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Bolt vs Framer
Bolt vs Framer: AI app builder vs website builder
Bolt.new builds full-stack apps with AI; Framer designs and publishes marketing sites. Which one fits what you're making?
Updated August 2026 · Written by Shaheer Malik, who ships in both
Quick answer
Use Bolt.new to prototype a full-stack web app from a prompt; use Framer to design and publish a marketing site with no code. Bolt makes software; Framer makes sites — pick by whether you're building an app or a website.
Bolt.new and Framer get compared a lot, but they build different things. Bolt is an AI full-stack app builder — describe an app and it generates and runs it in the browser. Framer is a design-first website builder — you design visually and publish a fast, hosted marketing site.
If you're deciding between them, you're really deciding what you're building: a product, or the site that sells it. Here's the honest breakdown.
| Dimension |  Bolt |  Framer |
|---|---|---|
| What it makes | Full-stack web apps | Marketing websites |
| No-code | No — generates code | Yes — fully visual |
| Backend / logic | Yes — full-stack | No — sites only |
| Hosting & CMS | Deploy to Netlify | Built-in hosting + CMS |
| Design polish | Functional | Best-in-class |
| Production readiness | Prototype-grade | Production sites |
| Best for | Prototyping an app idea | Launching a site fast |
Choose Bolt if…
- You're prototyping a web app with real logic
- You need a backend and data, not just a page
- You're comfortable with code
- You want to validate a product idea fast
Choose Framer if…
- You need a marketing site or landing page
- You want polish, motion and easy editing
- No code and managed hosting appeal to you
- You're launching or raising and need it fast
The honest verdict
They rarely compete: Bolt is for building an app, Framer is for the site that markets it. If you need a website, Framer wins outright; if you need a working app prototype, Bolt is the better start.
A launching startup usually needs both — and both have limits. Framer sites I build to a funded-company standard; Bolt prototypes I rebuild into real, ownable custom software. If you need the site, the app, or both done properly, that's what I do.
Common questions
Bolt vs Framer, answered
Not really — Bolt builds full-stack web apps (with logic and a backend), not polished marketing sites with a CMS. For a website, Framer is the right tool. Bolt shines when you need working software, not a landing page.
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