App Builder Comparison

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.

AI Model Selection
⚡ Bolt
❌ Limited model selection (default models only)
KiloKilo
✅ 500+ models including Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok, and open-source options
Pricing Model
⚡ Bolt
❌ Token-based with subscription tiers, can have usage limits
KiloKilo
✅ Pure pay-per-token with no monthly subscription for usage
Deployment
⚡ Bolt
✅ One-click deploy to Bolt's platform
KiloKilo
✅ One-click deploy with hosting included during launch
Flexibility & Portability
⚡ Bolt
❌ Browser-based, constrained to platform sandbox
KiloKilo
✅ Export to local development, continue in Cloud Agents, or deploy anywhere
Full-Stack Capabilities
⚡ Bolt
✅ Support for full-stack apps with frontend, backend, APIs
KiloKilo
✅ Full-stack support plus more control over tech stack choices and integrations

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.