Bolt.new vs Bubble: a factual comparison for creators
Choosing between Bolt.new and Bubble usually comes down to one question: do you want an AI to generate the app from a prompt, or do you want to assemble it yourself in a visual editor? Bolt.new turns a text prompt into a working web app or site with an in-browser preview. Bubble is a drag-and-drop visual builder with a hosted database and a workflow engine that predates the current wave of AI code generators.
Both produce hosted web applications without a traditional codebase, but the underlying model, workflow, and pricing structure diverge in ways that matter once you know what you’re building and who’s building it.
- Bolt.new generates apps from natural-language prompts, with an in-browser preview and a token-based usage model. Bubble is a visual, drag-and-drop editor with a built-in hosted database and a workflow engine.
- Bolt.new’s pricing is published and tiered by token allowance: $0 per month for the Free plan, $25 per month for Pro.
- Bubble doesn’t have independently verified pricing figures at the time of writing, so check their site for current pricing before comparing costs directly.
- Bubble includes a built-in hosted database and a visual Workflow Engine for backend logic. Bolt.new’s own materials don’t specify a backend or data model.
- Both tools host their output on their own infrastructure rather than offering a code export.
- Sticklight, built by the Elementor team and powered by Claude, generates production-ready websites, apps, dashboards, CMS, and internal tools from a single prompt, and it’s additive to an existing WordPress or Elementor stack.
What each tool actually does
Bolt.new is a browser-based AI tool that generates, previews, and hosts websites and applications from a prompt, using a token-based usage model. The workflow is prompt-first: you describe what you want, Bolt.new generates the app, and you preview and iterate on it right there in the browser. Usage is metered in tokens, which scale with your plan tier rather than with seats or projects alone.
Bubble is a browser-based visual development platform for building multi-user web applications. It combines a drag-and-drop UI editor with a responsive layout engine, a built-in hosted relational database for defining data types and relationships, and a visual Workflow Engine for backend logic, scheduled events, and API-triggered actions. A Plugin Marketplace and a built-in API Connector extend it to third-party services. Apps are hosted on Bubble’s own infrastructure with no code export offered, and native mobile app store builds require a third-party wrapper.
Bolt.new vs Bubble at a glance
| Dimension | Bolt.new | Bubble | Sticklight |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A browser-based AI tool that generates, previews, and hosts sites and apps from prompts, using a token-based usage model. | A browser-based visual development platform combining a drag-and-drop UI editor, a hosted database, and a visual workflow engine. | A vibe-coding platform that turns a prompt into production-ready websites, apps, dashboards, CMS, and internal tools. |
| Output | Web apps and sites with an in-browser preview, hosted by Bolt.new. | Multi-user web applications; native mobile app store builds require a third-party wrapper. | Production-ready websites, apps, dashboards, CMS, and internal tools from a single prompt. |
| Backend / data | Not specified in Bolt.new’s own pricing materials. | Built-in hosted relational database with a visual Workflow Engine for backend logic and scheduled or API-triggered actions. | Full-stack, production-ready output generated directly from the prompt. |
| Publish / hosting | Hosted by Bolt.new; custom domain support is included on the Pro tier. | Hosted on Bubble’s own infrastructure; no code export is offered. | Publish is included as part of the prompt, build, publish flow. |
| Best for | Builders who want fast, AI-generated prototypes with token-based scaling. | Teams building multi-user web apps who want a mature visual database and workflow editor without writing code. | Professional web creators who want full-stack, production-ready output alongside an existing WordPress or Elementor site. |
| Entry pricing | Free plan at $0 per month (300K tokens/day, 1M tokens/month); Pro at $25 per month. | check their site for current pricing | Additive to your WordPress/Elementor stack |
Pricing structure compared
Bolt.new publishes a tiered pricing page. The Free plan is $0 per month with 300K tokens per day, 1M tokens per month, Bolt.new branding retained on your output, and a 10MB file upload limit. The Pro plan is $25 per month, starting at 10M tokens per month with no daily cap and unused tokens rolling over. A Teams plan runs $30 per member per month, and Enterprise pricing is custom, available on request.
Bubble’s plan grid renders client-side, and its current figures weren’t independently verifiable at the time of writing, so check their site for current pricing before you draw a cost comparison. What is documented is the billing model itself: Bubble meters and bills usage in Workload Units, a consumption-based unit tied to how your app runs rather than a flat per-seat fee.
Where Sticklight fits as a third option
If you’re weighing Bolt.new against Bubble, it’s worth knowing where Sticklight sits alongside both. Sticklight is built by the Elementor team and powered by Claude, positioned around going beyond websites to become a full-stack creator. Its flow follows prompt, build, publish: it generates production-ready output and publishes it as part of that same flow rather than as a separate step.
Sticklight is additive to WordPress and Elementor. It’s designed to work alongside an existing site rather than replace it, which matters if you already have a WordPress or Elementor stack in place. AI agents are on Sticklight’s roadmap and not yet shipped, so the comparison here rests on the prompt-to-production-ready-output flow itself. Where Bolt.new suits fast, token-metered app generation and Bubble suits teams that want a mature visual database and workflow editor, Sticklight is built for creators who want full-stack, production-ready output without stepping outside their existing site-building ecosystem.
Frequently asked questions
How do Bolt.new and Bubble differ in how I actually build?
Bolt.new starts from a text prompt: you describe what you want and it generates the app with an in-browser preview, metering usage in tokens. Bubble starts from a visual canvas: you assemble the UI with a drag-and-drop editor, define your data in its built-in database, and wire up logic with a visual Workflow Engine, no prompt or codebase involved.
Does Bubble cost more than Bolt.new?
That’s not verifiable right now. Bolt.new’s pricing is published and tiered, starting at $0 per month for Free and $25 per month for Pro. Bubble’s current figures couldn’t be independently confirmed, so check their site for current pricing before comparing costs.
Do I need to write code to use Bubble?
No. Bubble is a drag-and-drop visual editor with a built-in hosted database and a visual Workflow Engine for backend logic, so you build applications without a traditional codebase.
What’s included in Bolt.new’s free plan?
Bolt.new’s Free plan is $0 per month and includes 300K tokens per day, 1M tokens per month, Bolt.new branding on your output, and a 10MB file upload limit.
Where does Sticklight fit if I’m comparing Bolt.new and Bubble?
Sticklight is a separate, additive option, built by the Elementor team and powered by Claude. It generates production-ready websites, apps, dashboards, CMS, and internal tools from a prompt and publishes them as part of that same flow, and it’s designed to work alongside an existing WordPress or Elementor site rather than replace it.
Built by the Elementor team. Powered by Claude.
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