Choosing between Bolt and Same.new (formerly Same.dev) depends on whether you need a full-stack, browser-native development container or a rapid frontend visual cloner. Bolt compiles a live React/Node.js environment with full terminal access. Same.new replicates existing website layouts from a URL and lets you edit the visual prototype using conversational prompts.

Meet the Contenders

What is Bolt?

Bolt (bolt.new) is a browser-native development environment built on StackBlitz’s WebContainers technology. It runs a virtual Node.js container directly inside your browser tab, giving you a live terminal, package manager (npm), and active development server alongside an AI assistant.

What is Same.new?

Same.new (formerly Same.dev) is a frontend prototyping and visual cloning tool. It replicates the layout, styling, and visual structure of a website from its URL, generating React code that users can modify via natural language chat prompts.

The Core Difference

The fundamental difference lies in stack capability and depth:

• Bolt is a full-stack development environment. It runs Node.js server files, installs packages, and generates live backend logic.
• Same.new is a frontend prototyping assistant. It focuses strictly on cloning and refining visual layouts, with no native server execution or data handling.

Head-to-Head Comparison

1. Developer Experience & Iteration Speed

Bolt provides a zero-setup workspace. You write a chat prompt, and it builds the files, starts the dev server, and opens a visual preview tab. If you need to install custom npm packages, you can use the built-in terminal. The downside is that running containers in browser memory is resource-heavy, leading to page freezes or container crashes on larger files.

Same.new offers rapid visual replication. By pasting a URL, you get an instant layout clone, bypassing manual layout design. However, the editing interface can be fragile. A major customer complaint on Trustpilot highlights destructive code loss, where simple section reordering prompts can destroy over 1,500 lines of working React code.

2. Code Quality & Portability

Bolt compiles a standard Vite project directory. It supports direct GitHub synchronization and complete code export with no platform lock-in. You own your codebase completely.

Same.new generates React and Tailwind CSS source code that you can download. However, because it only scaffolds the frontend visual layer, the exported code lacks backend configurations, databases, or API structures. You must write this logic manually inside your own local IDE.

3. Database & Backend Capabilities

Bolt is backend-agnostic. While it can spin up local mock databases, connecting a production database (like Supabase or Xano) requires manual prompt engineering or code configuration.

Same.new does not have database or backend capabilities. It is strictly a frontend UI cloner. Connecting a database, configuring user authentication, or saving form submissions requires you to manually write API integration code inside the generated React files.

4. Hosting & Deployment Options

Bolt deploys to its staging platform or directly to Netlify. It supports custom domains, SEO configurations, and analytics integrations on paid plans.

Same.new hosts your generated prototypes on its own environment. However, the platform has faced instability. The transition from Same.dev to Same.new led to user reports of lost projects, rendering paid accounts temporarily inaccessible or read-only.

Pricing Comparison

Bolt uses a token-based subscription model:

• Free includes 1 million tokens and public projects.
• Pro ($25/mo monthly) includes 10 million tokens and custom domains.
• Token packages can be scaled up to 1.2 billion tokens ($2,000/mo).

Same.new uses a low-cost token subscription model:

• Free includes limited tokens for UI testing.
• Pro ($10/mo) includes 2 million tokens.
• Additional tokens are billed at $10 per 2 million tokens.
• Users can purchase fixed-tier plans for predictable billing.

Use Case Fit: When to use which?

When to choose Bolt

• You need to build a functional web application with server logic and api routes.
• You want terminal access to install specific npm libraries.
• You want a persistent workspace synced with a GitHub repository.

When to choose Same.new

• You want to copy the layout and styling of an existing website.
• You need to quickly design static landing pages or UI mockups.
• You want to export React/Tailwind frontend code structures.

When neither Bolt nor Same.new is the right fit

For native mobile apps

Neither tool compiles native mobile binaries (APK or IPA files) for iOS or Android App Stores. If your goal is a native app, FlutterFlow is the standard visual builder. It compiles native Dart code and features automated app store publishing.

For internal tools and client portals

For secure business portals, custom CRMs, or team dashboards, building custom codebases or fragile UI prototypes introduces unnecessary security risks and maintenance overhead. Softr is the preferred alternative. It configures pre-built, production-tested visual components on top of your existing data, with native user permissions and flat-rate pricing.

For professional developer environments

If you are an experienced developer, prompt-to-preview systems can feel limiting. You will likely work faster inside a local editor using AI assistants. Cursor is a VS Code fork with context-aware chat and multi-file code editing. For collaborative cloud development, Replit runs full virtual machines and integrates Replit Agent, providing backend database scaling and live multiplayer coding.

Verdict

• Choose Same.new if your primary goal is visual layout cloning from a URL and rapid frontend scaffolding.
• Choose Bolt if you need a full-stack, browser-native development runtime to build a functional web application.

Summary Comparison Table