Sure, Bolt was my first experience with vibe coding. But I didn’t choose it just because it was first—I chose it because it let me build like me.
I tested the same idea (a puzzle-making app) on both Bolt and Lovable, because both were running a hackathon this month. I wanted to compare the tools. The app itself wasn’t the point. The process was. And that’s where everything shifted.
Lovable Looked Good—But It Didn’t Fit
Let’s start with what happened.
Lovable feels clean. Polished. PM-ready. But that shine wore off quick when I actually tried to use it:
- I went to fix a spelling error. Couldn’t. “Code” view is hidden behind UI layers and a paywall.
- I tried to use their “chat” mode. You get 3 credits per day. I used one to start the project, one to try and replace a placeholder fake tool with a real agent, and one to try the chat—then ran out before I could even use the suggestion.
- Every recommendation? “Connect to Supabase.” Chat feature. Email marketing. No thanks—I was just mocking up a tiny solo test.
- Placeholder logic was unclear. I can deal with pictures and icons, but when whole functionality of a search box made me question what was real? What wasn’t? I had to burn time and credits just to figure that out.
- I restarted the app five days in a row. Each time I got less far.
The biggest issue? I couldn’t get to a point in my free project that made me feel like, “Oh, cool—I want to keep going.”
And that’s when I realized: Lovable is for Product Managers. It expects a vision, a design, a spec. It wants you to bring fully written user stories with UX/UI references and named code blocks. It’s good for planning—but not for vibing.
Bolt Let Me Work Like Me
Bolt made me feel like I was pair programming in Slack. It was iterative. Forgiving. Real.
- I could edit things directly without jumping through hoops.
- Placeholder functionality actually worked—I didn’t have to guess what was fake.
- Select-to-edit was useful, not buried.
- There were no arbitrary credit caps.
- I got further on Prompt 1 than I ever did in multiple sessions with Lovable.
More importantly, I could focus on the customer value, not on how to get the system to cooperate. I wasn’t trying to build pixel-perfect mockups. I wanted to communicate the intent—“Make this smoother,” “Hide this button,” “Change this card”—and let the system help bring it to life.
And it worked.
Lovable is for Product Managers. Bolt is for Product Owners.
Head-to-Head: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Bolt | Lovable |
|---|---|---|
| Edit simple code or content | Direct, easy | Buried and paywalled—even for minor fixes |
| Chat/discussion support | Unlimited, continuous, contextual | 3 credits/day, no follow-up after that |
| Placeholder support | Clear and helpful for testing flows | Recently added, hard to tell what’s real |
| Iteration workflow | Encourages tweaks and fast feedback | Restart-heavy, slow feedback loop |
| Select-to-edit utility | Core feature—credit efficient and fast | Tucked away and clunky |
| Ideal for… | Product Owners—builders who iterate in flow | Product Managers—planners with scoped specs |
| Best use case | Startup ideas, MVPs, live-editing with teams | Enterprise planning, defined roadmaps |
So What Am I Building?
After choosing Bolt, I am creating First Hook — a swipe-based discovery app for stories.
One line. One swipe. One hook.
Readers swipe through story openings. After 6 swipes (and at least one “Hooked”), they can unlock a full story to read—via a link chosen by the author. No hosting, no accounts, just fast mobile-first interaction.
It’s built for contests, newsletters, and indie launches. The hackathon has let me be a CEO because I could stay in flow.
Conclusion: Know Who You Are
To be a good vibe coder, I think you have to be a bit of a Product Owner. You need to enjoy testing, adjusting, improving in the moment. You need to build to discover.
Lovable expects you to already know. And that’s fine—if you have a dedicated team, if you’re managing a roadmap, or you’re wearing the PM hat full time.
Bolt let me get lost in the build. And that’s a good thing when you’re chasing early-stage product vision. When you’re wearing all the hats, fast iteration matters more than perfect process.
As a career path, I’m a Product Manager with strong Product Owner skills—and enterprise chops. But for my little solo projects, Lovable just isn’t the right fit.
Choose the tool that matches how you work.
For me, that’s Bolt.
Krista Gamble | K.M. Hasling 