How Does Bolt Work? A Complete Guide to AI-Powered Web Development | Code Boost
Description: TL;DR: Bolt.new is a browser-based AI app builder powered by StackBlitz's WebContainers technology. You describe what you want in plain English, and Bolt generates a full-stack app...

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# How Does Bolt Work? A Complete Guide to AI-Powered Web Development

By Matt · Mar 20, 2025

TL;DR: Bolt.new is a browser-based AI app builder powered by StackBlitz's WebContainers technology. You describe what you want in plain English, and Bolt generates a full-stack app — frontend, backend, database, and deployment — without any local setup. Plans start free (1M tokens/month), with Pro at $25/month. It's best for MVPs, prototypes, and solo developers who want to ship fast.

Web development has changed dramatically, and Bolt.new sits at the center of that shift. Whether you're a developer looking to cut boilerplate time or a founder with no coding background, Bolt lets you generate, edit, and deploy full-stack web applications entirely in a browser — no installs, no local environment, no server setup. This guide explains exactly how Bolt works under the hood, what you can build with it, how its integrations with Supabase, Figma, and Netlify extend its capabilities, and what it actually costs.

## What Is Bolt.new?

Bolt.new is a browser-based, AI-native development platform built by StackBlitz. It launched in October 2024 and grew to 5 million users and $40M ARR within five months — one of the fastest product growth curves in developer tooling history. Unlike AI code assistants that only suggest completions, Bolt runs a full Node.js environment directly in your browser tab using StackBlitz's WebContainers technology. This means it can actually install npm packages, run a dev server, execute API routes, and preview your app live — all client-side, with no cloud server involved. You describe what you want in plain language. Bolt generates the code, runs it, and lets you iterate from there. The result is a real, working app — not just a code snippet.

## How Does Bolt.new Work? Step by Step

### 1. Enter a Project Description

Start by typing a natural language prompt describing the app you want to build. The more specific, the better — for example: "Build a task management app with user authentication, a kanban board, and dark mode toggle using React and Supabase." Bolt parses the intent and begins generating the project structure immediately.

### 2. AI Generates Full-Stack Code

Bolt analyzes your prompt and generates both frontend and backend code. It selects appropriate frameworks (typically React for UI, Node.js or a serverless approach for the backend), scaffolds the file structure, and installs dependencies automatically via npm — all inside the browser runtime. The AI model powering this is Claude (Anthropic), with the Claude AI Agent being the recommended option for most builds.

### 3. Live Preview and Iteration

As code generates, Bolt runs it immediately in a live preview pane. You can see your app take shape in real time. From here you interact conversationally — ask for changes, new features, or fixes — and Bolt updates the codebase accordingly. You can also edit files directly in the built-in code editor if you prefer hands-on control.

### 4. Connect to Databases and External APIs

Bolt integrates natively with Supabase for managed databases and authentication, and supports connections to external APIs through code generation. For more complex backend needs, Supabase handles PostgreSQL database provisioning, row-level security, and auth flows without leaving the Bolt interface.

### 5. Deploy with One Click

Once you're ready to go live, Bolt can deploy directly to its own hosting (Bolt Cloud, available on paid plans with custom domain support) or to Netlify. Pro plans include website hosting, custom domains, SEO optimization, and up to 1 million web requests per month.

## The Technology Behind Bolt: WebContainers

What separates Bolt from most AI code tools is StackBlitz WebContainers — a browser runtime that runs Node.js natively inside a browser tab using WebAssembly. This means Bolt doesn't spin up a remote cloud VM every time you start a project. Instead, the entire development environment runs locally in your browser, making it faster, more private, and available without latency to a remote server. The practical result: you can `npm install`, run a live dev server, hit real API routes, and see instant feedback — all without leaving the browser and without any local setup on your machine.

## What Can You Build with Bolt?

Bolt is versatile enough to support a wide range of projects, from simple landing pages to full-stack applications with authentication and payments:

- MVPs and Startups — Validate ideas fast without hiring a developer. One documented example: a parent and child with zero coding experience built and deployed a Stripe-enabled e-commerce site in about six hours.
- Web Apps and Dashboards — Portfolio sites, SaaS dashboards, internal tools, analytics views.
- E-Commerce Platforms — Product listings, shopping carts, Stripe checkout integration. See our guide on setting up Stripe in Bolt.new for a step-by-step walkthrough.
- AI-Powered Tools — Chatbots, automation scripts, tools that call LLM APIs.
- Real-Time Apps — Social platforms, collaborative tools, live dashboards powered by Supabase's real-time subscriptions.
- Design Prototypes — Convert Figma mockups directly into working frontend code.

## Key Features of Bolt.new (2025)

### AI-Powered Code Generation with Claude

Bolt uses Anthropic's Claude as its primary AI model. The Claude AI Agent handles full-stack code generation, context-aware editing, and automated debugging. It can understand a project's entire codebase and generate changes across multiple files simultaneously — not just isolated completions.

### Full-Stack Browser Development

No local setup required. Bolt handles frontend (React, Vue, Svelte, Next.js, Astro) and backend (Node.js, serverless functions) in a single environment, with npm package installation running natively in the browser via WebContainers.

### Visual Inspector and Mobile Debugging

A Visual Inspector lets you click on any element in your app's preview and immediately navigate to the relevant code — no manual searching. Mobile debugging tools allow testing across device sizes before deployment.

### Product References and Context Management

You can upload images, ZIP files, CSVs, or JSON files as context for the AI. This is especially useful for feeding in design specs, data samples, or existing codebases. Context can be cleared when no longer needed, keeping token usage efficient.

### GitHub Integration

Import existing codebases from GitHub for AI-assisted development, refactoring, or feature additions. This bridges Bolt's speed with projects that already have an established codebase.

### One-Click Deployment

Deploy directly to Bolt's own hosting infrastructure or to Netlify. Pro and Teams plans include custom domain support, SEO optimization settings, and private site sharing. Bolt Cloud — Bolt's all-in-one hosting layer — includes managed databases, auth, analytics, serverless functions, and Stripe-ready payments out of the box. For a full breakdown, see our Netlify vs Bolt Cloud comparison.

## Bolt.new Integrations: Supabase, Figma, and Netlify

### Supabase: Database and Authentication

Supabase is an open-source alternative to Firebase, built on PostgreSQL. The Bolt + Supabase integration is one of the most powerful combinations in the vibe coding stack. When connected, Bolt can automatically set up database tables, authentication flows, and real-time data subscriptions based on your prompt — without writing SQL manually. This integration is essential for any app that needs user accounts, persistent data storage, or real-time features. Supabase handles the backend complexity while Bolt handles the code generation layer. It's also the required backend when adding Stripe payments via Bolt.

### Figma: Design to Code

Bolt's Figma integration lets designers convert UI mockups into working frontend code. Paste a Figma frame link into Bolt, and it translates the layout into HTML, CSS, and JavaScript components — including Figma's auto-layout into responsive CSS. This closes the handoff gap between design and development without manual re-implementation. It supports modern frameworks and responsive breakpoints, making it practical for real projects rather than just demos.

### Netlify: External Deployment

For developers who prefer Netlify's established hosting infrastructure, Bolt supports direct one-click deployment. Netlify handles global CDN, HTTPS, automatic scaling, and continuous deployment. It's particularly well-suited for JAMstack and static site projects generated by Bolt. If you're already using Netlify for other projects, this integration keeps your deployment workflow consistent. To learn more about what Netlify offers, see our Netlify hosting guide.

## Bolt.new Pricing (2025)

Bolt uses a token-based pricing model. Tokens are consumed by AI processing — larger projects with more files use more tokens per message, since Bolt syncs the entire project file system to the AI on each prompt. Bolt is actively working on reducing token consumption per message.

Plan | Price | Tokens | Key Inclusions
--- | --- | --- | ---
Free | $0 | 300K/day, 1M/month | Public + private projects, website hosting, unlimited databases, Bolt branding
Pro | $25/month | 10M/month (no daily limit) | No Bolt branding, custom domains, token rollover, SEO tools, AI image editing, 100MB uploads, expanded databases
Teams | $30/month per member | Per-member Pro allocation | Everything in Pro + centralized billing, team access controls, private NPM registries, design system knowledge
Enterprise | Custom | Custom | SSO, audit logs, dedicated account manager, 24/7 support, custom SLAs, data governance

Token rollover: As of July 1, 2025, unused tokens from paid plans roll over for one additional month (two months total). An active paid subscription is required to access rolled-over tokens. Practical note on token limits: The free tier's 1M monthly tokens is enough for small experiments and learning. The Pro plan's 10M tokens is generally sufficient for solo developers working on MVPs and moderate-complexity projects. Heavy users building large, multi-component apps with frequent iterations may find themselves needing the higher Pro tiers ($50–$200/month for up to 120M tokens).

## Who Should Use Bolt.new?

- Non-technical founders and entrepreneurs — Build and validate MVPs without hiring a developer. Bolt handles the full stack; you focus on the product.
- Solo developers and freelancers — Eliminate boilerplate, scaffold projects in minutes, and spend more time on differentiated logic.
- Designers — Use the Figma integration to convert designs to working code without developer handoff delays.
- Hackathon participants — Generate functional prototypes faster than any other approach.
- Development teams — The Teams plan adds shared workspaces, admin controls, and design system knowledge for consistent AI-assisted development across a team.

## Limitations of Bolt.new

Bolt is excellent for prototypes, MVPs, and moderate-complexity apps. It has real limitations worth understanding before committing to it for production workloads.

- Token consumption accelerates with complexity. Projects with 15+ components or custom API integrations use significantly more tokens per iteration. Some users have reported spending hundreds of dollars in tokens debugging complex apps.
- Context degradation on large projects. As projects grow, the AI's ability to retain full context across the codebase can degrade, leading to inconsistent suggestions or regressions.
- Deployment friction at scale. One-click deploy works well for simple apps, but larger projects with complex routing or server-side logic sometimes require manual debugging before successfully deploying.
- No offline functionality. Browser-based by design — requires an internet connection.
- Best for prototypes over enterprise production. Independent testing shows success rates drop significantly for enterprise-grade features requiring complex state management or multi-service orchestration.

The recommended strategy for managing these limitations: use Bolt to scaffold and build the initial structure and core features, then transition to a traditional IDE (VS Code, Cursor, etc.) for detailed refinement of complex logic.

## How We Evaluated Bolt.new

This guide draws on Bolt's official documentation, pricing page (bolt.new/pricing, verified April 2025), and independent developer reviews and testing reports from early 2025. Pricing and token limits are current as of the time of writing — Bolt's plans have evolved since launch and may continue to change.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is Bolt.new free?

Yes. The free tier provides 300,000 tokens per day and 1 million tokens per month — enough for small projects and experimentation. Paid plans start at $25/month (Pro) for 10 million tokens per month with no daily cap.

### What AI model does Bolt.new use?

Bolt primarily uses Anthropic's Claude. The Claude AI Agent is the recommended option for most builds, offering better accuracy and context handling than the legacy v1 agent. Bolt has also indicated upcoming support for additional models.

### What's the difference between Bolt.new and Bolt Cloud?

Bolt.new is the AI-powered development environment where you build apps. Bolt Cloud is the integrated hosting and backend layer — launched in August 2025 — that includes managed databases, authentication, serverless functions, analytics, and Stripe integration, all within the Bolt ecosystem. Pro plan subscribers get access to Bolt Cloud hosting features. See our Bolt Cloud overview for more detail.

### Can Bolt.new build production-ready apps?

For simple-to-moderate applications, yes. For enterprise-scale apps requiring complex state management, advanced security, or high-volume traffic, Bolt works best as a scaffold and prototyping tool, with refinement done in a traditional development environment.

### Does Bolt.new work without coding experience?

Yes. Bolt is explicitly designed for non-coders. You interact in plain English, and the AI handles code generation. That said, reviewing and understanding the generated code becomes more important as project complexity grows.

### How do Bolt tokens work?

Tokens are consumed whenever the AI processes a message. The main driver of token usage is project size — Bolt syncs your entire project's file system to the AI with each message, so larger codebases consume more tokens per prompt. Bolt's team is actively working on reducing per-message token costs.

## Getting Started with Bolt.new

1. Sign up at Bolt.new — free tier available, no credit card required.
2. Enter a project prompt — describe your app, its core features, and any frameworks or integrations you want.
3. Review and iterate — use the live preview and chat interface to refine, add features, or debug.
4. Connect integrations — link Supabase for database and auth; import Figma designs if you have them.
5. Deploy — push to Bolt Cloud hosting or Netlify with one click.

## Final Verdict: Is Bolt.new Worth It?

For its target use case — fast, browser-based full-stack development without infrastructure setup — Bolt.new delivers. The combination of WebContainers (real execution in the browser), Claude-powered code generation, and tight integrations with Supabase and Netlify makes it one of the most complete AI development environments available. The limitations are real: token costs can scale unexpectedly on complex projects, and production-level refinement often still requires a traditional IDE. But for MVPs, prototypes, and solo developers who prioritize shipping speed over fine-grained control, Bolt is hard to beat. For related reading: our overview of how Bolt is changing web development, and a comparison of Netlify vs Bolt Cloud for deployment decisions. 👉 Try Bolt.new free and start building today.