There is an actual machine
On Optimus the app runs on a dedicated Linux server, with a live preview on a public address. Bolt's own documentation says it runs on WebContainers, inside the browser.
Optimus vs Bolt.new
Bolt.new runs your app inside your own browser, on WebContainers, so there is no machine on the other side. Optimus gives you a dedicated Linux server with root and a public address. One is good for testing an idea right now; the other is for keeping a project running.
Side by side
| What we compare | Optimus | Bolt.new |
|---|---|---|
| Where the code runs | Your own dedicated Linux server, with a public address | In the user's browser, on WebContainers |
| Administrator access | Root and a full terminal on the server | There is no server to administer |
| AI included in the price | Claude included in a monthly quota | Tokens: Free has 300K daily and 1M per month (Oct 10, 2026) |
| Does it sleep or expire | It is your machine, it stays up | It depends on the browser tab being open |
| Languages and tools | Any language: it is a whole Linux box | Web apps on JavaScript-based frameworks |
| Taking the code with you | Export everything and leave; the server is yours | Download a .zip or push to GitHub |
| Entry price | Coming soon; no free trial | Free with a token limit; Pro $25/mo (Oct 10, 2026) |
Bolt.new data checked on 10 October 2026 on their official pricing pages and documentation. Prices and features change: check the source before deciding.
What Bolt.new does well
- Bolt is hard to beat for testing a JavaScript idea in the next five minutes.
- Because it runs in the browser, there is nothing to install and no server to buy.
- And the free tier gives you enough room to find out whether the idea holds up.
Where Optimus has the edge
Beyond JavaScript
Because it is a whole Linux box with root, you can use any language and any database. Bolt states its scope: full-stack web applications on JavaScript-based frameworks.
No dependency on the browser
Your server keeps running with the tab closed and the laptop off. Bolt's WebContainer is only enabled in Chromium-based browsers, and on Firefox you may hit limitations when running a server in a preview window.
Publishing on your domain
Optimus publishes on your own domain, from your own server. On Bolt, hosting comes through an integration with another service, such as Netlify.
Which one to pick
Pick Bolt.new if
Pick Bolt if you want to prove a JavaScript idea today, for free, with no server to create.
Pick Optimus if
Pick Optimus if the project needs a real machine, with root and a public address.
Coming from Bolt
Bolt exports the project as a .zip or straight to GitHub, so the code comes out whole. On Optimus you put that project on your server and it starts running for real, on a public address.
Frequently asked questions
Does Bolt.new run on a server or in the browser?
Bolt's documentation says it runs on WebContainers, which means in the user's browser, with nothing to install. Optimus does the opposite: it creates a dedicated Linux server for you.
Can I use Python or Go?
On Optimus yes: it is a full Linux box with root and you install what you want. Bolt states a scope of web apps on JavaScript-based frameworks.
Do I need Chrome?
Not on Optimus, because the work happens on the server and the browser is only how you talk to the AI. Bolt's WebContainer is only enabled in Chromium-based browsers.
Which one is cheaper to start with?
Bolt, because it has a free tier with a 300K token daily limit and 1M tokens per month (checked Oct 10, 2026). Optimus has no free trial and its price is not published yet.
Compare with others
Want to try it before deciding?
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