# Bolt.diy

Free, local, and open-source—Dyad is the beginner-friendly alternative to Bolt.diy.

## [Bolt.diy Summary](/content/docs/comparison/bolt-diy#boltdiy-summary/index.html)

[Bolt.diy](http://bolt.diy/) is an open-source project forked from Bolt.new. Like Dyad, it allows you to run an AI-powered app builder locally and gives you flexibility in choosing which AI models to use.

## [Key Differences](/content/docs/comparison/bolt-diy#key-differences/index.html)

- **Dyad is easier for non-technical users to get started with** – Dyad features a simple [installation process](/content/docs/getting-started/quickstart/index.html) that makes it accessible to non-engineers. In contrast, Bolt.diy has a more involved [setup](https://stackblitz-labs.github.io/bolt.diy/#setup), requiring familiarity with the command line.

- **Bolt.diy offers more advanced features for technical users** – Bolt.diy supports a broader range of models and providers, with customization options that cater to power users. (Support for custom models is on the [Dyad roadmap](/content/docs/roadmap/index.html).) It also includes code diff viewing, whereas Dyad currently offers only an experimental code editor.

- **Dyad runs apps directly on your machine, while Bolt.diy runs in the browser** – Dyad executes apps using Node.js on your local machine, offering better performance. Bolt.diy, on the other hand, runs apps in a browser-based sandbox called WebContainers, which adds a layer of safety but comes with [performance limitations](https://webcontainers.io/guides/troubleshooting) and lacks support for native modules used in some npm packages.

## [Which Should You Choose?](/content/docs/comparison/bolt-diy#which-should-you-choose/index.html)

If you're looking for a free, local, open-source AI app builder, both [Bolt.diy](http://bolt.diy/) and [Dyad](/content/site-root.html) are excellent options. Dyad is ideal if you're a non-technical user looking to [get started quickly](/content/docs/getting-started/quickstart/index.html). If you're a developer seeking deeper customization and code-level control, Bolt.diy may be the better fit.