Pilely vs. Bolt

Bolt (Bolt.new) is an AI app builder that runs in your browser: you describe an app, Bolt’s AI writes the code in an editor in the page, and you pay for that building with Bolt’s tokens and plans.

Pilely works the other way around. The AI you already use, ChatGPT or Claude, builds the app on your computer, and Pilely puts it online with sign-in, a database, email and payments already built in. You don’t pay a second company for AI.

The short version

• Who builds your app. Pilely: the ChatGPT or Claude you already use. Bolt: Bolt’s own AI.
• What building costs. Pilely: it runs on the AI plan you already pay for, with no tokens to buy and no monthly builder fee. Bolt: building uses Bolt tokens, which are limited on the free plan.
• The hard parts. Pilely: sign-in, a database, file storage, email, Stripe payments and a server that runs on its own come built in; you just ask for them. Bolt: you connect and set up services for these yourself, with its AI’s help.
• Hosting. Pilely: you pay only for what your app uses, with up to $5 of free credit to start. Bolt: hosting comes with its plans.
• Your source code. Pilely: your AI writes it to your own computer. Bolt: the code lives in your Bolt project, and you can download it.
• Switching AI. Pilely: switch between ChatGPT, Claude and others any time; your apps, data and users stay. Bolt: building goes through Bolt’s AI.

When Pilely is the better fit

• You already pay for ChatGPT or Claude and don’t want a second AI subscription just to build apps.
• You don’t want to see code or set up services: you want to describe the app and use it.
• Your app needs real users, real data and real payments from day one.
• You want to own what you make: the code is on your computer, your data can be read out through your app’s own API, and payments go to your own Stripe account. Pilely takes no cut.

When Bolt may suit you better

• You are a developer who wants to watch and edit the code in a browser editor as the AI writes it.
• You want to do everything in a browser tab, with nothing on your computer. Pilely puts a small helper program on your computer so your AI can work with it.

How to try Pilely

1. Open the AI you already use: Codex in ChatGPT, or the Claude desktop app.
2. Send it the message at the end of this page.
3. Your AI explains what Pilely will set up and signs you in with a code sent to your email. There is no password, and no separate sign-up.
4. Describe the app you want in plain words. Your AI builds it, and Pilely puts it online at its own link.

Step-by-step guides: build an app with ChatGPT and build an app with Claude.

Based on each product’s public pages as of October 2026. Plans change, so check each site for current details.