v0 vs Bolt.new vs Lovable 2026: Best AI App Builder

Building web apps with AI has never been faster. Vercel’s v0, StackBlitz’s Bolt.new, and Lovable let you describe an app in natural language and get working code in seconds. We compare all three to help you pick the right AI app builder.

Related: how to use v0 by Vercel, how to use Bolt.new, best AI tools for web development.

Quick Comparison

Feature v0 (Vercel) Bolt.new Lovable
Best For React/Next.js UI Full-stack prototypes Non-coders & MVPs
Output React components Full applications Full applications
Framework Next.js, React Any (React, Vue, Svelte) React, Next.js
Backend Limited Yes (Node, Python) Yes (Supabase)
Database No Yes Yes (Supabase)
Deployment Vercel (one-click) Preview URLs One-click deploy
Free Tier 200 credits/mo Limited tokens Limited projects
Starting Price $20/month $20/month $20/month

v0: The UI Component Factory

v0 by Vercel specializes in generating beautiful, production-ready React components. Describe a UI element — a dashboard, a pricing page, a data table — and v0 generates polished code using shadcn/ui and Tailwind CSS.

Strengths

  • Production Quality — Generated components are clean, accessible, and ready to drop into real projects.
  • shadcn/ui + Tailwind — Uses the most popular React component library and CSS framework.
  • Iterative Refinement — Chat with v0 to tweak components, change layouts, and adjust styling.
  • Vercel Integration — Deploy instantly to Vercel with one click.
  • Code Export — Copy generated code directly into your project. No lock-in.

Weaknesses

  • Frontend-only — no backend, database, or API generation
  • Limited to React/Next.js ecosystem
  • Cannot build complete applications end-to-end
  • Credit limits on free and lower tiers

Bolt.new: The Full-Stack Builder

Bolt.new runs a complete development environment in your browser. It can create full-stack applications with frontend, backend, and package management — all from natural language descriptions.

Strengths

  • Full-Stack — Generates frontend, backend, API routes, and database schema in one session.
  • In-Browser IDE — Full VS Code-like editor with terminal, file system, and package management.
  • Multi-Framework — Supports React, Vue, Svelte, Angular, Astro, and more.
  • Live Preview — See your app running in real-time as the AI generates code.
  • npm Integration — Install and use any npm package automatically.

Weaknesses

  • Token limits can run out quickly on complex projects
  • Generated code sometimes needs manual debugging
  • No built-in database hosting
  • Preview deployments are temporary

Lovable: The Non-Coder’s Dream

Lovable (formerly GPT-Engineer) aims to make app building accessible to non-technical users. It generates full-stack applications with Supabase backends and offers one-click deployment.

Strengths

  • No-Code Friendly — The most accessible interface for people without programming experience.
  • Supabase Integration — Built-in database, authentication, and storage through Supabase.
  • One-Click Deploy — Deploy your app to production with a single click.
  • Visual Editor — Make changes visually without touching code.
  • GitHub Sync — Code is synced to a GitHub repo that you own.

Weaknesses

  • Locked into React/Next.js + Supabase stack
  • Less control for experienced developers
  • Complex applications may hit generation limits
  • Newer platform with a smaller community

Which Should You Choose?

v0 — Frontend developers who need beautiful UI components fast. Best for teams already using React, Next.js, and Vercel.

Bolt.new — Developers who want to prototype full-stack applications quickly with maximum framework flexibility.

Lovable — Non-technical founders, designers, and product managers who want to build MVPs without writing code.

See also: best AI debugging tools, best AI tools for Python.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can v0 build a full app?

v0 generates frontend React components but not full-stack applications. For complete apps with backends, use Bolt.new or Lovable.

Is Bolt.new free?

Bolt.new has a free tier with limited tokens, enough to build small projects. Paid plans start at $20/month.

Which AI app builder is best for non-coders?

Lovable is the most beginner-friendly with its visual editor and one-click deployment.

Final Verdict

These three tools serve different needs. v0 is the UI specialist. Bolt.new is the developer’s prototyping tool. Lovable is the non-coder’s app builder. For most full-stack projects, start with Bolt.new or Lovable, and use v0 when you need polished component designs.

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