v0.dev vs Lovable vs Replit Agent: Which AI App Builder Should You Use?

The age of "vibe coding" is here. Describe what you want, and AI builds it for you.

But with three major players—v0.dev, Lovable, and Replit Agent—each promising to turn your ideas into apps, how do you choose? I've spent weeks testing all three on real projects to give you the definitive answer.

Spoiler: The "best" one depends entirely on what you're building.

Quick Comparison

v0.dev: The UI Component Factory

What It Does

v0.dev, by Vercel, generates production-ready React components from text or image prompts. It's not an app builder—it's a UI generator that outputs clean, copy-paste-ready code using Shadcn UI and Tailwind CSS.

Key Features

• Text-to-UI: Describe a component, get React code
• Image-to-UI: Upload a screenshot, get a recreation
• Shadcn + Tailwind: Modern, customizable output
• Figma Import: Premium feature for design handoffs
• Copy-paste workflow: No deployment—just code

Pricing

Ideal Use Cases

• Rapidly prototyping UI designs
• Generating consistent component libraries
• Converting Figma designs to React code
• Accelerating frontend development

Limitations

• No backend: You're getting UI code only
• React-only: No Vue, Svelte, or vanilla HTML
• No deployment: You handle hosting yourself
• Context limited: Doesn't understand your full codebase

Example Prompt

"Create a pricing table component with three tiers: Free, Pro, and Enterprise. Include feature lists, prices, and 'Get Started' buttons. Use a dark theme with purple accents."

My Take

v0.dev is surgical—it does one thing exceptionally well. If you're a developer who needs beautiful React components fast, nothing else comes close. But if you want a complete app, look elsewhere.

Lovable: The Non-Technical Founder's Dream

What It Does

Lovable is a full-stack AI app builder that takes you from idea to deployed app with minimal technical knowledge. Describe your app in natural language, and Lovable generates everything: frontend, backend, database, and hosting.

Key Features

• Full-stack generation: React/Vite frontend + Supabase backend
• Visual editor: Tweak layouts without code
• One-click deployment: Go live instantly
• GitHub sync: Version control built-in
• Authentication: User systems ready to go
• Database built-in: Create tables via chat

Pricing

Ideal Use Cases

• MVPs and proof-of-concepts
• Internal tools for teams
• Landing pages with forms
• Non-technical founders validating ideas
• Designers building their own apps

Limitations

• Credit burn: Complex apps consume credits quickly
• Limited customization: Sometimes fights your changes
• React-only: No other framework options
• Scaling questions: Not proven for high-traffic apps

Example Prompt

"Build a job board where employers can post jobs and candidates can apply. Include user authentication, a dashboard for employers to manage listings, and email notifications for new applications."

My Take

Lovable is magical for prototypes. I've gone from idea to working app in under an hour. But for production apps with complex logic, you'll eventually hit walls. Think of it as the fastest way to validate ideas—then rebuild properly if they work.

Replit Agent: The Developer's AI Partner

What It Does

Replit Agent lives inside Replit's cloud IDE and builds full-stack applications with significant developer control. It's more "AI pair programmer" than "magic wand"—you'll see and can modify all the code, with the AI handling heavy lifting.

Key Features

• Full IDE integration: Code, test, deploy in one place
• Multi-language support: Python, JavaScript, Go, and more
• Voice-to-code: Describe changes verbally
• Autonomous debugging: Finds and fixes errors
• Screenshot-to-UI: Upload designs, get code
• Instant deployment: Live URLs in seconds
• Collaboration: Real-time multiplayer coding

Pricing

Ideal Use Cases

• Developers wanting AI assistance, not replacement
• Backend-heavy applications
• Multi-language projects
• Teams needing shared development environments
• Learning to code with AI guidance

Limitations

• Learning curve: More complex than Lovable
• Credit consumption: Can get expensive for compute-heavy apps
• Less polished UI output: Frontend isn't its strength
• Requires some technical knowledge: Not truly no-code

Example Prompt

"Create a REST API with Python and FastAPI. Include endpoints for user registration, login with JWT, and a CRUD interface for blog posts. Use SQLite for the database."

My Take

Replit Agent is the most powerful of the three—and the most complex. It's best for developers who want AI to handle boilerplate while maintaining full control over the codebase. If you can code (even a little), this offers the most flexibility.

Head-to-Head: When to Use Each

Choose v0.dev When:

• You need beautiful React UI components
• You're already set up with a React project
• You want to copy-paste code into your stack
• You're converting designs to code
• You don't need backend functionality

Choose Lovable When:

• You're non-technical and want a complete app
• Speed of prototyping is the priority
• You need auth, database, and hosting included
• You're validating a startup idea
• You want visual editing capabilities

Choose Replit Agent When:

• You're a developer wanting AI acceleration
• You need multi-language support
• You want full control over the codebase
• Backend complexity is significant
• You value a complete development environment

The Multi-Tool Strategy

Here's a pro tip: you don't have to choose just one.

Optimal workflow for startups:

1. Lovable for rapid prototyping and validation
2. v0.dev for polishing specific UI components
3. Replit Agent for backend logic and final development

This hybrid approach leverages each tool's strengths while minimizing their weaknesses.

Cost Comparison for Real Projects

Let's estimate costs for a typical SaaS MVP:

Verdict: Lovable and Replit offer better value for complete apps. v0.dev only makes sense if you already have a codebase and just need UI acceleration.

Future Outlook (2026 and Beyond)

All three platforms are evolving rapidly:

• v0.dev is expanding beyond React and adding more UI frameworks
• Lovable is improving code quality and adding more backend features
• Replit Agent continues to enhance its autonomous capabilities

The gap between them is narrowing, but their core philosophies will likely remain distinct.

The Bottom Line

My recommendation for most people: Start with Lovable to validate your idea, then move to Replit when you need more control. Use v0.dev as a component generator throughout.

The future of software development is here. Choose your tool and start building.

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