Bolt.new alternatives: where to go, and how to leave with your code and data
Eight alternatives, one for each reason to leave, plus a seven-step exit plan.
Short answer: Lovable if you want the same experience with per-message pricing you can budget, v0 for React UI deployed on Vercel, Replit if you want code, database and hosting in one place, Base44 if you don't code at all, Cursor, Windsurf or Claude Code to finish your Bolt project in a real editor, and Dyad to build locally with your own AI key. One thing to understand first: on Bolt, every message syncs your project files to the AI, so the bigger the project, the more each message costs. We compared these eight tools and checked their pricing pages in 2026.
The ranking is editorial: a sponsored placement is always labeled on its card, and no affiliate link changes a score.
Why builders move away from Bolt.new
Bolt.new does what it promises: a live prototype in minutes, even if you can't code. Every positive review mentions that speed. People leave for other reasons: cost, fix loops and a messy exit. Here are the six that keep coming up, from Bolt's own docs to customer reviews.
A bill that grows with your project
Bolt charges in tokens, and its own FAQ explains that most of them go to syncing your project files with the AI. So the same small request costs far more on a big project than on a new one. One user describes about 212,000 of a 300,000 daily allowance gone on a minor tweak. Pro's 10 million tokens a month for $25 feels like plenty at the start and thin at the end.
Fix loops that eat tokens
The most common story: an error, a click on "Attempt fix", a new error, another click. Each attempt uses tokens, as Bolt's docs point out. In builder communities, people report burning 10 to 15 million tokens on simple fixes, and one thread sums it up as 30% of tokens to build the app and 70% to fix its mistakes.
A free plan that stops mid-day
Free gets you 1 million tokens a month, capped at 300,000 a day. The daily meter resets every day, the monthly one on the 1st, and nothing unused carries over. The Bolt badge stays on and there's no custom domain.
No refunds
Bolt's terms are clear: subscriptions are non-refundable. Unused paid tokens roll over while your plan runs, but nothing is refunded when you leave. On Trustpilot, Bolt.new sits around 2.1 out of 5, with more than three quarters of reviews at one star, and refunds come up in most of them.
Support that rarely shows up
Free gets community support only, Pro gets email. Reviews keep describing the same things: crashes late in a session, plans shown with no file changed but tokens charged anyway, and nobody answering. On GitHub, one user reports a GitHub connection broken for a month with no reply.
An exit in three pieces
Code exports easily, as a .zip or to GitHub. But Bolt Database and hosting don't come along: you need to claim the database in Supabase, and the live site stays on Bolt until you change DNS. Plenty of people find out about those two pieces after cancelling.
You're leaving because… go to…
The right Bolt.new alternative depends on what's pushing you out. Usually one line fits. Each card links to the full profile.
Per-message credits, one credit in Plan mode.
Your app works, but every fix drains your tokensCursorThe community's advice: finish it in an editor.
You want hosting included, not four servicesReplitCode, database and hosting on one plan.
You don't code and don't want to startBase44Database and hosting built in.
You mostly want great React UIv0Made by Vercel, one-click deploys.
You're done with daily capsDyadFree, local, your own AI key.
Bolt.new alternatives, one by one
For each tool: why switch to it, who it's for, the catch, how to move over from Bolt.new, and what it costs in 2026. Scores come from our full reviews. For the wider market, see our ranking of AI app builders.
Lovable: the closest thing to Bolt, with a bill you can predict
AI app builderWhy switch to Lovable. Same idea as Bolt (describe the app, the AI writes and ships it), same audience. What changes is how you pay. Lovable charges credits per message instead of tokens that scale with project size, and a question in Plan mode costs one credit. That makes a week of work something you can actually budget. The free plan gives you 5 credits a day, capped at 30 a month. Pro is $25 a month for 100 credits, Business is $50 a month. Pay yearly and you get two months free, so Pro works out to $21 a month. Students and teachers get 50% off Pro for 12 months.
Who it's for. Non-technical founders, product managers and small teams who want a live prototype fast and a bill that doesn't surprise them.
Who it's not for. Developers who want line-by-line control, or anyone likely to change frameworks halfway through. Rebuilding the foundations of a Lovable project burns a lot of credits.
The catch. Credits still run out. Lovable's reviews (4.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot, far better than Bolt) raise softer versions of the same complaints: fixes that don't stick, and a bot answering support first. Monthly credits last two months, top-ups twelve, and nothing is refundable.
Moving over from Bolt.new. Push your Bolt project to GitHub first (step 2 of the exit plan). Then check on the free plan how Lovable handles an existing repo before you pay. If it doesn't take, plan a rebuild and keep your best Bolt prompts in a text file: they make a decent spec. Our full Lovable review breaks down each score.
- Free
- 5 credits a day, 30 a month max
- Paid
- Pro $25/mo (100 credits), Business $50/mo
- Labs score
- 4/5
- Catch
- failed fixes still cost credits
v0: clean React UI, deployed on Vercel
Front endWhy switch to v0. v0 comes from Vercel, the company behind Next.js, and it's strongest on what users see: screens, components and landing pages in React. The free plan gives you 7 messages a day, Vercel deploys and GitHub sync. Plus is $30 per user per month and includes $30 of credits, plus $2 for every day you log in. Business is $100 per user per month and keeps your data out of model training by default. New accounts get $5 to start. Prices exclude tax.
Who it's for. Front-end developers, designers and teams already on Next.js or Vercel who want a solid UI to wire to their own back end.
Who it's not for. Anyone expecting a complete app with database, user accounts and payments without touching code.
The catch. v0 is a UI tool first. The server side and database are on you. The $2 daily credit only counts on days you log in, so it rewards steady use, not a weekend sprint.
Moving over from Bolt.new. Push the Bolt project to GitHub, then connect that repo to v0 and Vercel. v0 works in React, so the UI is where it will help most. Keep your Supabase database if you had one.
- Free
- 7 messages a day
- Paid
- Plus $30/user/mo
- Hosting
- Vercel, included
- Catch
- back end is on you
Replit: one workspace for code, database and hosting
All-in-oneWhy switch to Replit. Replit puts the editor, the AI agent, the database and hosting in one place. It's the pick if what wears you out on Bolt is juggling Bolt, Supabase, Netlify and your domain registrar. Core is $20 a month ($18 billed yearly) with $20 of usage credits. Pro is $100 a month ($90 yearly) for up to 15 collaborators, and keeps 28 days of history you can roll back to, which matters if you're coming from a tool where a bad fix wrecked your project.
Who it's for. People who code a little, students and small teams who want one subscription to build, test and ship.
Who it's not for. Anyone who never wants to see code: Replit still looks like a development environment.
The catch. You pay for usage. Core's $20 of credits goes quickly if the agent runs long or the app gets traffic. Prices exclude tax.
Moving over from Bolt.new. Import your Bolt project's GitHub repo into Replit and ask the agent to install and run it. Vite projects start with the usual dev command. See our Replit review and our list of Replit alternatives.
- Core
- $20/mo, $18 billed yearly
- Pro
- $100/mo, up to 15 collaborators
- Labs score
- 3.8/5
- Catch
- usage-based bill
Base44: internal apps for people who don't code
No-codeWhy switch to Base44. Base44 is built for people who don't want to think about databases or hosting, because both are built in. Describe an internal tool, a client portal or a small business app, and Base44 delivers the whole thing. The free plan includes 25 message credits. Starter is $20 a month and adds a custom domain, Builder is $50 with GitHub, Pro is $100 and Elite $200. Yearly billing takes 20% off (Starter drops to $16 a month).
Who it's for. Freelancers, ops leads and small businesses who want a working internal tool, not a code project.
Who it's not for. Developers who want to take their code elsewhere: GitHub only comes with Builder, at $50 a month.
The catch. You live inside Base44. The day you want out, you're back to exporting. Message credits are still the currency, so fix loops still cost, just in units that are easier to read.
Moving over from Bolt.new. Base44 doesn't take over a code project, so you rebuild. List your Bolt app's screens and data, export your tables to CSV from Supabase, and hand that list to Base44 as your first prompt. Our Base44 review covers its strengths and limits.
- Free
- 25 message credits
- Paid
- Starter $20/mo, Builder $50/mo
- Labs score
- 3.8/5
- Catch
- GitHub from Builder up
Cursor: finish your Bolt project in a real editor
AI code editorWhy switch to Cursor. It's the most upvoted advice in Bolt builder communities: get 60 to 70% of the project done on Bolt, then move to Cursor to finish. Cursor is a code editor with AI built in. It reads the project on your machine and edits the files you point it at, without resending the whole project with every message, so you're off Bolt's token meter. There's a free plan, then Plus at $8 a month, Premium at $30, Super at $100 and Ultra at $200.
Who it's for. Anyone with a working Bolt project they want to finish properly, and anyone who can read some code.
Who it's not for. Total beginners: Cursor doesn't deploy anything, doesn't create a database, and assumes you can run a command.
The catch. Hosting, database and deploys are now your job. It helps you write the app, not run it.
Moving over from Bolt.new. Download the Bolt .zip or clone the GitHub repo, open the folder in Cursor, run npm install then npm run dev. Before changing anything, ask the AI to read the project and summarize its structure. See our Cursor review and Cursor alternatives.
- Free
- yes
- Paid
- Plus $8/mo, Premium $30/mo
- Labs score
- 4/5
- Catch
- you host it yourself
Claude Code: an agent that works on your exported project
Terminal agentWhy switch to Claude Code. Claude Code is Anthropic's coding agent. It runs in your terminal or editor, reads the whole repo, runs commands, fixes and checks its work. For a Bolt project stuck in a fix loop, it's the tool that understands the whole codebase before acting, and it's the highest-rated tool on this page at 4.4 out of 5. It comes with Claude Pro at $20 a month ($17 a month billed yearly). Max 5x is $100, Max 20x is $200.
Who it's for. Developers, including beginners, who are fine with a terminal and want an agent that can take over a full project, run the build and fix what it reports.
Who it's not for. Anyone who wants a visual builder with a live preview, like Bolt. Claude Code has no built-in preview.
The catch. Pro has usage limits. On a long rescue session you can hit them and have to wait or move to Max. As with Cursor, hosting is yours.
Moving over from Bolt.new. Export the project, open a terminal in its folder and start Claude Code. A good first prompt: "read the project, list what doesn't build, and propose a plan". Our Claude Code review compares the plans.
- Pro
- $20/mo, $17 billed yearly
- Max
- $100 or $200/mo
- Labs score
- 4.4/5
- Catch
- no visual preview
Windsurf: the other AI editor worth a look
AI code editorWhy switch to Windsurf. Windsurf sits in the same category as Cursor: a code editor with an agent built in. If Cursor doesn't click for you, it's the natural second choice for finishing an exported Bolt project, and the free plan lets you try it on your own code. Pro is $20 a month (it used to be $15), Max is $200, and Teams starts at $80.
Who it's for. Intermediate builders who want an editor with an agent and like to compare before paying.
Who it's not for. Anyone who doesn't want an editor or a terminal, and teams that need stable pricing: the grid has already gone up once.
The catch. Same deal as Cursor: hosting, database and deploys are on you. Labs score of 3.8 out of 5.
Moving over from Bolt.new. Same route as Cursor: export, open the folder, install dependencies, then ask it to read the project first. See our Windsurf review.
- Free
- yes
- Paid
- Pro $20/mo
- Labs score
- 3.8/5
- Catch
- price already raised
Dyad: a local, free Bolt with your own AI key
Free and open sourceWhy switch to Dyad. Dyad is an open-source app builder that runs on your computer (macOS and Windows) with no sign-up. You plug in your own AI provider key and pay only for what you use there. No daily cap, no expiring tokens, and your code sits in a folder on your machine from minute one. If you'd rather not manage a key, Dyad Pro costs $20 a month with AI credits included, Max $79.
Who it's for. Tinkerers, developers who want to see exactly what they pay for, and anyone burned by a daily limit.
Who it's not for. Anyone who doesn't want to manage an API key or hosting: Dyad builds the app, it doesn't put it online for you.
The catch. Your AI bill depends on the model you pick and on your discipline. A fix loop costs money with your provider too. And there's no vendor support.
Moving over from Bolt.new. Dyad can import an existing app: open your exported Bolt project folder with its import option, or start from a fresh prompt. Set a spending cap with your AI provider before the first session.
- Free
- yes, runs locally
- Cost
- your AI usage
- Data
- on your machine
- Catch
- no hosting included
The 8 alternatives side by side
Our default picks: Lovable to stay in an app builder, Cursor or Claude Code to finish a project that's already far along, Replit to get everything in one place. One row per tool: how you pay on the left, the free tier and entry price on the right.
| What you pay for | Free tier and entry price | |
|---|---|---|
| Bolt.newWhere you're starting | Tokens, scaled by project size | 1M tokens/mo free (300K/day), Pro $25/mo |
| LovableApp builder | Credits per message | 5 credits/day free, Pro $25/mo |
| v0React UI | Dollar credits | 7 messages/day free, Plus $30/user/mo |
| ReplitAll-in-one | Plan plus usage credits | Core $20/mo, $18 billed yearly |
| Base44No-code | Message credits | 25 free credits, Starter $20/mo |
| CursorAI editor | Subscription | Free, then Plus $8/mo |
| Claude CodeTerminal agent | Subscription with usage limits | Pro $20/mo, $17 billed yearly |
| WindsurfAI editor | Subscription | Free, then Pro $20/mo |
| DyadLocal | Your own AI usage | Free, bring your own key |
Prices from vendors' official pricing pages and our reviews in 2026, subject to change. Always compare the cost of a real month of work, fixes included.
Leave Bolt.new in seven steps
Order matters. Step one might save you the move, the next five protect your project, and the last one protects your wallet.
Cut the bill before you decide
FirstSwitching takes time, so first check whether your tokens are going somewhere avoidable. Bolt's own guidance is blunt: plan in Plan mode, which is cheaper than Build; don't hammer "Attempt fix", since each attempt uses tokens; ask for detailed logs in the broken area instead. Roll back through version history, which is free. Split large files, stick with the Standard agent (Max burns more), and only switch on connectors you need. Clicking a button in the preview costs nothing. If your bill drops a lot, you may have room to finish the project before you leave.
Export the code: .zip and GitHub
Day 1Click the project title, then Export, then Download to get a full .zip of the code. Push to GitHub as well, so you have history. Do it early: some users report the GitHub link failing for weeks ("repository doesn't exist") with no reply. If it won't connect, the .zip is enough. Open it locally and make sure the src folder and package.json are there.
Get your database out
Day 1Code doesn't carry your data. Two cases. If the project uses your own Supabase account, the database is already yours. If it uses Bolt Database, the built-in one, there's no automatic conversion: to get the data out you need to claim the database in Supabase from Bolt's settings. Do it before you cancel, then export each table to CSV.
Get it running outside Bolt
Day 2In the project folder: npm install, then npm run build. Bolt projects often use Vite, which outputs a dist/ folder ready to deploy. For a single-page app, add the rewrite rule /* /index.html 200 on your new host, or every refreshed link will 404. Check your API keys too: they lived in Bolt's settings, so copy them into a local .env file or your host's settings.
Pick the destination and move in
Week 1Go back to the "You're leaving because…" table. A code editor (Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Code) opens the exported folder directly. An app builder (Lovable, Base44) starts from its own prompts: check on the free plan whether it can take an existing repo, and plan a rebuild if not. Use the free tiers to make one real change to your project before paying.
Move hosting and your domain
Week 1The published site doesn't follow the code: it stays on Bolt's hosting until you move it. Deploy the new version on your host, test it on its temporary URL, then update your domain's DNS records. Keep the old site up until the new domain resolves everywhere. On Bolt's free hosting, remember that past 10 GB of bandwidth the site goes offline for the rest of the month.
Cancel at the right time
End of paid periodBolt subscriptions are non-refundable. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the paid period, and whatever tokens remain won't be refunded. So spend what's left on the export and last fixes, cancel just before renewal, and keep the confirmation email.
Is your tool missing from this page? Email us: hello@hackceleration.com
What goes wrong when leaving Bolt.new
The same mistakes show up in reviews and community threads. None of them are really technical: they're forgotten pieces of the project and wasted tokens.
Cancelling before you have the database
Code leaves in one click, Bolt Database data doesn't. Claim the database in Supabase and export your tables before you cancel anything.
Forgetting the live site
The published site stays on Bolt's hosting. Without a DNS change, your domain keeps pointing at the old version, or at nothing.
Paying for tokens you'll never use
Bolt refunds nothing. Spend your remaining tokens on the export and the final fixes, then cancel right before renewal.
Repeating the same loop somewhere else
Lovable, Base44 and v0 also charge for every failed fix. The loop drains your budget, not just the tool. Ask for logs and roll back instead of fixing blind.
Leaving keys and secrets behind
API keys and environment variables lived in Bolt. Without them, the exported project builds but connects to nothing.
Picking on sticker price
$25 at Bolt and Lovable, $20 at Replit or Claude: the real cost is a month of actual work, fixes included. Make one real change on a free plan before paying.
- Code exported as .zip and pushed to GitHub
- Database claimed in Supabase, tables exported to CSV
- Project builds outside Bolt (npm run build)
- API keys copied over
- New site live and DNS switched
- Leftover tokens used
- Cancellation confirmed by email
Bolt.new alternative FAQ
Which Bolt.new alternative includes hosting?
Replit, Lovable, Base44 and v0 (through Vercel) all put your app online for you. Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Code and Dyad don't: they help you write the code, and you deploy it yourself. If hosting is the reason you liked Bolt, stay with the first group.
Is there a free, open-source alternative to Bolt.new?
Yes, two. bolt.diy is the community, MIT-licensed open-source version of Bolt: you host it yourself and plug in any of 15+ AI providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Ollama, OpenRouter). Dyad does the same on your own computer, no sign-up. Both are free, but you pay for AI usage, so set a spending cap with your provider on day one.
Can non-developers use these alternatives?
Lovable and Base44, yes: you describe what you want and they build and host it. v0 and Replit work for beginners but assume a little comfort with code. Cursor, Windsurf and Claude Code are developer tools. For more no-code options, see our no-code builders ranking.
Is Bolt.new worth it?
For a quick prototype, yes: the free plan's 1 million tokens a month is enough to get an idea live, and publishing costs no tokens. For a project you'll keep iterating on, it gets expensive because each message resyncs the whole project. Many builders use Bolt for the first version and then move the code to an editor.
Why is my Bolt site offline?
Bolt's free hosting includes 10 GB of bandwidth and 333,333 requests a month, and that limit can't be raised. Go past it and your site goes offline for the rest of the month. Upgrade to Pro or move the site to another host to avoid it.
Can I get a refund from Bolt?
No. Bolt's terms make subscriptions non-refundable. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the period you've paid for, so you keep access until then. Cancel just before renewal and use your tokens in the meantime.
Do collaborators use my Bolt tokens?
No. Each collaborator spends their own tokens, not the project owner's. For a team, Teams costs $30 per member per month, with at least 10 million tokens per member and central billing.
Bolt or Lovable: which should I pick?
Same entry price ($25 a month on Pro) and same audience, but different billing. Bolt's tokens scale with project size, Lovable's credits are per message. For a big project you'll keep changing, Lovable is easier to budget. For a fast prototype, Bolt is still very good. Our Lovable alternatives page covers the reverse move.
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