Aider vs Bolt: AI Coding Tool Comparison
A side-by-side feature and pricing comparison of Aider and Bolt for developers in 2026.
| Feature | Aider | Bolt |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Code Completion | ✗ | ✗ |
| Chat Assistant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Inline Editing | ✗ | ✗ |
| Multi-File Editing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Codebase Awareness | ✓ | ✓ |
| Terminal Integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Git Integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Debug Assistance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Test Generation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Code Review | ✓ | ✗ |
| Documentation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Refactoring | ✓ | ✗ |
| Image Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Voice Input | ✓ | ✗ |
| Custom Models | ✓ | ✗ |
| Local Models | ✓ | ✗ |
| Team Features | ✗ | ✓ |
| SSO Support | ✗ | ✗ |
| API Access | ✗ | ✗ |
| Self-Hosted | ✓ | ✗ |
| On-Premise | ✓ | ✗ |
| Offline Mode | ✗ | ✗ |
Pricing verified 2026-02-05. Aider pricing | Bolt pricing
Aider vs Bolt: Overview
Aider — Open-source CLI tool for AI pair programming. Works with GPT-4, Claude, and other models to edit code in your local git repo.
Bolt — Browser-based AI app builder by StackBlitz that generates, runs, and deploys full-stack web applications from natural language prompts.
Feature Comparison
See the comparison table above for a detailed feature-by-feature breakdown.
Aider Features
- Git-aware editing
- Multi-file editing
- Model agnostic
- Voice coding
- Image support
- Linting integration
Bolt Features
- Full-stack generation
- In-browser IDE
- One-click deploy
- Package management
- Live preview
Strengths and Weaknesses
Aider
Strengths: Free and open source, Model agnostic, Excellent git integration, Active development
Weaknesses: Requires API key costs, Terminal-only, Learning curve for setup
Bolt
Strengths: No local setup required, Fast prototyping, Built-in deployment, Good for beginners
Weaknesses: Limited to web apps, Token limits, Less control than local dev
Pricing
- Aider: Free tier available — Official pricing
- Bolt: Free tier available, paid from $20/mo — Official pricing
Pricing verified as of 2026-02-05. Check each tool’s website for current pricing.
Choose Aider If…
- You prioritize open-source enthusiasts
- Free and open source
- You need model flexibility
Choose Bolt If…
- You prioritize rapid prototyping
- No local setup required
- You need non-technical founders
Summary
Both tools serve different needs. Aider is aimed at open-source enthusiasts, while Bolt focuses on rapid prototyping. The right choice depends on your specific requirements, budget, and preferred workflow.
Read our full reviews: Aider Review | Bolt Review
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