# Bolt vs Kiro

> Bolt: Describe an app or website in chat and publish it with built-in hosting and database
> Kiro: Spec-driven agentic IDE from AWS that turns prompts into designs, tasks and code

- Bolt profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/bolt-new
- Kiro profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/kiro
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/bolt-new-vs-kiro
- Last reviewed: October 2026

## Verdict

Bolt and Kiro are both Coding AI tools. Both have a free plan or trial. Only Kiro is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.

### Choose Bolt if

- You want a tool built for prototypes and MVPs.
- Chat-to-app flow with live preview, requiring no local setup.
- Built-in database, authentication, hosting and custom domains in one project.

### Choose Kiro if

- You want a tool built for turning feature ideas into structured specs and tasks before agents write code in large codebases.
- Spec-driven workflow produces requirements, design and task lists before code is written.
- Based on Code OSS, so VS Code settings, themes and Open VSX extensions carry over.

## Pricing

| | Bolt | Kiro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | Bolt | Kiro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Prompt-to-app building | Yes | Not listed |
| Standard and Max agents | Yes | Not listed |
| Plan Mode | Yes | Not listed |
| Bolt Cloud | Yes | Not listed |
| Code view and visual edits | Yes | Not listed |
| Design system support | Yes | Not listed |
| Figma and GitHub import | Yes | Not listed |
| Expo mobile apps | Yes | Not listed |
| Bolt Slides | Yes | Not listed |
| Collaboration | Yes | Not listed |
| Spec-driven development | Not listed | Yes |
| Agent hooks | Not listed | Yes |
| Steering files | Not listed | Yes |
| Memory | Not listed | Yes |
| Correctness checking | Not listed | Yes |
| Model choice | Not listed | Yes |
| Kiro CLI | Not listed | Yes |
| Kiro Web | Not listed | Yes |
| Local command sandbox | Not listed | Yes |
| Open standards and MCP | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Bolt | Kiro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | No | Yes |
| macOS | No | Yes |
| iOS | No | No |
| Android | No | No |
| API | No | No |
| Browser Extension | No | No |
| Linux | No | Yes |
| CLI | No | Yes |

## Bolt strengths

- Chat-to-app flow with live preview, requiring no local setup
- Built-in database, authentication, hosting and custom domains in one project
- Free plan includes hosting, unlimited databases and private projects
- Expo integration covers iOS and Android apps from the same prompt flow
- Imports from Figma, GitHub and Lovable, and supports MCP connectors
- Paid plans roll unused tokens over

## Bolt limitations

- Token-based usage: the Free plan is capped at 1M tokens per month and 300K per day, and larger projects use more tokens per message
- Max agent, custom domains and Bolt branding removal require a paid plan
- Free-plan sites go offline for the rest of the month when hosting limits are exceeded
- Projects started for web do not easily convert to mobile; mobile must be requested in the first prompt
- No public API and no native mobile app for Bolt itself

## Kiro strengths

- Spec-driven workflow produces requirements, design and task lists before code is written.
- Based on Code OSS, so VS Code settings, themes and Open VSX extensions carry over.
- Same credit pool works across IDE, CLI and Web with no separate cloud compute charge.
- Multiple model families, including open-weight options, with an Auto mode.
- Free tier with 50 credits and downloadable apps on macOS, Windows and Linux.

## Kiro limitations

- Credits can run out quickly on complex spec tasks; costs vary by model and monthly credits do not roll over.
- Free tier excludes premium models and is limited to open-weight models and Claude Sonnet 4.5 under rate limits.
- Mobile app is iOS-only, in preview, and needs iOS 26 or later.
- Cloud sessions are only available in US East (N. Virginia), and Enterprise pricing is not published.

## FAQ

**Is Bolt better than Kiro?**

It depends on your workflow. Bolt is built for prototypes and MVPs. Kiro is built for turning feature ideas into structured specs and tasks before agents write code in large codebases.

**What are the key feature differences between Bolt and Kiro?**

Bolt: Describe an app or website in chat and publish it with built-in hosting and database. Kiro: Spec-driven agentic IDE from AWS that turns prompts into designs, tasks and code.

**Does Bolt or Kiro have a free plan?**

Yes, both do. Bolt is freemium and Kiro is freemium, and each has a free plan or trial.

**Which is cheaper, Bolt or Kiro?**

Both can be used for free. Paid plans differ in limits and features, so compare the tiers in the pricing table above.