Bolt.new vs GitHub Copilot: Which is the Ultimate AI Assistant? (2026)

As a solo founder or indie hacker, you’re probably always on the lookout for tools that can save you time and make coding easier. In 2026, AI coding assistants have become essential, but with so many options, it’s tough to know which one to choose. Bolt.new and GitHub Copilot are two of the most talked-about tools in this space, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Having tried both, I’ll break down the differences to help you decide which one is worth your investment.

What Bolt.new Actually Does

Bolt.new is an AI-driven coding assistant designed to help you write code faster by providing real-time suggestions and auto-completions. It integrates seamlessly with your coding environment and learns your coding style over time.

• Pricing: $0 for basic features, $10/mo for Pro (includes advanced features).
• Best for: Indie developers who want quick suggestions without overwhelming complexity.
• Limitations: Limited support for less common programming languages; some advanced features can be buggy.
• Our take: We use Bolt.new for rapid prototyping; it’s great for quick tasks but lacks depth for complex projects.

What GitHub Copilot Actually Does

GitHub Copilot, powered by OpenAI's Codex, offers AI-assisted code suggestions directly in your IDE. It’s particularly strong in generating boilerplate code and handling repetitive tasks.

• Pricing: $10/mo per user, no free tier.
• Best for: Developers looking for a robust tool that integrates well with GitHub and handles a wide range of languages and frameworks.
• Limitations: Can sometimes suggest outdated or insecure code snippets; relies heavily on context.
• Our take: We don’t use Copilot for everything, but it shines in larger projects where context matters.

Head-to-Head Feature Comparison

| Feature | Bolt.new | GitHub Copilot | |-------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------| | Real-time suggestions | Yes | Yes | | Language support | 10+ languages | 30+ languages | | IDE integrations | VS Code, JetBrains | VS Code, JetBrains, others | | Learning capability | Learns user style | Contextual suggestions | | Pricing | $0-10/mo | $10/mo | | Best for | Quick tasks | Complex projects | | Limitations | Less language support | Context-heavy |

Pricing Breakdown

Understanding the cost is crucial for indie hackers. Here’s a quick look at the pricing for both tools:

| Tool | Pricing | Free Tier | |---------------|-----------------------------------|--------------------| | Bolt.new | $0 (basic) / $10/mo (Pro) | Yes (basic only) | | GitHub Copilot| $10/mo per user | No |

Choose X If...

• Choose Bolt.new if: You need a lightweight tool for quick coding tasks, especially if you prefer a free option to start.
• Choose GitHub Copilot if: You’re working on larger projects and need a more robust assistant that can handle a variety of programming languages and frameworks.

Conclusion: Start Here

If you’re just starting out or need a coding assistant for quick projects, Bolt.new is a solid choice, especially at its price point. However, if you’re a seasoned developer working on complex applications, GitHub Copilot may be worth the investment for its extensive language support and contextual awareness.

In our experience, we lean towards GitHub Copilot for larger projects but keep Bolt.new handy for rapid prototyping.

What We Actually Use: For most of our work, we prefer GitHub Copilot, but we often pull up Bolt.new for smaller tasks or when we’re on a budget.