Softwr

Web Development · head to head

Bolt.new vs Heroku

Bolt.new logo

Bolt.new

Web Development

Prompt, run, edit, and deploy full-stack web apps

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Heroku logo

Heroku

Web Development

Cloud Application Platform

From
$7/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bolt.new has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bolt.new the free plan is capped at 300K tokens a day and 1M tokens a month; Heroku there is no free dyno tier; the cheapest Eco dyno is $5 per month
  • They diverge on capability: Bolt.new covers Full-stack app generation, Heroku covers Git-based deployment.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bolt.new and Heroku actually diverge.

Attributes where Bolt.new and Heroku differ
AttributeBolt.newHeroku
Starting priceFree$7/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Api, Workers
CategoryWeb DevelopmentUnknown
Founded20172007

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Bolt.new

  • Full-stack app generation
  • Prompt-to-app creation
  • Real-time editing
  • Instant deployment
  • Screenshot to UI
  • Multi-framework support
  • Live preview
  • Code export

Only in Heroku

  • Git-based deployment
  • Buildpacks
  • Dynos (containers)
  • Add-ons marketplace
  • Postgres database
  • Environment variables
  • Logging
  • API

Both cover

  • GitHub
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Bolt.new

  • Rapid prototypingnot Heroku
  • MVP developmentnot Heroku
  • UI mockup creationnot Heroku
  • Full-stack app generationnot Heroku
  • Proof of conceptnot Heroku

Heroku

  • Deploying and scaling web applications with git push and no server administrationnot Bolt.new
  • Running managed Postgres, Redis and Kafka as attached data servicesnot Bolt.new
  • Isolated production environments in a Private Space for regulated workloadsnot Bolt.new

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Bolt.new

  • The free plan is capped at 300K tokens a day and 1M tokens a month
  • Pro starts at 10M tokens a month for $25, so heavy sessions are metered rather than unlimited
  • Team seats are billed at $30 per member per month and tokens are not pooled across the team
  • Unused tokens roll over for one additional month only, so they expire after two

Heroku

  • There is no free dyno tier; the cheapest Eco dyno is $5 per month
  • Eco dynos sleep after 30 minutes of inactivity, are restricted to personal accounts and allow only 2 process types
  • Free SSL and 10 process types start at the Basic dyno at $7 per month
  • Private and Shield dyno types require a Private Space, which is billed on top of the dynos
  • Private Space dynos start at $250 per month for Private-M and $500 per month for Private-L
  • Dyno prices are per dyno per month, so an app with several process types multiplies the bill

Pricing, plan by plan

Bolt.new

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited generations
    • Basic templates
    • Public projects
  • Pro$20/month
    • Unlimited generations
    • Advanced AI models
    • Private projects

Heroku

$7/month
  • Hobby$7/month
    • 512MB RAM
    • Shared CPU
    • 1 web dyno
  • Standard$50/month
    • 512MB RAM
    • Dedicated CPU
    • Automatic scaling

Which should you pick?

Choose Bolt.new if

  • You need full-stack app generation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want prompt-to-app creation.
Bolt.new review

Choose Heroku if

  • You need git-based deployment.
  • You work on Web, Api, Workers.
  • You also want buildpacks.
Heroku review

Questions people ask

Is Bolt.new or Heroku better?
Neither clearly leads. Bolt.new starts at Free and Heroku at $7/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bolt.new or Heroku?
Bolt.new has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bolt.new and $7/month for Heroku.
Does Bolt.new or Heroku run on more platforms?
Bolt.new runs on Web. Heroku runs on Web, Api, Workers.
Can I use Bolt.new for free?
Yes. Bolt.new has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Heroku starts at $7/month.
What is Bolt.new best used for?
Bolt.new is most often used for rapid prototyping, mvp development, ui mockup creation, full-stack app generation. Of those, rapid prototyping and mvp development are not what Heroku is typically brought in for.
What can Bolt.new do that Heroku cannot?
Bolt.new covers Full-stack app generation, Prompt-to-app creation, Real-time editing, Instant deployment. Heroku covers Git-based deployment, Buildpacks, Dynos (containers), Add-ons marketplace. Both handle GitHub, Cloud deployment.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Bolt.new

More on Heroku

Keep looking

Other head to heads