely in the browser, while Claude Code is best for developers delegating multi-step coding tasks to an agent that works in their own repository. Only Bolt.new offers hosting / deploy included and backend / database. Bolt.new has a low learning curve, compared with medium for Claude Code. Bolt.new has a free plan, while Claude Code has no free plan.
Which should you choose?
Choose Bolt.new if…
- You need building and running full-stack JavaScript apps entirely in the browser
- Hosting / deploy included matters to you
- Backend / database matters to you
- You're one of: founders building mvps, developers prototyping quickly, designers converting figma files into apps
- You want a free plan (Claude Code doesn't have one)
Choose Claude Code if…
- You need developers delegating multi-step coding tasks to an agent that works in their own repository
- You're one of: professional developers, engineering teams automating reviews and ci tasks, developers comfortable in the terminal
- Strong at multi-file changes and long, multi-step tasks
At a glance
| Bolt.new | Claude Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Building and running full-stack JavaScript apps entirely in the browser | Developers delegating multi-step coding tasks to an agent that works in their own repository |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Starting price | From $25/mo | From $20/mo |
| Learning curve | Low | Medium |
| Platforms | Web | macOS, Windows, Linux, Web, iOS, Android, API |
| Ideal for | Founders building MVPs, Developers prototyping quickly, Designers converting Figma files into apps | Professional developers, Engineering teams automating reviews and CI tasks, Developers comfortable in the terminal |
Feature comparison
| Bolt.new | Claude Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | AI app builder | Agent (CLI / IDE / desktop / web) |
| Inline code completion | No | No |
| Multi-file agent | Yes | Yes |
| Builds full apps from prompts | Yes | Yes |
| Hosting / deploy included | Yes | No |
| Backend / database | Yes | No |
| GitHub integration | Yes | Yes |
| Choice of AI models | Yes | Claude models only |
| Export / own the code | Yes | Yes |
IncludedLimited / higher plansNot available— Not confirmed
Security & enterprise
| Bolt.new | Claude Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Business / enterprise plan | Yes | Yes |
| SSO (SAML / OIDC) | Enterprise plan (SAML) | Enterprise plan |
| SCIM user provisioning | — | Enterprise plan |
| SOC 2 | Type II | Type II |
| ISO 27001 | — | Yes |
| HIPAA (BAA available) | — | — |
| GDPR DPA | Yes | Yes |
| Data residency options | — | — |
| No training on your data | Team & Enterprise (MSA/DPA) | Yes |
| Audit logs | — | Enterprise plan |
| Admin controls | Yes | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud, customer AWS/Azure | Cloud, Bedrock/Vertex AI |
From each vendor's security documentation. "—" = not confirmed. What to ask vendors · Compare all tools
What each tool does
Bolt.new
Bolt.new, from StackBlitz, is a browser-based AI app builder that writes and runs full-stack JavaScript apps in an in-browser WebContainer environment. Bolt Cloud adds built-in databases, authentication, file storage, edge functions and hosting with custom domains. It is used by founders, designers and developers building prototypes and MVPs.
Key features- In-browser development environment running Node.js via WebContainers
- Bolt Cloud databases, auth, storage and edge functions
- Built-in hosting and custom domains
- GitHub repository connection
- Choice of Claude, GPT and Gemini models
- Figma import
Claude Code
Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic coding tool that reads a codebase, edits files, runs commands and creates commits and pull requests. It runs in the terminal, as VS Code and JetBrains extensions, in the Claude desktop app, on the web and from the Claude mobile apps, and it can be extended with MCP servers, skills, hooks and subagents. It is used by individual developers and engineering teams for feature work, refactors, debugging and automation.
Key features- Agent that plans, edits multiple files and runs commands and tests
- Terminal CLI plus VS Code, JetBrains, desktop and web surfaces
- MCP support for external tools such as Jira, Slack and Google Drive
- Subagents, skills, hooks and CLAUDE.md project instructions
- GitHub Actions, GitLab CI and automatic PR code review
- Scheduled cloud routines and Slack task routing
Pricing
Bolt.new
Free plan (1M tokens/mo); Pro from $25/mo; Teams $30/member/mo
Claude Code
No free Claude Code access (Claude Free plan excludes it); Pro $20/mo ($17/mo annual); Max $100 / $200
Prices last checked September 2026. Plans change often — confirm on each vendor's site.
Pros and cons
Bolt.new
Strengths- Full editor, terminal and preview in the browser with nothing to install
- Backend and hosting included through Bolt Cloud
- Model choice across major providers
- Has a free plan
- Token usage climbs quickly on larger projects
- Loses context and falls into error-fix loops after many iterations
- Rewrites whole files rather than targeted diffs, raising token costs
- Limited to JavaScript/TypeScript stacks that run in WebContainers
Not ideal for: Teams working on large existing codebases or non-JavaScript backends are better served by a local AI IDE or coding agent.
Claude Code
Strengths- Strong at multi-file changes and long, multi-step tasks
- Works in any editor or directly in the terminal
- Highly scriptable and customisable for teams
- Included with paid Claude subscriptions as well as usage-based API billing
- No inline tab-completion while typing
- Limited to Anthropic's Claude models on first-party plans
- Subscription usage is capped by 5-hour and weekly limits shared with Claude chat
- No built-in hosting or database; deployment is up to the user
Not ideal for: Non-developers who want a hosted app with a visual preview and one-click deploy should use an AI app builder instead.
Integrations
Bolt.new
Claude Code
FAQ
What is the main difference between Bolt.new and Claude Code?
Bolt.new is built for building and running full-stack JavaScript apps entirely in the browser; Claude Code is built for developers delegating multi-step coding tasks to an agent that works in their own repository. Key differences: Bolt.new offers hosting / deploy included and backend / database.
Is Bolt.new or Claude Code cheaper?
Bolt.new starts from $25/mo and Claude Code starts from $20/mo (as of September 2026). On entry price, Claude Code is cheaper — but compare what each plan includes, since limits differ. Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site.
Do Bolt.new and Claude Code have free plans?
Bolt.new has a free plan, while Claude Code has no free plan.
Which is easier to use, Bolt.new or Claude Code?
Bolt.new is generally quicker to learn (Bolt.new: low, Claude Code: medium learning curve).
What are good alternatives to Bolt.new and Claude Code?
Other coding & apps tools worth comparing include Lovable, Base44 and v0.
