Bolt.new vs Windsurf
Comprehensive side-by-side comparison — features, pricing, performance, and more.
Updated March 2026
Trust & Reliability
Bolt.new
Users:1M-10M
Trusted by:Accenture, Intel, Google +7
Windsurf
Users:1M-10M
Trusted by:JPMorgan Chase, Mercado Libre, athenahealth +4
SOC 2
HIPAA
Too Close to Call
Windsurf (7.5) vs Bolt.new (7.2) — difference of 0.3 points
AI Comparison Summary
Bolt.new
7.2
avg score
Windsurf
7.5
avg score
Windsurf leads overall — particularly in Customizability.
Based on 6 dimensions
How scores are calculatedOverall Winner
Windsurf
7.5 / 10
Bolt.new
Best For
Generating prototypes for product managers
Launching full businesses for entrepreneurs
Spinning up campaign pages for marketers
Delivering projects faster for agencies
Not Ideal For
Highly complex, custom enterprise software development requiring deep manual control over every line of code.
Users who prefer traditional, manual coding environments without AI assistance.
Offline development, as it appears to be a cloud-based platform.
Windsurf
Best For
Accelerating software development for engineers
Automating boilerplate and menial coding tasks
Building applications with AI assistance
Improving developer productivity in large codebases
Not Ideal For
Developers who prefer to use only open-source tools
Teams requiring full control over all AI model training data
Users who need web search functionality with strict zero-data retention
* Verdict is based on our algorithmic scoring of publicly available data. Learn about our methodology
Bolt.new is best for
✍️Writing & Content8.0💬Chat & Conversation8.0🔍Research8.0
Windsurf is best for
✍️Writing & Content9.0💬Chat & Conversation9.0🤖Automation & Agents7.0
Filter by your use case:
Pros & Cons
Bolt.newPros
- Reduces coding errors by 98% through automated testing and refactoring.
- Handles projects 1,000 times larger with improved context management.
- Includes enterprise-grade backend infrastructure like hosting and databases.
- Offers centralized billing and team-level access management for collaboration.
- Provides custom domain support and SEO boosting for published projects.
- Free plan available with public and private projects and token limits.
Cons
- Free plan has a daily and monthly token limit (300K daily, 1M monthly).
- Free plan includes Bolt branding on hosted websites.
- Free plan has a limited file upload size (10MB).
- Free plan has limited web requests (up to 333k).
- Advanced security features like SSO and audit logs are only available on the Enterprise plan.
- Dedicated 24/7 support is only available on the Enterprise plan.
WindsurfPros
- Offers powerful agentic AI (Cascade) for complex tasks
- Provides intelligent code completion (Tab) across various IDEs
- Supports multiple major AI models (GPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.)
- Strong security and compliance with SOC 2 Type II, FedRAMP High, HIPAA
- Flexible deployment options including Cloud, Hybrid, and Self-hosted
- Includes zero-data retention policies for enterprise customers
- Integrates with JetBrains IDEs and offers its own editor
- Free tier available with unlimited Tab completions
Cons
- Self-hosted tier does not support all cutting-edge products like Windsurf Editor or Cascade
- Web search tool (Bing API) does not have zero data retention agreement
- Turbo Mode auto-run commands are unavailable for Teams/Enterprise users by default
- Some advanced features like remote indexing require data retention opt-in for Cloud deployments
- The 'Windsurf Browser' feature was deprecated
Weighted Score — Adjust What Matters to You
Pick a profile or drag sliders — scores and radar update instantly on the right.
Quick profiles:
Ease of Use5
Output Quality5
Value for Money5
Customizability5
Support & Ecosystem5
Integration Power5
Dimension Comparison
Bolt.new
7.2
/ 10
Windsurf
7.5
/ 10
Your pick
Dimension Breakdown
Ease of Use
AIHow easy it is to get started and use daily
Bolt.new
7.0
Windsurf
7.0
Output Quality
AIQuality and accuracy of generated results
Bolt.new
8.0
Windsurf
8.0
Value for Money
AICost vs. features and output quality
Bolt.new
7.0
Windsurf
7.0
Customizability
CalculatedAbility to tailor to specific needs
Bolt.new
7.0
Windsurf
9.0▲ +2.0
Support & Ecosystem
AIDocumentation, community, and support quality
Bolt.new
7.0▲ +1.0
Windsurf
6.0
Integration Power
CalculatedAbility to connect with other tools and workflows
Bolt.new
7.0
Windsurf
8.0▲ +1.0
Calculated = derived from verified integration count and API/open-source signals. AI = LLM-assessed from public website content. Methodology
Task Performance
Bolt.new
Task
Windsurf
7.09.0
Code Completion
8.07.0
Bug Detection
7.07.0
Code Explanation
8.06.0
Refactoring
7.05.0
Test Generation
6.07.0
Multi Language Support
8.09.0
Context Understanding
6.07.0
Documentation Generation
6.06.0
Performance Optimization
5.07.0
Security Scanning
* Task scores (1–10) are algorithmically generated from publicly available data.
Data is sourced from public information and vendor websites. It may not always be up-to-date — verify pricing and features directly with the vendor before purchasing.Report inaccuracy
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Bolt.new or Windsurf?
Both are strong options. Bolt.new has a rating of 0.0/5 (0 reviews), while Windsurf has a rating of 0.0/5 (0 reviews). The best choice depends on your specific use case, budget, and workflow requirements.
Is Bolt.new cheaper than Windsurf?
Bolt.new starts at free (freemium model). Windsurf starts at free (freemium model) with a free trial. Use the Cost Calculator above for a detailed estimate.
What are the main differences between Bolt.new and Windsurf?
Bolt.new — "Create stunning apps & websites by chatting with AI.". Windsurf — "The intuitive AI coding experience for developers in flow.". Key differences include their pricing models, platform support, integrations, and technical capabilities. See the Feature Comparison table above for a complete side-by-side breakdown.
Can I use Bolt.new and Windsurf together?
Yes, many teams use both tools together for different purposes. Use the Stack Builder section above to combine Bolt.new and Windsurf with other tools and save your AI toolkit.
Does Bolt.new or Windsurf have a free plan?
Bolt.new is available for free. Windsurf is available for free with a free trial. Always verify current pricing directly with the vendor.