Chat-based AI software engineer that builds full-stack web apps and sites from prompts.
Bolt.new vs Emergent
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 Emergent is best for generating and deploying full-stack web and mobile apps with a multi-agent system. Bolt.new has a low learning curve, compared with medium for Emergent. Both Bolt.new and Emergent offer a free plan, so you can try each before paying.
Which should you choose?
Choose Bolt.new if…
- You need building and running full-stack JavaScript apps entirely in the browser
- You're one of: founders building mvps, developers prototyping quickly, designers converting figma files into apps
- You want something quicker to learn
- Full editor, terminal and preview in the browser with nothing to install
Choose Emergent if…
- You need generating and deploying full-stack web and mobile apps with a multi-agent system
- You're one of: startup founders building mvps, solo developers prototyping saas ideas, small teams building internal tools
- Generates backend and database, not only UI
At a glance
| Bolt.new | Emergent | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Building and running full-stack JavaScript apps entirely in the browser | Generating and deploying full-stack web and mobile apps with a multi-agent system |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | From $25/mo | From $20/mo |
| Learning curve | Low | Medium |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Ideal for | Founders building MVPs, Developers prototyping quickly, Designers converting Figma files into apps | Startup founders building MVPs, Solo developers prototyping SaaS ideas, Small teams building internal tools |
Feature comparison
| Bolt.new | Emergent | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | AI app builder | AI app builder (agent) |
| Inline code completion | No | No |
| Multi-file agent | Yes | Yes |
| Builds full apps from prompts | Yes | Yes |
| Hosting / deploy included | Yes | Yes |
| Backend / database | Yes | Yes |
| GitHub integration | Yes | Yes |
| Choice of AI models | Yes | Yes |
| Export / own the code | Yes | Yes |
IncludedLimited / higher plansNot available— Not confirmed
Security & enterprise
| Bolt.new | Emergent | |
|---|---|---|
| Business / enterprise plan | Yes | Yes |
| SSO (SAML / OIDC) | Enterprise plan (SAML) | Enterprise (SAML) |
| SCIM user provisioning | — | — |
| SOC 2 | Type II | Type I |
| ISO 27001 | — | Yes |
| HIPAA (BAA available) | — | — |
| GDPR DPA | Yes | Yes |
| Data residency options | — | — |
| No training on your data | Team & Enterprise (MSA/DPA) | — |
| Audit logs | — | Enterprise |
| Admin controls | Yes | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud, customer AWS/Azure | Cloud |
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
Emergent
Emergent is an agentic app builder where a set of AI agents plan, write, test and deploy full-stack applications from a chat prompt. It generates frontend, backend, database and authentication, deploys to Emergent hosting, and lets users push the code to GitHub or download it. It is aimed at founders and small teams building MVPs, SaaS tools and internal apps.
Key features- Multi-agent build process covering frontend, backend and testing
- Web and native mobile app generation
- One-click deployment to Emergent hosting
- GitHub push and code download
- Choice of Claude and GPT models
- Editable system prompts for custom agents
Pricing
Bolt.new
Free plan (1M tokens/mo); Pro from $25/mo; Teams $30/member/mo
Emergent
Free plan (10 credits/mo); Standard $20/mo ($17/mo billed annually)
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.
Emergent
Strengths- Generates backend and database, not only UI
- Code is owned by the user and can be hosted elsewhere
- Model choice per task
- Has a free plan
- Credits are consumed quickly during debugging and iteration
- Large price gap between the entry and next paid tier
- Defaults to MongoDB, which may not suit teams standardised on SQL
- Mixed public user reviews on reliability and support
Not ideal for: Users who want predictable monthly costs or a visual drag-and-drop editor should consider a flat-priced no-code builder instead.
Integrations
Bolt.new
Emergent
FAQ
What is the main difference between Bolt.new and Emergent?
Bolt.new is built for building and running full-stack JavaScript apps entirely in the browser; Emergent is built for generating and deploying full-stack web and mobile apps with a multi-agent system.
Is Bolt.new or Emergent cheaper?
Bolt.new starts from $25/mo and Emergent starts from $20/mo (as of September 2026). On entry price, Emergent is cheaper — but compare what each plan includes, since limits differ. Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site.
Do Bolt.new and Emergent have free plans?
Both Bolt.new and Emergent offer a free plan, so you can try each before paying.
Which is easier to use, Bolt.new or Emergent?
Bolt.new is generally quicker to learn (Bolt.new: low, Emergent: medium learning curve).
What are good alternatives to Bolt.new and Emergent?
Other coding & apps tools worth comparing include Lovable, Base44 and v0.
