Chat-based AI software engineer that builds full-stack web apps and sites from prompts.
Bolt.new vs Windsurf
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 Windsurf is best for developers wanting an AI code editor with fast tab completion and local plus cloud agents. Only Bolt.new offers hosting / deploy included and backend / database. Only Windsurf offers inline code completion. Bolt.new has a low learning curve, compared with medium for Windsurf. Both Bolt.new and Windsurf 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
- 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 something quicker to learn
Choose Windsurf if…
- You need developers wanting an AI code editor with fast tab completion and local plus cloud agents
- Inline code completion matters to you
- You're one of: professional developers, former windsurf and codeium users, teams already using devin cloud agents
- Fast, context-aware tab completion
At a glance
| Bolt.new | Windsurf | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Building and running full-stack JavaScript apps entirely in the browser | Developers wanting an AI code editor with fast tab completion and local plus cloud agents |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | From $25/mo | From $20/mo |
| Learning curve | Low | Medium |
| Platforms | Web | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Ideal for | Founders building MVPs, Developers prototyping quickly, Designers converting Figma files into apps | Professional developers, Former Windsurf and Codeium users, Teams already using Devin cloud agents |
Feature comparison
| Bolt.new | Windsurf | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | AI app builder | IDE (now Devin Desktop) |
| Inline code completion | No | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| Export / own the code | Yes | Yes |
IncludedLimited / higher plansNot available— Not confirmed
Security & enterprise
| Bolt.new | Windsurf | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | — | — |
| HIPAA (BAA available) | — | — |
| GDPR DPA | Yes | — |
| Data residency options | — | — |
| No training on your data | Team & Enterprise (MSA/DPA) | Opt-out enables ZDR |
| Audit logs | — | — |
| Admin controls | Yes | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud, customer AWS/Azure | Cloud, hybrid, FedRAMP High |
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
Windsurf
Windsurf, the AI code editor formerly from Codeium, was acquired by Cognition and renamed Devin Desktop in June 2026; windsurf.com now redirects to it and existing plans and settings carried over. The editor keeps its Supercomplete tab completion, while the Cascade agent was replaced by Devin Local in July 2026, alongside handoff to Devin cloud agents and a free SWE-2 model. A Windsurf-branded plugin for JetBrains IDEs remains available.
Key features- Supercomplete tab completion
- Devin Local agent for multi-file edits (replaced Cascade)
- Handoff between local and Devin cloud agents
- Free access to Cognition's SWE-2 model plus other models
- MCP integrations such as Slack, Linear, Figma and Stripe
- JetBrains plugin
Pricing
Bolt.new
Free plan (1M tokens/mo); Pro from $25/mo; Teams $30/member/mo
Windsurf
Free plan; Pro $20/mo (raised from $15 in 2026); Teams/Max tiers
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.
Windsurf
Strengths- Fast, context-aware tab completion
- In-house model available at no extra cost
- Local and cloud agents managed from one app
- Has a free plan
- The Windsurf brand and Cascade agent have been retired, creating migration churn
- Product direction now tied to Cognition's Devin roadmap
- Heavy use of frontier third-party models draws on paid quotas
- Requires switching from the user's current editor unless using the JetBrains plugin
Not ideal for: Users who want a stable, long-standing product identity or a hosted no-code app builder should look at other options.
Integrations
Bolt.new
Windsurf
FAQ
What is the main difference between Bolt.new and Windsurf?
Bolt.new is built for building and running full-stack JavaScript apps entirely in the browser; Windsurf is built for developers wanting an AI code editor with fast tab completion and local plus cloud agents. Key differences: Bolt.new offers hosting / deploy included and backend / database; Windsurf offers inline code completion.
Is Bolt.new or Windsurf cheaper?
Bolt.new starts from $25/mo and Windsurf starts from $20/mo (as of September 2026). On entry price, Windsurf is cheaper — but compare what each plan includes, since limits differ. Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site.
Do Bolt.new and Windsurf have free plans?
Both Bolt.new and Windsurf offer a free plan, so you can try each before paying.
Which is easier to use, Bolt.new or Windsurf?
Bolt.new is generally quicker to learn (Bolt.new: low, Windsurf: medium learning curve).
What are good alternatives to Bolt.new and Windsurf?
Other coding & apps tools worth comparing include Lovable, Base44 and v0.
