What is StackBlitz used for?

StackBlitz is a browser-based IDE that runs Node.js projects locally in the tab through WebContainers, and it is the home of Bolt.new. It is a good fit for sharing a runnable bug reproduction, starting a web project with no local setup and embedding live code examples in documentation.

Yes. StackBlitz has a free plan.

Is StackBlitz open source?

No. StackBlitz is proprietary (closed-source) software. Open-source alternatives to StackBlitz include code-server and Coder.

What are some alternatives to StackBlitz?

StackBlitz competes with CodeSandbox, Replit and GitHub Codespaces. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source StackBlitz alternatives.

StackBlitz: features, pricing and alternatives

About StackBlitz

StackBlitz is a collaborative browser-based development environment for web developers. Its pitch is that projects start instantly without local configuration, because everything runs inside the browser tab rather than on a remote server.

That is made possible by WebContainers, a WebAssembly-based micro operating system that boots a full Node.js development environment within the tab. The vendor contrasts this with older cloud IDEs that stream results from remote machines, claiming faster starts, working offline, and easier recovery by refreshing the page. The company also offers Bolt.new, which turns text prompts into working web apps, as well as a WebContainer API, an Enterprise Server product, design system and integrations offerings, and Web Publisher.

StackBlitz is a proprietary hosted service. The site links to a pricing page with details on the available plans.

Key features

Node.js development inside the browser
WebContainers boot environments in milliseconds
Works offline once loaded
Bolt.new for prompt-to-app generation
WebContainer API for embedding
Collaboration features for web teams

Good fit for

→Sharing a runnable bug reproduction
→Starting a web project with no local setup
→Embedding live code examples in documentation

Tags: cloud-ide; webcontainers; nodejs; web-development; browser; bolt; collaboration

StackBlitz: questions and answers

What is StackBlitz used for?: StackBlitz is a browser-based IDE that runs Node.js projects locally in the tab through WebContainers, and it is the home of Bolt.new. It is a good fit for sharing a runnable bug reproduction, starting a web project with no local setup and embedding live code examples in documentation.
Is StackBlitz free?: Yes. StackBlitz has a free plan.
Is StackBlitz open source?: No. StackBlitz is proprietary (closed-source) software. Open-source alternatives to StackBlitz include code-server and Coder.
What are some alternatives to StackBlitz?: StackBlitz competes with CodeSandbox, Replit and GitHub Codespaces. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source StackBlitz alternatives.