Bolt.new vs Cursor
Updated Jun 28, 2026 · pricing verified for both tools
Bolt.new wins for non-coders shipping a deployed full-stack app from a prompt; Cursor wins for developers editing real code, with Cursor Pro at $20/mo vs Bolt Pro at $25/mo. These are different tools, not direct substitutes. Bolt.new runs entirely in the browser and bundles hosting, database, and auth, so a founder can publish a working app the same day without touching a local environment. Cursor is a desktop editor where the AI writes, tests, and hands back diffs you approve line by line — the better fit for engineers who own a codebase. Bolt's free tier (1M tokens/month with hosting) is more generous; Cursor's free Hobby tier only offers limited Agent requests plus a one-week Pro trial.
- Bolt.new starts at
- $25/mo
- Cursor starts at
- $20/mo
- Bolt.new free tier
- Yes
- Cursor free tier
- Yes
Both prices were verified against the official pricing pages on Jul 3, 2026.
Side by side
| Dimension | Bolt.new | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free tier; Pro $25/mo; Teams $30/mo per member; Enterprise custom | ✓ Free Hobby; Pro $20/mo; Pro+ $60/mo; Ultra $200/mo; Teams $40/user/mo |
| Free tier | ✓ 1M tokens/month (300K daily cap) with hosting and unlimited databases included | Limited Agent requests + Tab completions; one-week Pro trial on signup |
| Platforms | Web only — browser-based, no local install | ✓ Desktop (macOS, Windows, Linux) plus CLI |
| API access | No public API | No public API |
| Workflow | Generates and deploys whole apps from a chat prompt; no manual coding required | Agentic editor — AI writes and tests code you review and approve as diffs |
| Built-in deployment | ✓ Integrated hosting, cloud DB, auth, and custom domains (custom domains on Pro $25/mo) | No hosting or infra; edits local code, you deploy via your own pipeline |
| Model selection | Automatic model routing per task; model is not user-selectable | ✓ User picks Claude Sonnet, GPT-4o, or Gemini per task |
Pricing, verified
Bolt.new
FREEMIUM| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | $0 |
| Pro | $25/mo |
| Teams | $30/mo per member |
| Enterprise | Custom |
Cursor
FREEMIUM| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Hobby | Free |
| Pro | $20/mo |
| Pro+ | $60/mo |
| Ultra | $200/mo |
| Teams | $40/user/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom |
When to pick Bolt.new
- Pick this if you do not write code and need a working, deployed full-stack app from a prompt — Bolt.new bundles hosting, a cloud database, and auth, so a founder can publish the same day with no local setup.
- Pick this if you want a genuinely usable free tier: 1M tokens/month (300K daily cap) with hosting and unlimited databases at $0, versus Cursor’s limited Agent requests.
- Pick this if you start from a Figma design or want managed infrastructure — Figma import generates a live front-end, and custom domains arrive on Pro at $25/month without configuring your own deploy pipeline.
When to pick Cursor
- Pick this if you write and review code yourself and want the AI inside a real editor — Cursor is built on VS Code, so your extensions, keybindings, and settings transfer directly, and you approve every diff.
- Pick this if you need model control: Cursor lets you switch between Claude Sonnet, GPT-4o, and Gemini per task on Pro ($20/month), while Bolt.new routes models automatically with no user choice.
- Pick this if you work in a team that needs automated PR review and shared context — Bugbot runs agentic code review on the Teams plan ($40/user/month), which Bolt.new does not offer.
Bottom line
Bolt.new and Cursor solve different problems, so the choice follows your role rather than a feature score. Bolt.new is the answer for non-developers and founders who want a deployed app — frontend, database, auth, and hosting — out of a single chat session, and its free tier (1M tokens/month with hosting) lets you validate an idea at $0. Cursor is the answer for developers who own a codebase and want agentic AI in a familiar VS Code-based editor at $20/month, with line-by-line diff review, per-task model choice, and Bugbot PR review on Teams. If your priority is shipping a deployed product without writing code, choose Bolt.new; if it is writing better code faster inside your own repo, choose Cursor.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bolt.new better than Cursor?
Bolt.new wins for non-coders shipping a deployed full-stack app from a prompt; Cursor wins for developers editing real code, with Cursor Pro at $20/mo vs Bolt Pro at $25/mo. These are different tools, not direct substitutes. Bolt.new runs entirely in the browser and bundles hosting, database, and auth, so a founder can publish a working app the same day without touching a local environment. Cursor is a desktop editor where the AI writes, tests, and hands back diffs you approve line by line — the better fit for engineers who own a codebase. Bolt's free tier (1M tokens/month with hosting) is more generous; Cursor's free Hobby tier only offers limited Agent requests plus a one-week Pro trial. Updated Jun 28, 2026.
Is Bolt.new cheaper than Cursor?
No — Cursor has the lower starting price: $20/mo versus $25/mo for Bolt.new. Both prices were verified against the official pricing pages on Jul 3, 2026.
Do Bolt.new and Cursor have free tiers?
Yes — both do. Bolt.new has a free tier (the Free plan). Cursor has a free tier (the Hobby plan).
Can I use Bolt.new and Cursor on mobile or via an API?
Bolt.new runs on the web and does not list an API. Cursor runs on desktop, the command line and does not list an API.