Bolt.new builds and previews entire apps in your browser instantly. Codex works in the background on GitHub repos, creating commits for you to review — a completely different workflow.
Bolt for instant browser prototypes; Codex for async work on existing repos.
AI Full-Stack Builder
Describe an entire app and Bolt builds it — frontend, backend, and database — all in your browser. Preview and deploy without leaving the tab.
Ideal for: Beginners who want a working full-stack app as fast as possible, without setting up a development environment.
By OpenAI
OpenAI's cloud-based coding agent. Assign tasks and Codex writes, tests, and commits code in the background. Works through ChatGPT with a sandboxed environment.
Ideal for: Developers who want to offload coding tasks and review the results later, especially for larger codebases.
| Feature | Bolt.new | Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Full-stack apps fast | Async coding tasks |
| Price | Free / $20/mo | ChatGPT Pro ($200/mo) |
| Difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| Output Type | Complete applications | Code commits |
