Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Bolt.new · 🛠️ dev tools
Bolt.new vs Onlook
Open source visual builder on a real React codebase; the grown-up sibling of the browser sandbox. Here is how Onlook ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Bolt.new ($25/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Bolt.new vs Onlook Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-10
| Dimension | Bolt.new (Paid) | Onlook (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $25 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $300 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $300) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $1,500 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,500) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $3,000 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $3,000) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source Apache-2.0 |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hosteddocker to self-host |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 26k (active jul 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Bolt.new to Onlook
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
It is narrower and more design-first, with less mature prompt-to-full-stack generation and deployment than Bolt's browser workspace.
How to deploy Onlook
Hosted signup, or self-host with Bun or Docker plus Supabase configuration
What it takes to run
Hosted access may be gated; self-hosting needs Bun or Docker, Supabase and several environment variables
Where your data lives
Project code lives in the workspace or sandbox; application metadata and assets use the configured Supabase instance
Why fork Onlook instead of vibe-coding a Bolt.new clone?
A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Bolt.new, generate and edit a small web project in a local sandbox from structured prompts. The hard boundary is browser sandbox, model orchestration, package execution, deployment, and hosted compute, plus frontier models, context infrastructure, and execution safety.
Bolt.new vs Onlook FAQ
Is Onlook a good free alternative to Bolt.new?+
Yes. Onlook is a verified open-source (Apache-2.0) replacement for Bolt.new. Open source visual builder on a real React codebase; the grown-up sibling of the browser sandbox.
What is the catch when switching from Bolt.new to Onlook?+
It is narrower and more design-first, with less mature prompt-to-full-stack generation and deployment than Bolt's browser workspace.
How much do you save switching from Bolt.new to Onlook?+
Bolt.new costs $25/mo ($300/yr) per seat, whereas Onlook is $0/mo. Switching saves $300/yr for a solo user, $1,500/yr for a 5-person team, and $3,000/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Onlook instead of Bolt.new?+
Install: Hosted signup, or self-host with Bun or Docker plus Supabase configuration. Setup: Hosted access may be gated; self-hosting needs Bun or Docker, Supabase and several environment variables
