Lovable vs Bolt vs Replit vs Cursor: Which AI Builder to Buy
Four popular AI building tools with different jobs. What each one is best at, how their plans meter usage, and which PerkShelf coupon fits which builder.
All four tools write code with AI. They differ in who they are for and where your app lives.
Lovable: prompt to full-stack app
Lovable builds a web app from a description, with Supabase for data and auth, and syncs to GitHub. Pro starts at 100 credits a month, with code download and custom domains. Best for founders and designers who want a working product without setting up a stack. Coupon: $90.00. Lovable Pro guide.
Bolt.new: prompt to app, in the browser
Bolt builds and runs apps in the browser and hosts them. Pro starts at 10 million tokens a month with no daily cap and custom domains. Best for fast prototypes and landing pages. Coupon: $50.00. Bolt Pro guide.
Replit: IDE, Agent and hosting together
Replit is a full browser IDE with an AI Agent, collaborators and deployment. Core adds paid Agent modes, 5 collaborators and unlimited published apps, with monthly credits for usage. Best for learning, multiplayer coding and apps that need a backend you can open up. Coupon: $70.00. Replit Core guide.
Cursor: AI editor for your own codebase
Cursor is a desktop editor for code you already own and run, with Agent, frontier models and cloud agents. Best for working developers on real repositories. Coupon: $200.00. Cursor Pro guide.
Quick picks
- Non-developer launching an MVP: Lovable
- Quick prototype or demo: Bolt
- Learning, teaching or team coding in the browser: Replit
- Professional developer on an existing repo: Cursor, or Warp and Factory for the terminal
Frequently asked questions
Which AI app builder is cheapest?
Compare the shelf prices above against each vendor's annual price; all four are one-year coupons on your own account.
Can I move a Lovable or Bolt project into Cursor later?
Yes. Lovable syncs to GitHub and Bolt projects can be downloaded, then opened in Cursor like any repo.