Kilo App Builder vs Bolt
Both let you build apps with AI. But Kilo gives you 500+ models to choose from, transparent pay-per-token pricing, and an entire suite of agentic engineering tools—without the subscription lock-in.
When to choose each
Choose Bolt if:
- You want quick browser-based prototyping
- You prefer a unified code + preview environment
- You're doing expendable "vibe coding" experiments
- You don't need model flexibility
Choose Kilo App Builder if:
- You want access to 500+ AI models
- You prefer pay-per-token with no subscription overhead
- You want code portability and no vendor lock-in
- You're building production-ready applications
- You want to potentially continue development in Cloud Agents or locally in the IDE or CLI
Feature-by-feature comparison
A practical comparison of AI model selection, pricing, specialized modes, deployment, and flexibility.
Kilo App Builder is perfect for
Founders validating ideas quickly
Developers prototyping before full implementation
Teams building internal tools
Designers bringing concepts to life
Hackathons and rapid experimentation
Anyone wanting model flexibility and transparent pricing
Key Benefits of Kilo App Builder
500+ AI Models
Choose from Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok, and hundreds of open-source options. Pick the right model for each task—fast models for iteration, powerful models for complex features.
Pure Pay-Per-Token
No monthly subscriptions for usage. No hidden limits or arbitrary rate caps. Pay only for what you use with complete transparency.
5 Specialized Modes
Code, Architect, Debug, Ask, and Orchestrator modes. Each specializes in different tasks for better results than a single chat interface.
One-Click Deploy
Deploy with hosting included during launch. Export code anytime to continue in Cloud Agents or traditional local development.
No Vendor Lock-In
Full Next.js apps that you own. Export to local development, continue in Cloud Agents, or deploy anywhere. Your code, your choice.
Full-Stack Control
Build complete apps with frontend, backend, and APIs. More control over tech stack choices and integrations than sandbox-constrained alternatives.
App Builder is one part of the platform. With Kilo, You Also Get:
Cloud Agents
Access Kilo from the web without a local machine. Run resource-exhaustive tasks in the cloud and sync results back to your local environment.
Parallel Agents (CLI)
Run multiple agents without conflicts. Tackle frontend, backend, testing, and documentation simultaneously for faster development.
Deploy
One-click deployments from within Kilo. Push to production with the same context and workflow you used to build.
Code Reviews
AI-powered code reviews on your PRs. Get feedback before merge with configurable review styles and focus areas.
Managed Indexing
Semantic search across your repositories for context-aware responses. Build on top of your existing codebase with full understanding.
Agent Manager
Stop and start agents in one click. Switch contexts easily between different tasks without losing progress.
Sessions
Persistent across all interfaces, resume and share from anywhere. Your context and progress carry seamlessly between App Builder, IDE, CLI, and Cloud. Build from anywhere without losing progress.
Voice Prompting in the IDE
Speak your prompts naturally in the IDE. No typing needed—just talk and code.
Auto Top Ups
Auto top up when your balance gets low. No more manually adding credits—keep building without interruption.
Try Kilo App Builder
500+ models. Pay-per-token pricing. 5 specialized modes. No lock-in.