Documented behaviour side by side
| Aspect | Lovable | Bolt |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in backend | Lovable Cloud provides database, authentication, storage, edge functions and secrets. The docs say it uses Supabase's open-source foundation. | Bolt Database is the default and is described as working out of the box. The docs also describe connecting your own Supabase organisation. |
| Built-in security check | A Basic scan covers RLS policy linting, database schema review and a dependency audit. A Deep scan adds access control review, backend endpoint protection and code-level issues such as exposed secrets. | A security audit run from the Publish menu reviews who can see and change data, what the app makes public, sign-in handling, misuse, accepted input, and keys and security settings. |
| When the check runs | The docs say the dependency audit runs when dependency files change, the Basic scan runs in the publish dialog, and scans can be started on demand. | You start it yourself with the Run security audit button in the Publish menu. The docs list it as available on paid plans with a daily limit. |
| Database-specific check | RLS policy linting is part of the Basic scan. | A separate database Security page looks for problems such as a missing RLS policy or a permission that is too open. The docs note it checks only the database, not the whole project. |
| Secrets | The docs say Lovable detects API keys pasted into chat and guides you to store them in Secrets and call the API from an edge function. | The docs describe Secrets that server functions read, so private values do not reach users' browsers. |
| Vendor's stated limits | The docs state the tools cannot guarantee complete security and that you are responsible for meeting the requirements of your use case. | The audit flags action items that need manual work from you. Confirm any wider limits in the vendor's current documentation. |
What Lovable leaves to you
- Reading every Row Level Security policy in plain words. A linter can flag common mistakes, but only you know which user should see which row.
- Running the Deep scan, since the docs describe only the Basic scan as automatic at publish time.
- Checking that each edge function verifies the caller and takes the user id from the token, not from the request body.
- Deciding whether the app needs a review beyond the built-in tools. Lovable's docs say the scans help identify common issues and do not guarantee complete security.
What Bolt leaves to you
- Starting the security audit before you publish, because the docs describe it as something you run from the Publish menu.
- Opening the database Security page as well. Bolt's docs say that page checks only the database, so one does not replace the other.
- Working through action items that the audit cannot fix automatically, and reviewing any fix before you accept it.
- If you connect your own Supabase project, owning its Row Level Security policies, keys and auth settings in the Supabase dashboard.
Why the builder matters less than the generated app
Both products produce a browser app that talks to a hosted database. Everything shipped to the browser is public, including the project URL and the low-privilege key. What stops one user reading another user's rows is the set of database rules and the server-side functions, and those are specific to your app, not to the builder.
A built-in scan is useful as a first pass. It cannot know your business rules, such as whether a team member may see an invoice or whether a price may be changed by the client. Test those yourself with two accounts.
What to check whichever you pick
- Every table that holds user data has row-level rules switched on, and no policy is simply true.
- A logged-out request with only the public key returns no private rows.
- A second test account cannot read, change or delete the first account's records by changing an id.
- No secret key, service role key or third-party secret appears in the built JavaScript or in git history.
- Every server function rejects a request with no token and ignores a user id sent by the client.
- Storage buckets that hold user files are private.
- You ran the vendor's own check and kept a note of what it flagged and what you fixed.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lovable or Bolt more secure?
Neither vendor's documentation supports a ranking. Both generate apps whose security depends on database access rules, where secrets are kept and how carefully the result is reviewed. Compare the built-in checks above and then test your own app.
Does the Lovable security scan mean my app is safe?
No. Lovable's own docs say the tools help identify common issues but cannot guarantee complete security, and that you remain responsible for your app's requirements.
Does Bolt check for missing RLS policies?
Bolt's docs describe a database Security page that looks for problems such as a missing row-level security policy or a permission that is too open. The docs note that it checks only the database, so run the project security audit as well.
Are apps built with AI builders safe to launch with real users?
They can be, once you have tested access rules with a logged-out visitor and a second account, confirmed no secrets ship to the browser and reviewed every server function. The builder does not remove that work.