# The best AI tools for hackathons in 2026, free options included

An app builder for the first demo, a coding agent for the real code, and free hosting. What to pick, what's free, what teams can share, and the rules on AI.

Published 2026-10-07 by Richard Kaminsky and Mitchell Lipyansky, the co-founders of Poly. Canonical: https://usepoly.co/ai-tools-for-hackathons
Poly is a multiplayer AI coding workspace: a shared room where your team works with one AI agent, together. Free to start: https://usepoly.co/

**For a 24 to 48 hour hackathon, most teams in 2026 combine three things: an app builder for a working demo fast (Lovable, Bolt, v0, Replit or Google AI Studio, all free to start), a coding agent for the code that has to be right (Claude Code, Codex or Cursor), and free hosting and data (Supabase, Vercel, Cloudflare, or AI Studio's free deploy). Hackathons generally allow AI tools: ETHGlobal's rules name ChatGPT, Claude Code, Copilot and Cursor and ask teams to document how they used them, and MLH's guide tells organizers to have teams credit every tool. The catch for teams is sharing: most of these tools are built for one person at a time.**

## Key takeaways

- **Fastest demo:** an app builder. Lovable's free plan gives 5 credits a day; v0, Bolt and Google AI Studio are free to start.
- **Best model for code:** Claude Opus 5.5 leads LMArena's WebDev votes (1814 on October 7). For free, Gemini Flash in AI Studio and GPT-6 Luna in the ChatGPT desktop app.
- **Free hosting:** Google AI Studio deploys up to two full-stack apps with no billing account; Supabase, Vercel Hobby and Cloudflare have free tiers.
- **Rules:** disclose your AI use, build after kickoff, and don't just reskin an existing AI tool.
- **Teams:** Replit's free plan has no collaborator seats, and Bolt's shared chat needs a public project. Pick a tool the whole team can work in.

*Hackathon AI tools, from each vendor's pricing and docs, October 7, 2026.*

| Tool | Free option | Team of three to five | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Lovable | 5 credits a day | Unlimited members, owner's credits | A full-stack demo fast |
| Bolt | Free tokens | Shared chat on public projects | In-browser builds |
| v0 | Free tier | Collaborators can prompt one chat | React and Next.js front ends |
| Replit | Starter, no collaborator seats | Core: up to 5 builders | Hosted apps and mobile |
| Google AI Studio | Free quota and two free deploys | One builder | Gemini apps on Google Cloud |
| Claude Code | No; Pro from $20 | One person per session | Code that has to be right |
| Codex | GPT-6 Luna on ChatGPT Free | One person per session | Code and reviews |
| Poly | Free to start | Whole team in one room | Building one app together |

## Are AI tools allowed at hackathons?

Generally yes, with disclosure. None of the big hosts bans them in 2026:

- **ETHGlobal:** "The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, etc.) is generally permitted." Teams must document where and how they used AI, and a project the AI built on its own can lose eligibility for prizes ([ETHGlobal](https://ethglobal.com/events/mumbai/info/details)).
- **MLH:** its guide for organizers recommends a rule to credit any tools used and to be clear about what the team made, and not to accept a reskin of an existing AI tool ([MLH](https://guide.mlh.com/general-information/judging-and-submissions/rules-for-your-hackathon)).
- **Devpost:** standard contest rules require a project created during the contest period, with no clause on AI either way. Devpost's own Build With AI: Basics, open until October 26, 2026, requires a coding agent such as Claude Code, Codex or Cursor ([Devpost](https://learn-ai-basics.devpost.com/)).

Read your event's rules: "built during the event" usually still applies, so start the repository at kickoff and keep the commits.

## The best AI tools for a hackathon

**App builders** get a clickable demo in front of judges in an hour:

- **Lovable:** full-stack apps with hosting and auth; free with 5 credits a day, Pro from $25 ([Lovable vs Bolt](/lovable-vs-bolt)).
- **Bolt:** in-browser builds; free tokens, Pro $25.
- **v0:** React and Next.js front ends on Vercel; free tier, Plus $30 a user ([v0 vs Lovable](/v0-vs-lovable)).
- **Replit:** an agent plus a hosted workspace, and native mobile apps; Core $20 a month.
- **Google AI Studio:** Build mode makes full-stack apps with Gemini, free with a quota.

**Coding agents** take over when the demo needs real logic, an API or a fix the builder can't make:

- **Claude Code:** from Pro at $20 a month ([How to use Claude Code](/how-to-use-claude-code)).
- **Codex:** ChatGPT Free includes GPT-6 Luna in the desktop app; Plus at $20 adds the CLI and editor ([How to use Codex](/how-to-use-codex)).
- **Cursor:** an AI editor with a free Hobby plan.

More options in [Best vibe coding tools](/best-vibe-coding-tools) and [Best free AI for coding](/best-free-ai-for-coding).

## What's the best AI model for a hackathon?

For code that has to work on the first try, Claude Opus 5.5: it leads LMArena's WebDev leaderboard, where people vote on real builds, at 1814 on October 7, 2026, and Claude Code with Opus 5.5 tops Terminal-Bench 4.0 at 64.8%. GPT-6 Astra is close behind ([Claude vs ChatGPT for coding](/claude-vs-chatgpt-for-coding)).

For free: Google's Gemini API has a free tier for the Gemini 3.x Flash models, though free-tier data is "used to improve our products" and Google no longer publishes the request limits ([Google](https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/pricing)). Groq's free plan serves open models such as GPT-OSS 120B at 1,000 requests a day ([Groq](https://console.groq.com/docs/rate-limits)).

## Free hosting and databases for a 48-hour build

- **Google AI Studio Starter Tier:** since May 21, 2026, new users deploy up to two full-stack apps (Cloud Run, Firebase Auth, Firestore, Cloud SQL) with no billing account ([Google Cloud](https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/databases/vibe-coded-ai-studio-apps-with-firestore-firebase-cloud-sql)). Google Workspace accounts, school ones included, aren't eligible.
- **Supabase Free:** two projects, a 500 MB Postgres database and 50,000 monthly active users; projects pause after a week of inactivity ([Supabase](https://supabase.com/pricing)).
- **Vercel Hobby:** free for personal, non-commercial projects, with one seat ([Vercel](https://vercel.com/pricing)).
- **Cloudflare Workers:** 100,000 requests a day free, plus a D1 database and 10,000 Neurons a day of Workers AI ([Cloudflare](https://developers.cloudflare.com/workers/platform/pricing/)).

## How should a team of three to five use AI at a hackathon?

The tools differ most here:

- **Replit:** the free Starter plan has no collaborator seats; Core lets you invite up to 5 builders ([Replit](https://docs.replit.com/billing/plans/replit-core)).
- **Bolt:** multiplayer needs the project set to public. There's one shared chat, prompts run one at a time from a queue, and each uses the prompter's own tokens ([Bolt](https://support.bolt.new/building/using-bolt/collaborate.md)).
- **Lovable:** unlimited members on every plan, all spending the owner's credits.
- **Coding agents:** a Claude Code or Codex session belongs to one person; teammates watch a screen share or work on their own branches.

A common split: one person drives the builder for the demo, one or two use a coding agent on separate branches for the backend, and one owns the pitch and the README that says what the AI did.

## Where can you get free credits for a hackathon?

Mostly through the event:

- **OpenAI** supports community-run hackathons with Codex access, API credits, prizes and mentors; organizers apply ahead ([OpenAI](https://developers.openai.com/community/hackathons)).
- **Lovable** gives organizers credit codes for every participant at builder events of 30 or more, applied for at least two weeks ahead ([Lovable](https://community-events.lovable.app/)).
- **Anthropic's** Claude Builder Club lets student leaders run hackathons and share API credits with members, with a $3,600 stipend; it's closed for fall 2026 ([Anthropic](https://claude.com/programs/campus)).
- **MLH** events carry sponsor prizes such as Best Use of Gemini API, and partner perks like DigitalOcean and Vultr credits ([MLH](https://mlh.com/events/prizes)).
- **Students** also get discounts: Lovable 50% off, Replit Core $10 a month with a school email, and GitHub Copilot free.

## Building one app together with one AI

At most hackathons the AI sits with whoever's typing. Poly (usepoly.co) is a browser room where a team builds one app with one AI: everyone sees each step live, any member can approve a change before it lands, and the group shares a live preview it can publish for the judges. It runs Claude Code and Codex. Free to start. [What is Poly?](/what-is-poly)

## Common questions

**Are AI tools allowed at hackathons?**

Generally yes. ETHGlobal permits ChatGPT, Claude Code, Copilot and Cursor if you document how you used them, and MLH tells organizers to have teams credit every tool. Most events still require the project to be built during the event.

**What is the best free AI for a hackathon?**

For a demo, Lovable (5 free credits a day), v0, Bolt or Google AI Studio. For code, Codex with GPT-6 Luna on ChatGPT Free, or the Gemini API free tier. Google AI Studio also deploys two full-stack apps with no billing account.

**What is the best AI model for a hackathon?**

Claude Opus 5.5 leads LMArena's WebDev leaderboard (1814 on October 7, 2026), where people vote on real builds, and tops Terminal-Bench 4.0 inside Claude Code. GPT-6 Astra is close behind.

**Can a hackathon team share one AI tool?**

Some allow it: Lovable workspaces have unlimited members, Replit Core lets up to 5 builders in, and Bolt shares one chat on public projects. Claude Code and Codex sessions belong to one person; Poly puts a whole team in one room with one agent.

**How do I get free AI credits for a hackathon?**

Usually through the event. OpenAI supports community hackathons with API credits and Codex access, Lovable gives credit codes to events of 30 or more builders, and MLH events carry sponsor prizes and partner credits.

More guides: https://usepoly.co/guides · Security: https://usepoly.co/security · Pricing: https://usepoly.co/pricing