Agentic AI Comparison:
Bolt.diy vs Bolt.new
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Introduction
This report compares Bolt.diy and Bolt.new, two AI-powered development agents, across five critical metrics: autonomy, ease of use, flexibility, cost, and popularity. The comparison draws on user experiences, community discussions, and hands-on video reviews, providing an informed perspective for potential users.
Overview
Bolt.diy
Bolt.diy is an open-source tool that users run locally, allowing them to use their own API keys and connect with a wide range of large language models (LLMs), including both free and paid options. It is designed for flexibility and extensibility, attracting users who prioritize custom configurations and model choice.
Bolt.new
Bolt.new is a commercial, web-based platform that focuses on a smooth, optimized user experience. It typically starts projects from robust templates and is pre-configured to work seamlessly with leading LLMs like Claude 3.5 Sonnet, providing reliable, high-quality results with minimal setup.
Metrics Comparison
autonomy
Bolt.diy: 9
Users have full control over environment, models, and API keys, enabling maximum autonomy for customization and workflows.
Bolt.new: 6
Bolt.new is more prescriptive, relying on curated templates and optimized settings. While this reduces friction, it limits autonomous configuration options.
Bolt.diy offers much greater autonomy due to its open-source nature and model/provider agnosticism, whereas Bolt.new prioritizes a guided experience.
ease of use
Bolt.diy: 5
The setup requires local installation and API management, and users may encounter more friction or errors. Noted by reviewers as less intuitive and with more build issues, especially for beginners.
Bolt.new: 9
Designed for streamlined onboarding, Bolt.new leverages templates and pre-configured flows. Users report more reliable builds and less troubleshooting.
Bolt.new significantly outpaces Bolt.diy on ease of use, especially for those seeking a quick start or reliable results with minimal technical hurdles.
flexibility
Bolt.diy: 10
Highly flexible with support for many LLMs and custom extensions. Users can mix and match providers and experiment with different models and prompts.
Bolt.new: 7
Offers some configurability but is primarily designed around its own optimized model integrations and templates, restricting deep customizations.
Bolt.diy is clearly superior for advanced users needing flexibility, while Bolt.new sacrifices some flexibility for a more controlled, optimized workflow.
cost
Bolt.diy: 10
Completely free and open source. Users only pay for model usage via their own API keys, making it highly cost-effective, especially for those with free model access.
Bolt.new: 5
Commercial software with paid plans, though it may include API costs and some free trial availability. Overall, introduces direct platform costs.
Bolt.diy is the clear winner for cost-conscious users, while Bolt.new incurs ongoing charges for its convenience and optimization.
popularity
Bolt.diy: 6
Has a growing open-source community but is less popular among mainstream, non-technical users due to its higher setup overhead.
Bolt.new: 8
More widely adopted, especially among those seeking an easy-to-use AI development stack. Enjoys broader online visibility and positive user testimonials.
Bolt.new enjoys higher popularity, particularly outside the developer/open-source niche, due to its ease of use and stronger marketing presence.
Conclusions
Bolt.diy excels in autonomy, flexibility, and cost, making it ideal for advanced users who need custom workflows and are comfortable with self-hosting and API management. Bolt.new is superior for ease of use and enjoys greater popularity among users seeking reliable, guided app development with minimal setup. Your choice should depend on your technical comfort, need for customization, and willingness to pay for convenience. Both tools are powerful, but they serve distinct audiences and use cases.