Windsurf vs Bolt
Windsurf is an AI IDE for developers building production code. Bolt is a no-code builder for rapid prototypes. Windsurf produces more maintainable code; Bolt gets you a demo faster. Choose based on your goal.
Windsurf and Bolt occupy opposite ends of the AI coding spectrum. Windsurf is a developer-first IDE with agentic AI capabilities — you write code with AI help. Bolt is a prompt-to-app builder — you describe what you want and get a running prototype in minutes. The code quality gap between them reflects this fundamental difference in approach.
Head-to-head comparison
Code structure
WindsurfWindsurf
Clean multi-file architecture with proper separation of concerns. Good TypeScript usage and modular design. Code is organized for long-term development.
Bolt
Functional but rough. Large files with mixed concerns, loose TypeScript, and minimal organization. Works as a prototype but structure degrades as the app grows.
Security
WindsurfWindsurf
Has security infrastructure but with subtle gaps — auth middleware with logical bypasses, occasional string concatenation in queries, verbose error messages.
Bolt
No security layer at all. No authentication, no input validation, sometimes hardcoded API keys in source. The prototype has zero protection by design.
Backend / data layer
WindsurfWindsurf
Full-stack with server-side logic, database integration, and API routes. Real backend that handles data persistence and business logic.
Bolt
Backend is often minimal or absent. Frontend-heavy prototypes with mock data or basic API calls. A real backend usually needs to be built from scratch.
Speed of prototyping
BoltWindsurf
Requires development experience. Hours to days for a complete app, but the result is architecturally sound and production-viable.
Bolt
Generates working prototypes in minutes from a prompt. Best-in-class speed for going from idea to clickable demo. No coding knowledge required.
Deployment readiness
WindsurfWindsurf
Standard project output that deploys to any platform. Proper build configuration, environment variables, and deployment-ready structure.
Bolt
Prototypes from the WebContainer often break when deployed — hardcoded localhost URLs, missing env vars, and CORS errors are common issues.
Long-term maintainability
WindsurfWindsurf
Modular codebase designed for iteration. A developer can pick it up and extend it without major refactoring.
Bolt
Prototype code that works but resists modification. Adding features often causes regressions, and the codebase becomes harder to manage over time.
Code quality
Windsurf produces significantly more maintainable, production-ready code. Bolt produces faster prototypes but the gap between Bolt's output and production is much larger. If you plan to ship to real users, Windsurf saves time in the long run. If you need a demo by tomorrow, Bolt is the faster path.
Security
Windsurf has security infrastructure that needs hardening. Bolt has no security infrastructure at all. Windsurf's issues are fixable with targeted patches. Bolt's issues require building an entire security layer from scratch — authentication, authorization, input validation, and secure API handling.
Which should you choose?
Choose Windsurf if...
Developers building production applications. Best when you need code that will be maintained, extended, and scaled over time.
Windsurf servicesChoose Bolt if...
Rapid prototyping and idea validation. Best when you need a working demo quickly and are prepared to rebuild for production.
Bolt servicesThe bottom line
Bolt for speed, Windsurf for substance. Start with Bolt if you are validating an idea and need to show stakeholders something fast. Move to Windsurf when you are ready to build the real thing. Trying to take a Bolt prototype to production without significant rework is a recipe for technical debt.
Whichever tool you used, we'll review the code
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- OWASP Top 10 checks
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In-depth review of your source code for security, quality, and best practices.
- Security vulnerabilities
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Both scans in one package with cross-referenced findings.
- Everything in both products
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Frequently asked questions
Can I export from Bolt and continue in Windsurf?
Yes. Download your Bolt project and open it in Windsurf. The UI from Bolt is usually decent — it is the backend, security, and architecture that need rebuilding. Windsurf's AI can help you refactor and extend the exported code.
Which is better for a hackathon?
Bolt. When speed is the only metric, Bolt is unmatched. You can generate a working demo in minutes and iterate through prompts. Save Windsurf for when you are building something you intend to maintain.
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Cursor gets closer to production-ready code.
Cursor vs v0
Cursor builds full-stack apps while v0 generates UI components.
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot
Cursor is more capable for building full features.
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