Bolt.new vs Yao (2026): Which Vibe Coding App Is Better?
Both are popular AI app builders. Here is how Bolt.new and Yao stack up on price, strengths and weaknesses, and which one we would pick.
Bolt.new
Prompt, run, edit and deploy full-stack web and mobile apps in the browser
8.0 /10
Pricing: Free plan, paid from $25/mo
Pros
- Real dev environment in the browser
- Web and mobile (Expo) apps
- One-click deploy
Cons
- Token usage burns fast on larger projects
- No affiliate or sponsorship programme
Yao
Self-hosted platform for managing AI agents and tasks across desktop, mobile and browser
6.5 /10
Pricing: Freemium
Pros
- Unified agent workspace reachable from desktop, mobile and browser against one backend
- Self-hosted/local-first option gives control over data and infrastructure
- Active project with a real commit history and community (8k stars, 4,200+ commits)
Cons
- Dual/non-standard licensing terms need review before commercial use
- Mobile client is explicitly beta-stage
Bolt.new vs Yao at a glance
| Bolt.new | Yao | |
|---|---|---|
| Editor score | 8.0 / 10 | 6.5 / 10 |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $25/mo | Free |
| Reader upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Best for | app builder, web, mobile | self-hosted, task-board, multi-device |
| Agent Skills support | No | No |
| Subagents support | No | No |
| MCP support | No | No |
| AGENTS.md support | No | No |
| Plugins support | No | No |
| Hooks support | No | No |
| Rules support | No | No |
| Agent skills in this directory | 0 | 0 |
| Subagents & agents in this directory | 3 | 3 |
| MCP servers in this directory | 0 | 0 |
Our pick
Bolt.new edges it with a score of 8.0 versus 6.5. Bolt.new is the better fit if you value: real dev environment in the browser, web and mobile (expo) apps. Choose Yao instead if you need: unified agent workspace reachable from desktop, mobile and browser against one backend, self-hosted/local-first option gives control over data and infrastructure.
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