You don't need to be a developer — or even install anything — to start building with vibe coding. The tools are here, and they're surprisingly human-friendly.
This page gives you a clear, honest overview of the tools that make vibe coding possible. Whether you want to experiment in your browser or dive deeper with a full editor, there's something that fits your style.
Vibe coding tools generally fall into two categories:
Great for fast exploration, small projects, and learning the basics. No setup needed.
Best for larger projects and deeper iteration. Usually AI-first, with more control and better context.
Some people start in the browser and move to an editor later. Others jump straight into a full setup like Cursor. There's no right way — just what works for you.
Start building immediately without any installation
Replit is a browser-based coding platform where you can start projects without setup. Its AI assistant, Ghostwriter, can explain code, suggest completions, and help you debug. You can build web apps, test ideas, and explore many languages.
ChatGPT is not a code editor, but it's great for generating snippets, learning concepts, and building small components. You can use it to create UI ideas, troubleshoot errors, or even write full functions — then copy the results into your editor.
Lovable is a browser-based site builder where you start with a prompt and get a visual layout you can tweak. It's ideal for people who want a portfolio, landing page, or personal site without writing code — but with more flexibility than basic no-code tools.
v0 is a tool by Vercel that turns prompts into production-ready UI using React + Tailwind. You describe what you want (e.g. "pricing section with three plans") and it generates clean, reusable code. Works great for frontend builders who want AI speed with real code as output.
Full-featured editors for serious development
Cursor is a standalone code editor powered by AI. It works like VS Code, but built for vibe coding. You can describe what you want, edit entire files with natural language, and even refactor across your whole project. Cursor supports GitHub, live preview, and integrates easily with hosting platforms like Vercel.
GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistant that completes code as you type. It works well if you already know the basics of coding. It doesn't support natural language prompting across files the way Cursor does, but it's widely used and helpful for speeding up existing workflows.
Compare the key features of each tool
| Tool | Use case | Setup needed | Works in browser | Project context awareness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cursor | Full AI-native editor | Minimal | No (app) | Yes |
| Copilot + VSCode | Autocomplete in coding IDE | Yes | No | Limited |
| Replit | Try-and-build playground | No | Yes | Some |
| ChatGPT | Snippet generation & explanation | No | Yes | No |
| Lovable | Visual website creation | No | Yes | No |
| v0 | UI code generation with prompt | No | Yes | No |
If you're just curious, start in your browser. ChatGPT, Lovable, or Replit will give you a feel for what's possible. If you're ready to build your own project from start to finish — with real code and AI helping every step — go with Cursor or v0.
You don't have to choose one forever. Most vibe coders mix and match.
Discover the perfect tools for your vibe coding journey. Build faster, smarter, and more efficiently with AI assistance.