The bolt.new alternative for engineers with existing codebases.

bolt.new generates apps from scratch in a browser sandbox. AIDEN orchestrates Claude Code and Codex agents inside your existing repos, with specs, parallel branches, and real PRs.

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Quick answer

bolt.new (by StackBlitz) is one of the best browser-based AI app generators: describe an app, get a running prototype in a WebContainer in seconds, deploy to Netlify instantly. It's excellent for greenfield prototypes. AIDEN is for the phase after the prototype, when you have a real codebase, real users, and real standards: specs, code review, test suites, git history, and PRs. AIDEN runs on your machine, orchestrates your existing Claude Code and Codex CLIs, and treats every story as a branch through your actual repository.

What AIDEN is: Desktop workspace running your Claude Code + Codex CLIs on parallel git branches
Platform: macOS 12+ (arm64 + x64), signed & notarized
Code privacy: Local, code never leaves your machine
Pricing: Free (1 project) · Solo $19/mo · Lifetime $169 · Team $10/seat

Stick with bolt.new when

You're building a greenfield app from a blank slate.
You want a running prototype in under two minutes.
Browser-based development with instant Netlify deploy fits your workflow.
You're prototyping ideas for clients or demos.

Switch to AIDEN when

Your codebase already exists and agents need to extend it without rewriting it.
You need git history, branches, tests, and PRs as first-class concepts.
You want parallel agents on different stories simultaneously.
Your team has conventions, CI checks, and code review that bolt.new's sandbox can't respect.

bolt.new vs AIDEN, side by side

Across 10 features · AIDEN 7 · bolt.new 0

Feature	bolt.new	AIDEN
Environment	Browser WebContainer sandbox	Local desktop, your actual repo
Works on existing codebases	No	Yes
Multi-agent parallel runs	No	Yes
Git worktree per story	No	Yes
Spec-driven workflow	No	Yes
Agent runs your test suite	No	Yes
One-click pull requests	No	Yes
Kanban story board	No	Yes
Bring your own API keys	No, platform LLM	Yes, uses your Claude Code / Codex
Pricing	Free tier + $20/mo Pro	Free, Solo $19/mo or $169 lifetime, Team $10/seat/mo (min 3)

Switching from bolt.new?

Download AIDEN free and bring your existing Claude Code or Codex setup. Runs on macOS in minutes, no credit card required.

Download AIDEN free

Free to start · macOS 12+ · No credit card required

A switcher's take

bolt.new is the fastest zero-to-prototype tool in the ecosystem, open a tab, describe an app, get something running in 90 seconds. The wall appears the moment you need to take that prototype seriously: your CI won't run in a WebContainer, your conventions aren't in the sandbox, and your teammates can't review a Netlify link instead of a PR. AIDEN is for that phase, when the prototype needs to become a product, and your real repo is the source of truth.

bolt.new vs AIDEN, FAQ

Can I export a bolt.new project and continue in AIDEN?

Yes. Export your bolt.new project, push it to a real git repo, and open it in AIDEN. From there, AIDEN agents can extend the codebase with specs, branches, and tests as if it were any other project.

Does AIDEN run in the browser?

No. AIDEN is a native macOS desktop app. It runs locally, uses your local Claude Code and Codex CLIs, and works with your actual filesystem and git repos. Your code never leaves your machine.

Is AIDEN faster than bolt.new for prototyping?

bolt.new wins on raw time-to-first-running-prototype. AIDEN wins on time-to-mergeable-PR in an existing codebase. Different tools for different phases.

Does AIDEN support the same deployment targets as bolt.new?

AIDEN is deployment-agnostic. Since it works with your real repo, you deploy however you normally deploy, Vercel, Railway, AWS, Docker. bolt.new optimizes for Netlify.

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Try AIDEN free. Bring your existing Claude Code or Codex setup.

Download AIDEN, free See pricing