CataleoSoftware
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AI App Builders Comparison

Bolt.new vs. Xano

At a glance

At a glance

Bolt.new

Best for

Best for quickly validating an idea with a working full-stack prototype.

  • Freelancers
  • Small and mid-sized

Xano

Best for

Best for teams building a scalable backend and API without managing servers, with the frontend built elsewhere.

  • Freelancers
  • Small and mid-sized
  • Enterprise

Cataleo does not name a winner. Both statements come from the vendors themselves.

Full Comparison

Criterion Bolt.new Xano
Starting price Free tier; paid credits above The free limits are reached quickly. Free tier; paid from $85 / month Prices are billed annually: Essential $85 and Pro $224 per month. Custom plans are quoted by the vendor.
Free trial Free tier Free tier with rate limits, up to 100K database records and 1 workspace
Commercial use Yes Not stated
Output Full-stack app in the browser, with automatic hosting Backends: PostgreSQL databases, REST APIs, background tasks and agent tooling
API Not stated Yes, the platform's purpose is generating APIs, with autogenerated OpenAPI docs and an MCP server
Hosting Not stated Xano-managed regions or self-hosted on Azure, AWS, GCP or on-premise
What it generates Full-stack app, built and run in the browser through StackBlitz WebContainers The backend rather than the whole app: database, REST APIs, custom functions, middleware, background tasks and triggers, with the frontend left to another tool
Stack and frameworks Multi-framework PostgreSQL with Redis caching and Docker microservices; logic is built visually or written as XanoScript, which the CLI syncs to files on disk; works with React, Next.js, Flutter, Webflow, Framer and AI-generated frontends from Lovable and Bolt
Auth and database Not out of the box, needs external services PostgreSQL with unlimited records from the Essential tier; authentication endpoints (/signup, /login, /me) ship by default on JWE tokens, with role-based access control and enterprise SSO through GitHub, Google and Microsoft
Hosting and deploy Yes, automatic hosting, prompt to deploy Xano-managed hosting across multiple regions, or self-hosted on Azure, AWS, GCP or on-premise; releases are immutable versioned objects promoted through staging
Payments Yes, Stripe for one-time payments and subscriptions, via Supabase or Bolt Database Not stated
Access to the code Yes, download the project as a zip or push it to GitHub XanoScript is readable and editable, and the CLI syncs the workspace to files on disk; APIs carry autogenerated OpenAPI documentation
MCP-ready No stated Yes
Deployment Cloud (SaaS), Browser-based more entries Cloud (SaaS), Browser-based, On-premise
Support Not stated Chat, Community forum
Onboarding Not stated Documentation and knowledge base, Video tutorials
Company size Freelancers, Small and mid-sized more entries Freelancers, Small and mid-sized, Enterprise
Integrations Not stated Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Lovable, Bolt.new, Webflow, Framer, Flutter, Datadog

Compare more tools

Row where the values differ The small markers point at the lower number, the longer list or the stated feature. They describe the data, they are not a verdict.

The short version

Key Differences

  • Starting price Bolt.new Free tier; paid credits above Xano Free tier; paid from $85 / month
  • Free trial Bolt.new Free tier Xano Free tier with rate limits, up to 100K database records and 1 workspace
  • Deployment Bolt.new Cloud (SaaS), Browser-based Xano Cloud (SaaS), Browser-based, On-premise
  • Company size Bolt.new Freelancers, Small and mid-sized Xano Freelancers, Small and mid-sized, Enterprise
  • MCP-ready Bolt.new No Xano Yes

Every line is one datapoint from the table above, picked automatically. Nothing here is written text.

The trade-offs

Strengths and Limitations

Bolt.new

Strengths

  • No setup, seamless prompt to deploy
  • Multi-framework flexibility
  • Great for quick idea validation

Limitations

  • Database and auth are not out of the box, they need external services
  • Costs rise with larger codebases
  • Free limits are reached quickly

Xano

Strengths

  • Self-hosting on Azure, AWS, GCP or on-premise, not only the vendor's cloud
  • Frontend-agnostic: pairs with React, Flutter, Webflow, Framer, Lovable or Bolt rather than dictating one
  • An official MCP server, so external AI agents build against the same workspace rules

Limitations

  • The first paid tier is $85 a month, a steep step up from the free one
  • It builds only the backend, so a second tool is needed for the interface
  • The free tier is rate-limited to 10 requests per 20 seconds and watermarks stored images

Plans

Pricing

Bolt.new

  • Free $0 Limits are reached quickly.
  • Credits Not stated
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Xano

  • Free $0 Core building tools, rate-limited to 10 requests per 20 seconds. Up to 100K database records, 1GB watermarked image storage, 1 workspace.
  • Essential $85 Per month billed annually. Dedicated infrastructure without API rate limits, unlimited database records, 3 workspaces, 5 team seats, 100GB storage.
  • Pro $224 Per month billed annually. 5 workspaces, 10 team seats, 250GB storage, managed load balancer, role management, 99.99% SLA.
  • Custom Custom Quoted by the vendor. Self-hosting, advanced security, multiple tenant configurations and dedicated support.
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What users say

Review Scores · opens after launch

Bolt.new

Ease of use
Not rated yet
User interface
Not rated yet
Onboarding
Not rated yet
Support and service
Not rated yet
Value for money
Not rated yet
Features
Not rated yet

No reviews yet. Be the first to review this tool. Every review is checked for fairness before it appears, and the vendor cannot have one removed.

Xano

Ease of use
Not rated yet
User interface
Not rated yet
Onboarding
Not rated yet
Support and service
Not rated yet
Value for money
Not rated yet
Features
Not rated yet

No reviews yet. Be the first to review this tool. Every review is checked for fairness before it appears, and the vendor cannot have one removed.

Where this comes from

Where this comes from

Bolt.new https://bolt.new · no check date recorded yet

Xano https://www.xano.com · no check date recorded yet

This table lists factual criteria taken from information the vendors publish themselves. For how we put it together, see the methodology.