By the PrototypeVerdict Test Team · Pricing checked: Oct 29, 2026 · Last tested: Oct 29, 2026 (Bolt Free plan; Lovable Pro plan, 100 credits/month)
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Quick verdict
Our verdict
| If you… | Pick |
|---|---|
| Want to build a mobile app (iOS/Android) from a prompt | Bolt (documented Expo integration) |
| Want a big monthly AI allowance on the entry paid plan | Bolt (Pro: 10M tokens/month with rollover) |
| Want unlimited team members without per-seat pricing | Lovable (Bolt Teams is $30/member/month billed monthly, $27 billed annually) |
| Want Git sync with GitLab or Bitbucket, not just GitHub | Lovable (GitHub, GitLab and Bitbucket on all plans; Bolt documents GitHub only) |
| Want your backend on Supabase you control | Tie (both document Supabase options; see below) |
| Are a non-coder who wants a guided, low-decision start | Lovable, narrowly, in our Oct 29, 2026 test. Bolt’s intake portal needed a login fix, and we had to edit its database by hand to create an admin |
Bolt vs Lovable, short version (based on our test and each company’s documentation): Bolt and Lovable cost the same to start on monthly billing ($25/month for their entry paid plans; billed annually, Bolt Pro is $18/month and Lovable Pro $21) and both include a built-in database and hosting. Bolt measures usage in tokens, and token use grows with project size. Lovable measures usage in credits that also pay for hosting and in-app AI. Bolt stands out for mobile apps through Expo. Lovable stands out for team pricing (no per-seat charges) and Git sync on every plan.
Try Lovable free → Try Bolt free →
Bolt vs Lovable side by side
| Bolt.new | Lovable | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 |
| What it is | “An AI app builder that turns a prompt into a working web or mobile app” | “An AI software engineer” for websites and web apps |
| Free plan | 1M tokens/month, 300K daily limit; public and private projects; hosting; Bolt branding on sites | 5 daily build credits (up to 30/mo); 20 Cloud + 4 AI credits/mo; “Edit with Lovable” badge |
| Entry paid plan (as of Oct 2026) | Pro $25/mo billed monthly: 10M tokens/mo, rollover | Pro $25/mo billed monthly: 100 credits/mo + 5 daily build credits, rollover |
| Annual discount | “Save up to 28%”: Pro $18/mo ($216/yr), Teams $27/member/mo ($324/yr) | 2 months free (Pro 100 credits = $250/yr) |
| Team pricing | Teams $30/member/month billed monthly | No per-seat pricing; unlimited members |
| Usage unit | Tokens; most usage comes from syncing the project’s files to the AI, so bigger projects use more per message | Credits; Build-mode cost depends on request complexity; hosting and in-app AI draw from the same balance |
| Built-in backend | Bolt Cloud: database, sign-in, file storage, server functions, payments | Built-in Cloud: database, auth, storage, edge functions, realtime |
| Supabase option | Connect a Supabase database (Pro/Teams), or claim a Bolt database into your own Supabase account | Connect an external Supabase project; built-in backend uses Supabase’s open-source foundation |
| AI agents/modes | Standard agent (all plans) and Max agent (paid); Plan mode | Plan mode (1 credit/message) and Build mode |
| GitHub | GitHub integration: back up code, sync commits, branches (Bolt’s GitHub docs list no plan requirement) | Git sync with GitHub, GitLab and Bitbucket on all plans |
| Mobile apps | Expo integration for iOS and Android, including store publishing | Web apps only: Lovable says it doesn’t produce App Store or Google Play packages (its own iOS/Android app is for building, not for your users) |
| Custom domain | Pro and higher | Pro and higher |
| SSO | Teams and higher | Business and higher |
| Support | Community (Free), email (Pro), priority (Teams) | Community (Free), email (Pro), priority (Business) |
Sources (checked Oct 28, 2026): https://bolt.new/pricing · https://support.bolt.new/ · https://support.bolt.new/building/agents · https://support.bolt.new/bolt-cloud/database/advanced.md · https://support.bolt.new/integrations/git · https://support.bolt.new/integrations/expo.md · https://support.bolt.new/llms.txt · https://lovable.dev/build/mobile-app-builder · https://docs.lovable.dev/introduction/subscription-plans · https://docs.lovable.dev/introduction/credits-and-usage · https://docs.lovable.dev/features/cloud · https://docs.lovable.dev/integrations/supabase
Bolt vs Lovable pricing (as of October 2026)
Bolt.new
| Plan | Price | Monthly AI tokens | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1M (300K/day limit) | Public and private projects, unlimited databases, website hosting, Bolt branding |
| Pro | $25/mo billed monthly; $18/mo billed annually ($216/yr) | Starts at 10M, unused tokens roll over | Your own domain, no branding, choice of database provider, newest AI models, connectors and MCPs, SEO boost |
| Teams | $30/member/mo billed monthly; $27/member/mo billed annually ($324/yr) | Starts at 10M per member | Centralized billing, admin controls, SSO, private NPM registries, priority support |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | SOC 2 Type II, audit logs, dedicated account manager, 24/7 support |
Prices in USD plus applicable taxes, read from both the Monthly and Yearly views of https://bolt.new/pricing on Oct 29, 2026. Bolt advertises yearly billing as “save up to 28%.”
Lovable
| Plan | Monthly credits | Monthly billing | Annual billing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 5/day (max 30/mo) | $0 | $0 |
| Pro | 100 | $25/mo | $250/yr ($21/mo) |
| Pro | 200 | $50/mo | $500/yr ($42/mo) |
| Business | 100 | $50/mo | $500/yr ($42/mo) |
| Enterprise | Volume-based | Contact sales | Contact sales |
Source: https://docs.lovable.dev/introduction/subscription-plans (as of Oct 29, 2026).
Cost note on tokens vs credits: Bolt says most token usage comes from syncing your project’s file system to the AI, so “the larger the project, the more tokens used per message.” That means cost per message tends to grow as your app grows. Lovable charges by the work in each request, and the same balance also pays for hosting and AI features in your live app. Neither is “cheaper” in the abstract. It depends on project size and how much your live app is used.
What our test apps actually used (Oct 29, 2026)
We used the same three prompts, word for word, in both tools. Bolt was tested on its Free plan (1M tokens a month, 300K a day). Lovable was tested on Pro (100 credits a month).
| Bolt (Free) | Lovable (Pro) | |
|---|---|---|
| Client intake portal | ~9 min, 1 fix, ~185K tokens (the fix alone used ~84K) | ~9 min, 1 fix, about 1 credit from the balance plus the day’s 5 free build credits |
| Invoice tracker | ~9 min, 0 fixes, ~100K tokens | ~4 min, 0 fixes, ~3 credits |
| Landing page | ~2–3 min, 0 fixes, ~15K tokens | ~3 min, 0 fixes, 1.5 credits |
| Where the data was saved | Bolt’s built-in database for all three apps, with no card or outside account needed | Built-in Cloud database for the portal and the landing page form; the invoice tracker saved data in the browser only |
| Total used | 300K tokens: the entire free daily limit, reached just as the third build finished | 5.5 credits from the balance plus 5 free daily credits |
| Pro-rated value at the $25 Pro tier | About $0.75 (300K of Pro’s 10M monthly tokens; not tested on Pro) | About $1.40 at $0.25 per credit |
What this means: Bolt’s free plan was enough to build all three of our test apps with a real database, but it took the whole day’s free allowance, so the free tier comes to roughly one afternoon of building. The single login fix on the intake portal used almost half of that build’s tokens. Pro-rated, both tools cost very little for apps this size. Note that we didn’t test Bolt Pro, and Lovable’s credit counting didn’t fully match between the balance and the usage page.
Building experience
Bolt offers two agents: Standard, which is fast and token-efficient for well-defined tasks and available on all plans, and Max, which has deeper reasoning for complex work and requires a paid plan. It also has Plan mode, a prompt-enhance step, and an optional design system on Teams. Bolt picks the underlying model for you. Sources: https://support.bolt.new/building/agents · https://support.bolt.new/building/start-project
Lovable offers Plan mode (1 credit per message, no code changes) and Build mode (cost varies by complexity). Long-running Build messages pause at a credit check-in, 20 credits by default. Source: https://docs.lovable.dev/introduction/credits-and-usage
In our test (Oct 29, 2026): both tools needed 1 fix message on the client intake portal, but the problems were different. In Bolt, login got stuck on the sign-in screen because of a database security-rule error. Bolt fixed it after one message, but that fix used about 84K tokens. Bolt also had no built-in way to make an admin, so we set the admin role by hand in its Database tab. That works, but it’s a step a non-coder may not find. Lovable also had no built-in way to make the first admin, but one plain-English message fixed it. In a recheck, Lovable kept a separate non-admin client out of the admin view and showed it only its own submissions. We haven’t run the same second-account check on Bolt, so whether Bolt’s portal keeps one client out of another’s data is untested.
Backend, data and portability
Both include a database and hosting out of the box, and both give you a Supabase route:
- Bolt: every project can have a built-in Bolt database with auth, file storage and server functions. On Pro or Teams you can connect a Supabase database instead. You can also “claim” your Bolt database into your own Supabase account. Bolt warns that connecting Supabase to a project that already has a Bolt database can cause data loss, so claim instead. Source: https://support.bolt.new/bolt-cloud/database/advanced.md
- Lovable: the built-in backend uses Supabase’s open-source foundation, and you can connect an external Supabase project. Lovable states you own your code and data. Sources: https://docs.lovable.dev/features/cloud · https://lovable.dev/pricing
Both connect to GitHub for code backup and sync. Bolt also lets you download a project as a ZIP file. In our follow-up test, Bolt’s Download gave us a ZIP with 30 files (React and TypeScript source, Supabase database migrations and Bolt config), and Lovable’s gave us 100 files. We didn’t connect GitHub in Bolt, and we haven’t run either download outside its platform. We couldn’t test a CSV export of Bolt’s invoice data because the free plan’s tokens had run out, so that’s untested. Sources: https://support.bolt.new/integrations/git · https://support.bolt.new/managing-projects/projects-files.md · https://docs.lovable.dev/introduction/subscription-plans
Bolt or Lovable: who should pick which
Non-coders: Both are designed for you. Bolt’s free plan was enough for all three of our test builds with a real database, but those builds used up its full 300K daily token limit. Lovable’s free plan is smaller (up to 30 build credits a month) but includes Git sync. Our pick for non-coders, based on the Oct 29, 2026 test, is Lovable, narrowly: it fixed its one problem from a plain-English message, while Bolt needed a hand edit in its database to create an admin. If you do pick Lovable, ask for a database in any app that stores records.
Freelancers and agencies: If you’re a solo freelancer, both cost $25/month on monthly billing (Bolt is cheaper billed annually: $18 vs $21). If you bring collaborators, Lovable doesn’t charge per seat, while Bolt Teams is $30 per member per month ($27 billed annually). If clients ask for mobile apps, Bolt’s Expo integration is the documented path.
Accountants and tax pros: For an internal tool, either works. Build with fake data. For governance, compare the tiers: SSO is in Bolt Teams ($30/member) and Lovable Business ($50/month at 100 credits). Bolt lists SOC 2 Type II and audit logs on Enterprise. Lovable lists audit logs on Enterprise. Sources: https://bolt.new/pricing · https://docs.lovable.dev/introduction/subscription-plans
If you’d rather have a real database by default with nothing to configure, also see our Base44 review and Base44 vs Lovable.
Rapid prototyping: it’s a tie on our landing page test (Oct 29, 2026). Bolt was working in about 2–3 minutes and Lovable in about 2 minutes 50 seconds, with 0 fix messages in either. Bolt’s page showed a small text bug, a literal “\u2019” where an apostrophe should be (“we\u2019ll”), which you’d want to fix before showing a client.
Pros and cons
Bolt.new
- Pro: Large token allowance on Pro (10M/month, rollover) and a 1M free tier
- Pro: Expo integration for iOS/Android apps
- Pro: Two agents (Standard/Max) to balance cost and reasoning
- Pro: Can claim a Bolt database into your own Supabase account
- Con: Per-member pricing on Teams ($30/member/month)
- Con: Token use per message grows with project size
Lovable
- Pro: No per-seat pricing; unlimited workspace members
- Pro: Git sync (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) on every plan
- Pro: Credit guardrails: per-member limits, alerts and long-job check-ins
- Con: Small free allowance (up to 30 build credits a month)
- Con: Hosting and in-app AI share the credit balance; at zero credits, Cloud apps pause
- Con: Business tier costs twice Pro per credit tier
Our verdict
Based on our Oct 29, 2026 test (Bolt Free, Lovable Pro) plus each company’s documentation: our scores tie (Bolt 8.4/10, Lovable 8.4/10), so pick on fit. Pick Bolt if you want to try building a real database-backed app for free, or you need mobile apps through Expo. Its free plan built all three of our test apps with a real database, but it used the whole day’s token allowance, and its intake portal needed a login fix and a manual admin setup. Pick Lovable for a smoother start, for team work without per-seat fees and for a Git-based handoff (we downloaded its code and confirmed Git sync). It was faster on our invoice tracker, but ask it for a database for any app that stores records. Lovable passed our client-vs-admin recheck with a separate non-admin login. We haven’t run that check on Bolt yet.
Try Lovable free → Try Bolt free →
Read more: Lovable review · Base44 vs Lovable · Bolt review (coming soon)
Bolt vs Lovable FAQ
Is Bolt or Lovable better for beginners?
Both target people who don’t code. Bolt’s free plan has a larger usage allowance (1M tokens a month). Lovable includes Git sync even on the free plan. In our Oct 29, 2026 test, Lovable was the slightly easier start. Bolt’s free plan did build all three of our test apps with a real database, but it used its whole daily token limit and needed a manual database edit to create an admin.
Which is cheaper, Bolt or Lovable?
Both entry paid plans are $25/month billed monthly as of October 2026. Billed annually, Bolt Pro is $18/month and Lovable Pro is $21/month. For teams, Bolt charges $30 per member per month ($27 billed annually) and Lovable doesn’t charge per seat.
Can Bolt build mobile apps?
Yes. Bolt documents an Expo integration for building iOS and Android apps, previewing them on a device, and publishing to the App Store and Play Store. Source: https://support.bolt.new/integrations/expo.md
Do Bolt and Lovable both use Supabase?
Both document Supabase options. Bolt can connect a Supabase database (Pro/Teams) or let you claim its built-in database into your own Supabase account. Lovable’s built-in backend uses Supabase’s open-source foundation, and you can connect your own Supabase project.
What’s the difference between Bolt tokens and Lovable credits?
Bolt tokens are mostly spent syncing your project’s files to the AI, so larger projects use more per message. Lovable credits are charged by the work in each request and also pay for hosting and in-app AI.
Can I export my code from Bolt or Lovable?
Bolt supports GitHub sync and project downloads. Lovable offers Git sync on every plan and code download on paid plans; in our test we downloaded both as ZIP files (Bolt 30 files, Lovable 100). We haven’t run either outside its platform.
Update history
- October 29, 2026: First published. Test results from our Oct 29, 2026 round (Bolt Free, Lovable Pro). Prices checked Oct 29, 2026.