bolt.diy vs Dyad (2026)
Head-to-head comparison for vibe coders: scores, free tiers, pricing and best-for, using the same evidence-based methodology. Rankings are never for sale.
Open-source version of Bolt that builds full-stack web apps with any LLM
Free, open-source AI app builder that runs on your desktop with any model
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | bolt.diy | Dyad |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 74/100 | 78/100 |
| Free tier | Yes: the whole app is free to run locally, in Docker or as a desktop app; bring your own API key or local model | Yes: the full desktop app is free and open source; bring your own API key or local model |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Free and open source (MIT); you pay only your model provider, or nothing with a local model | Free forever with your own API key (Basic Agent, 20 messages/day). Dyad Pro $20/mo: 200 AI credits and the Pro Agent. Dyad Max $79/mo: 900 AI credits |
| Best for | Builders who like Bolt's prompt-run-edit flow but want to self-host it and use their own or local models | Builders who want a Lovable-style workflow for free, with their own models and no lock-in |
| Category | AI app builders | AI app builders |
Score breakdown
| Criterion | bolt.diy | Dyad |
|---|---|---|
| Fit for the use case /25 | 18 | 19 |
| Vibe-coder friendliness /15 | 9 | 11 |
| Output quality & reliability /15 | 10 | 11 |
| Pricing & free tier /15 | 14 | 14 |
| Ecosystem & integrations /10 | 7 | 7 |
| Momentum /10 | 7 | 8 |
| Code ownership & lock-in /10 | 9 | 8 |
Based on desk research of official pricing pages and docs; see methodology.
How they differ
Both are free, open-source app builders that use your own model keys or local models. Dyad is a desktop app (macOS, Windows, Linux) that writes the project into a normal folder on your computer and connects to Supabase, Neon and GitHub. bolt.diy runs a Node.js workspace in the browser (WebContainers) with an editor, terminal and live preview, and you run it from source, in Docker or as a desktop app.
What you pay
Both are free with your own key. Dyad’s free Basic Agent allows 20 messages a day; Dyad Pro is $20/mo with 200 AI credits and its Pro Agent, and Max is $79/mo. bolt.diy has no paid plan at all: it is MIT-licensed and you pay only your model provider.
Which to pick
Dyad if you want the most Lovable-like, install-and-go experience with an optional paid tier. bolt.diy if you liked Bolt’s in-browser workflow, want a fully MIT tool with no paid tier, or want to host the builder yourself for a team.
Who wins: bolt.diy or Dyad?
By score, Dyad wins bolt.diy vs Dyad at 78/100 vs 74/100. Dyad: Free, open source (Apache 2.0 outside its Pro folder, ~22k GitHub stars) and your code stays on your machine, so it is the best no-lock-in option. You install a desktop app and manage your own model keys and hosting, which is more setup than a browser builder. bolt.diy: MIT-licensed with ~20k GitHub stars and a v1.0.1 release on Oct 12 2026, it gives Bolt's in-browser workflow with any model and no lock-in. Running it from source needs Node.js 22.12+ and pnpm (desktop builds are easier), and you manage your own model keys and hosting. Dyad is best for Builders who want a Lovable-style workflow for free, with their own models and no lock-in. bolt.diy is best for Builders who like Bolt's prompt-run-edit flow but want to self-host it and use their own or local models.
FAQ
- Which is better, bolt.diy or Dyad?
- By our score, Dyad (78/100) ranks above bolt.diy (74/100). Dyad is best for Builders who want a Lovable-style workflow for free, with their own models and no lock-in. The right pick still depends on your workflow; see the side-by-side table.
- What is the bolt.diy vs Dyad score?
- bolt.diy scores 74/100 and Dyad scores 78/100 on PromptToProd's evidence-based ranking. Scores are never for sale.
- Which is easier to set up, Dyad or bolt.diy?
- Dyad: download the desktop app and add a model key. bolt.diy has desktop builds too, but running from source needs Node.js 22.12+ and pnpm.
- Do both work with local models?
- Yes. Both connect to local models through Ollama or LM Studio.