🤖 AI & Coding Tools Comparison
Bolt.new vs Continue
A detailed comparison to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
Last updated: 2026-02-06
Bolt.new
Free tier, Pro from $20/mo
Strengths
- + Zero setup — open a browser tab and start building
- + Live preview updates as the AI writes code
- + Supports React, Next.js, Astro, and more out of the box
Weaknesses
- − Free tier token limits mean you hit walls mid-project
- − Browser-based means no access to native tools, local databases, or heavy computation
- − Generated code can be messy and hard to maintain long-term
Continue
Free (open source)
Strengths
- + Completely free — no subscription, no API costs if you use local models
- + Works with any LLM: OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama, LM Studio, and more
- + Deep IDE integration with autocomplete, chat, and inline editing
Weaknesses
- − Requires setup — picking a model, getting API keys, configuring the tool
- − Less polished than Cursor or Copilot; occasional rough edges
- − Quality is only as good as the model you connect
The verdict
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bolt.new if you want
- → Zero setup — open a browser tab and start building
- → Live preview updates as the AI writes code
Choose Continue if you want
- → Completely free — no subscription, no API costs if you use local models
- → Works with any LLM: OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama, LM Studio, and more
In depth
About each tool
Bolt.new
Build full-stack web apps in your browser by describing what you want — no local setup needed
Bolt.new runs a full Node.js environment inside your browser using WebContainers. You describe what you want to build, it writes the code, and you see a live preview instantly. No installing Node, no terminal, no VS Code — just a browser tab.
This is genuinely useful for prototyping. You can go from “I need a landing page with a waitlist form” to a working app in minutes. But the limitations show up when you try to build something complex — the free tier token limits are tight, and the generated code sometimes needs cleanup before it is production-ready. Think of it as a rapid prototyping tool, not a replacement for a real development setup.
Continue
Open-source AI assistant for VS Code and JetBrains — plug in any LLM, including free local models
Continue is the “bring your own brain” approach to AI coding. It is a free, open-source extension for VS Code and JetBrains that connects to any LLM you want — cloud APIs like Claude and GPT-4, or local models through Ollama. You get autocomplete, chat, and inline editing without paying for a subscription.
The appeal is total freedom. Do not want to send code to the cloud? Run a local model. Want to switch between Claude for complex tasks and a fast local model for autocomplete? You can. The cost is setup time and some polish — it takes more effort to get running than Cursor, and the experience is not quite as seamless. But for developers who want control over their tools and their data, Continue is the best free option.
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