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Orbit vs Bolt.new

And Lovable, v0, and other prompt-to-app tools

They generate apps from prompts. We give you a complete development environment. Here's when to use each.

Different Tools, Different Goals

Prompt-to-App Tools

Bolt, Lovable, v0, and similar

  • •Input a prompt, get a working app
  • •Browser-based, instant results
  • •Great for quick prototypes and simple apps
  • •Limited iteration and customization
  • •What you see is (mostly) what you get

Orbit

Agent-first UDE

  • •Full development environment
  • •AI agents that work alongside you
  • •Build anything from simple to complex
  • •Deep iteration and customization
  • •Grow with your project

The question isn't which is “better” — it's which matches your need.

Feature Comparison

Primary use

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Quick app generation

Orbit

Full development

Interface

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Browser prompt box

Orbit

Desktop UDE

AI model

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Generation-focused

Orbit

Agent-first, task-oriented

Iteration

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Limited after generation

Orbit

Unlimited, conversational

Code editing

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Basic or none

Orbit

Full VSCode editor

Customization

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Limited

Orbit

Complete

Backend complexity

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Simple

Orbit

Full stack

Database support

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Basic/none

Orbit

Full (Postgres, etc.)

Docker

Bolt/Lovable/v0

No

Orbit

Yes, one-click

Git integration

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Limited

Orbit

Full

Project lifespan

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Prototype/throwaway

Orbit

Prototype to production

Export code

Bolt/Lovable/v0

Yes (varying quality)

Orbit

Yes (standard code)

Learning curve

Bolt/Lovable/v0

None

Orbit

Minimal

When to Use Bolt, Lovable, or v0

  • You need something in 5 minutes
  • It's a one-off landing page or simple form
  • You want to quickly visualize an idea
  • The app is simple enough that you won't need to modify much
  • You're sharing a quick concept with someone
  • You don't need a database or complex backend
  • Disposable prototypes and mockups

These tools are great at what they do.

When to Use Orbit

  • You'll iterate on this project over time
  • You need a real backend with databases
  • You want to customize deeply, not just accept what's generated
  • The project will grow in complexity
  • You need Docker, environment variables, real infrastructure
  • You want to deploy and maintain it long-term
  • You want to understand and own the code
  • Multiple components: frontend, backend, database, integrations
  • You're building a product, not just a prototype

Many Projects Start Simple, Then Grow

Common Pattern

  1. 1.Generate quick prototype with Bolt/v0
  2. 2.Show to stakeholders, get excited
  3. 3.Need to add features, hit limitations
  4. 4.Start over in a real environment
  5. 5.Waste time rebuilding

Alternative

  1. 1.Start in Orbit
  2. 2.Build prototype fast with agents
  3. 3.Show to stakeholders
  4. 4.Keep iterating in the same environment
  5. 5.Deploy when ready
  6. 6.No rebuild required

If you know it'll grow, start where you can scale.

Combined Workflow

Some people:

  • Use v0 for quick UI component ideas
  • Bring those into Orbit for full implementation
  • Use Bolt to sketch concepts
  • Build the real thing in Orbit

No conflict in using multiple tools.

What You Get

Prompt-to-App Tools

  • •Quick, working code
  • •Sometimes messy or hard to modify
  • •Framework choices made for you
  • •Limited patterns

Orbit

  • •Standard, maintainable code
  • •Your framework choices
  • •Best practices from agents
  • •Code an engineer can continue

If the code matters beyond the demo, Orbit gives you better foundations.

Build Beyond Prototypes

When you're ready for a real development environment:

  • Free during beta
  • Agent-first AI that grows with you
  • From prototype to production in one tool
Try OrbitWhat is a UDE?

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