# cto.new

According to OpenAITools.app telemetry verified on 2026-11-11, cto.new (cto.new) is an AI platform indexed under AI Code Assistant generating 186.09K monthly visits with a month-over-month traffic delta of -64.9K (-25.9%). Its primary geographic market is United States (43.4% traffic share), and it operates on a Freemium pricing model. Top competing alternatives by monthly volume include Bolt.new (3.03M visits/mo), Replit (10.02M visits/mo), Blink.new (869.08K visits/mo).

Chat with an AI team to build, launch and grow your business for free

## Key Telemetry & Specifications

| Metric | Value |
| :--- | :--- |
| Tool Name | cto.new |
| Handle | cto-new |
| Status | active |
| Origin | independent |
| Maintenance | active |
| Official Domain | cto.new |
| Website URL | https://cto.new/product-hunt |
| Categories | AI Code Assistant, AI Agent, AI Code Generator, AI Developer Tools |
| Pricing Model | Freemium |
| Monthly Visits | 186,087 |
| MoM Traffic Change | -64,897 |
| MoM Growth Rate | -25.9% |
| Primary Market | United States |
| Market Share | 43.4% |
| Direct Visits | 81,140 |
| Organic Search Visits | — |
| Social Visits | — |
| Referral Visits | 39,623 |
| Email Visits | 6,169 |
| Review Score | 4.1 |
| Saved Count | 0 |
| Supported Platforms | Website |
| Billing Platforms |  |
| Attributes | Pricing: Free; Features: Website |
| Tags | AI Code Agent, Code Generation, Large Language Models, Anthropic, OpenAI, Developer Tools, Free AI Tools, Programming Assistant |

## Overview

cto.new is a chat-first platform from Engine Labs aimed at founders and solo entrepreneurs. Instead of assembling separate tools for a website, invoicing and outreach, you tell the AI team what you want to build and it produces working output — a published site, an app, product copy, an ad campaign or a reply to a customer.

The product bundles a surprising amount of business plumbing. You can build and publish a website or app by chatting, connect Stripe to accept payments and send invoices, register a custom domain, and set up a business email inbox where the AI team helps draft replies. It also supports ads on ChatGPT on paid plans.

The model stance is deliberately abstracted: users can let cto.new auto-select a model or ask for a surprise pick, so the platform can route work across frontier LLMs from providers such as Anthropic and OpenAI. The platform is free to start, with paid plans for extras like ad credits, and the site states that users own everything they build.

## Pricing & Plans

Free to start with no credit card or API keys required. Some capabilities such as ads on ChatGPT are available on paid plans using ad credits; check the Pricing page for current plan details and limits.

## Key Features & Capabilities

- **Chat-driven website and app builder:** Describe what you want in natural language and the AI team generates and publishes a website or app, which you keep improving as your business grows.
- **Ready-made AI teams:** Start from preconfigured teams built for specific jobs, such as a Shop team for selling expertise or an Agency-in-a-Box team for client work.
- **Payments and invoicing via Stripe:** Connect Stripe to accept payments, send invoices and manage your business finances without leaving the platform.
- **Custom domains and business email:** Register a custom domain and set up a business inbox so the AI team can send emails and help handle replies.
- **Model-agnostic routing:** Let cto.new auto-select the best model for a task or ask it to surprise you, drawing on frontier models from leading providers.

## Primary Use Cases

- **Launch a first website without hiring (Solo founders):** Turn a business idea into a published website with copy and a custom domain by chatting with the AI team, no developer required.
- **Sell a product or expertise online (Side-hustlers):** Use a Shop-style AI team to build a storefront and connect Stripe so you can take payments and send invoices from day one.
- **Package services with AI agents (Small agencies):** Use an agency team so AI agents draft deliverables like logos, pitch decks or website audits while you stay focused on clients.

## Strengths

- Genuinely free to start with no credit card or API keys
- Bundles website building, payments, domains, email and ads in one place
- Prebuilt AI teams give non-experts a starting point for specific business jobs
- Users own what they build, per the platform's own FAQ

## Limitations

- Free plan has limitations that push heavier users toward paid tiers
- Ads on ChatGPT require a paid plan and ad credits
- Chat-driven building can require iteration before output matches your intent

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is cto.new really free?
Yes, it is free to start and requires no credit card or API keys to begin building. Certain capabilities, such as ads on ChatGPT, are reserved for paid plans that use ad credits.

### Which AI models does cto.new use?
The platform is model-agnostic and routes tasks across frontier large language models from providers such as Anthropic and OpenAI, with an auto-select option and a surprise-me picker.

### Do I own what I build with cto.new?
According to the platform's own FAQ, you own everything you build. You can also connect your own custom domain so your business has a permanent address.

### Can I accept payments through cto.new?
Yes. You can connect Stripe to accept payments, send invoices and manage business finances directly from the platform.

### What is cto.new's monthly traffic and growth trend?
cto.new currently receives 186.09K monthly visits, with a month-over-month traffic change of -64.9K (-25.9% growth rate). Its primary source market is United States (43.4% share), including 81.14K direct visits/mo and — organic search visits/mo.

### Is cto.new free? What is its pricing model?
cto.new operates on a Freemium pricing model. Free to start with no credit card or API keys required. Some capabilities such as ads on ChatGPT are available on paid plans using ad credits; check the Pricing page for current plan details and limits. Supported billing and checkout platforms include: not listed.

### What are the best cto.new alternatives in 2026?
Based on OpenAITools.app category traffic and feature fit, the top five alternatives to cto.new are: 1. Bolt.new (3.03M visits/mo); 2. Replit (10.02M visits/mo); 3. Blink.new (869.08K visits/mo); 4. Cursor (23.3M visits/mo); 5. Emergent (5.79M visits/mo).

### Which platforms and core AI capabilities does cto.new support?
cto.new is classified under AI Code Assistant, AI Agent, AI Code Generator, AI Developer Tools, supports the following platforms: Website, and its core capability tags include: AI Code Agent, Code Generation, Large Language Models, Anthropic, OpenAI, Developer Tools.

## Alternatives

| Tool Name | Monthly Visits | Pricing Model | Compare |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| [Bolt.new](https://openaitools.app/tool/bolt-new) | 3,033,976 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/bolt-new-vs-cto-new) |
| [Replit](https://openaitools.app/tool/replit) | 10,016,437 | Freemium, Paid | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/cto-new-vs-replit) |
| [Blink.new](https://openaitools.app/tool/blink-new) | 869,080 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/blink-new-vs-cto-new) |
| [Cursor](https://openaitools.app/tool/cursor) | 23,297,751 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/cto-new-vs-cursor) |
| [Emergent](https://openaitools.app/tool/emergent) | 5,788,850 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/cto-new-vs-emergent) |
| [Base44](https://openaitools.app/tool/base44) | 14,039,232 | Freemium, Paid, Contact for Pricing | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/base44-vs-cto-new) |
| [Lumi.new](https://openaitools.app/tool/lumi-new) | 45,219 | Free Trial | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/cto-new-vs-lumi-new) |
| [Kiro](https://openaitools.app/tool/kiro) | 3,330,476 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/cto-new-vs-kiro) |
| [CatDoes](https://openaitools.app/tool/catdoes) | 102,089 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/catdoes-vs-cto-new) |
| [Command Code](https://openaitools.app/tool/command-code) | 2,358,177 | Freemium, Contact for Pricing | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/command-code-vs-cto-new) |
| [Autodevs by Create](https://openaitools.app/tool/autodevs-by-create) | 44,557 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/autodevs-by-create-vs-cto-new) |
| [AskCodi](https://openaitools.app/tool/askcodi) | 11,159 | Freemium | [Compare](https://openaitools.app/compare/askcodi-vs-cto-new) |

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Source: https://openaitools.app/tool/cto-new