Bolt.new vs Cursor
Our verdict
Many developers use both: Bolt for hack-week prototypes and demo apps, Cursor for the day job.
Bolt.new vs Cursor side by side
| Feature | Bolt.new | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Freemium · Free (1M tokens/mo) / Pro $25/mo / Pro+ $50/mo (26M tokens) / Teams $30/user/mo | Freemium · Hobby (free) / Pro $20/mo / Pro+ $60/mo / Ultra $200/mo / Teams $40/user/mo |
| Best for | Prototyping or building self-contained web apps without setting up local tooling. | Working in an existing codebase on your local machine. |
| Target audience | Developers and indie hackers who want a real Node.js/Vite environment in the browser plus an AI agent that can actually run the code it writes. | Professional developers and engineering teams replacing GitHub Copilot with a fuller AI-native coding workflow. |
| Primary category | Low-Code/No-Code | Code Assistants |
Where Bolt.new wins
- Bolt.new runs a full Node.js + Vite environment in your browser, with an AI agent layered on top.
- Build, edit, run, deploy — all in-tab.
- Best for: Prototyping or building self-contained web apps without setting up local tooling.
Where Cursor wins
- Cursor is a local VS Code fork tuned for AI assistance — autocomplete, multi-file Composer edits, autonomous Agent mode, native MCP.
- Best for: Working in an existing codebase on your local machine.
Which one should you pick?
Bolt and Cursor both target developers, but with different runtimes. Bolt's killer feature is that everything happens in your browser tab — no local setup, no `npm install`, just open the URL and start building. Cursor's killer feature is that it's a real local IDE, which means it works with your existing repos, your git, your tooling, and any project too big or weird to fit in a WebContainer.
If you're starting a new project from scratch and want zero setup time, Bolt is faster. If you're working on an existing codebase or a project with native dependencies (heavy build tooling, GPU work, custom CLIs), Cursor is the only option.