VibeKit vs Bolt
Bolt is fast at turning a prompt into a running app. VibeKit is built for what happens next: a persistent AI agent for each app that remembers it, a GitHub repo, and control from the iOS app, the web, the CLI or MCP.
At a glance
| Feature | VibeKit | Bolt |
|---|---|---|
| AI agent | Persistent agent per app on an always-on gateway: remembers decisions and runs the schedules you set. | Bolt Agent works from recent chat plus the Knowledge and agents.md instructions you write. |
| Where the code lives | A GitHub repo per app, on your account for apps created after you connect GitHub. Each deploy is a commit. | A Bolt project with two-way sync to a GitHub repo you connect. |
| Pricing | BYOK (Anthropic or OpenAI, no markup) or AI credits: $3/mo included on Starter, $20 on Builder, $25 on Pro. | Monthly plan with tokens (1M on Free, 10M on Pro). |
| Entry paid tier | Starter $9.99/mo, $3 AI credit, 3 workspaces, 1 always-on app, unlimited custom domains. | Pro $25/mo, 10M tokens, token rollover. |
| Next tiers up | Builder $24.99/mo, $20 AI credit, 5 workspaces, 2 always-on apps. Pro $49.99/mo, $25 AI credit, 10 workspaces, no per-seat charge. | Teams $30 per member/mo, from 10M tokens per member. |
| Control surfaces | iOS app, web, CLI, MCP, REST API. | Web, including phone browsers (code view and database stay desktop-only). |
| Hosting | Built in at yourapp.vibekit.bot, nothing else to set up; custom domains on every paid plan. |
Website hosting on every plan; custom domains on paid plans. |
| Database | Managed Postgres, included on every paid plan ($3/mo add-on on Free). | Databases on every plan; Pro adds capacity and a choice of provider. |
| Best for | Shipping and operating apps over weeks and months. | Spinning up prototypes and sites from a prompt. |
One-shot vs persistent
Bolt is fast at the zero-to-one: type a prompt, get a running app in the browser. Its agent works from your recent chat plus the Knowledge and agents.md instructions you write. VibeKit's per-app agent runs on an always-on gateway, keeps one ongoing session per app and records decisions in a MEMORY.md file, so on day 30 it still remembers why you chose that auth library. Ask it for recurring work, like checking the site every morning, and it runs on that schedule and reports back.
You own the repo
Bolt syncs a project two ways with a GitHub repo you connect: it commits your changes and pulls in outside edits. VibeKit keeps each app's code in a GitHub repo too: on your account for an app created after you connect GitHub, otherwise in a private repo in VibeKit's GitHub organization that Export to my GitHub copies to your account (the live app keeps deploying from the original). Each deploy is pushed as a normal commit, and a push to the default branch of a repo on your account redeploys the app. Clone it, fork it, open it in Cursor, or push from your laptop for a week without opening VibeKit.
BYOK vs bundled credits
VibeKit Starter includes $3 of AI credit a month, Builder $20 and Pro $25. Past that you top up never-expiring AI credits pay-as-you-go, or bring your own Anthropic or OpenAI key and AI spend goes directly to the provider, with no markup on your own key.
Bolt pricing verified 2026-10-29. Free: 1M tokens/mo (300K daily cap). Pro: $25/mo, 10M tokens with rollover. Teams: $30 per member/mo.
When Bolt might fit better
For rapid prototyping inside a browser tab with zero setup, Bolt is hard to beat. VibeKit is the better fit once you want an agent per app that remembers it, native iPhone apps, or to build and run the app from the iOS app rather than a browser.
FAQ
What's the main difference between VibeKit and Bolt?
Bolt is a browser-based builder optimized for turning a prompt into a running app fast. VibeKit gives every app its own persistent AI agent that remembers the project over time, a GitHub repo, and control from the iOS app, the web, the CLI or MCP.
Do I own the code I build with VibeKit?
Yes. Connect GitHub before you create an app and its code lives in a repo on your account, with every deploy pushed as a normal git commit. An app created before that keeps its code in a private repo in VibeKit's GitHub organization: Export to my GitHub gives you your own copy, and the live app keeps deploying from the original. Bolt also syncs a project two ways with a GitHub repo you connect.
How does VibeKit pricing compare to Bolt's?
Bolt Pro is $25/mo with 10M tokens a month that roll over, and Teams is $30 per member a month. VibeKit Starter is $9.99/mo with $3 of AI credit, Builder is $24.99/mo with $20, and Pro is $49.99/mo with $25. Past that, bring your own Anthropic or OpenAI key and AI spend goes directly to the provider with no markup, or top up never-expiring AI credits pay-as-you-go.
When is Bolt actually the better choice?
For zero-setup rapid prototyping inside a browser tab, Bolt is excellent. VibeKit becomes the better fit once you want an agent per app that remembers it, native iPhone apps, or to drive the agent from outside a browser: the iOS app, the CLI, MCP or the API.
Can I move a Bolt project into VibeKit?
Yes. Connect your Bolt project to a GitHub repo, connect the same GitHub account in VibeKit, and deploy from that repo. From then on you have a persistent agent, hosting at yourapp.vibekit.bot or your own domain, and control from iOS, web, CLI or MCP on top of the code Bolt generated. Move any data in Bolt's database separately.