If you've been anywhere near the developer community lately, you've probably heard the term "vibe coding" thrown around. It's that magical feeling when you describe what you want in plain English, and AI just... builds it. No more wrestling with syntax errors at 2 AM or Googling "how to center a div" for the thousandth time. But here's the million-dollar question: should you vibe code in Cursor or Replit?
Both editors have gone all-in on AI-assisted development, but they're built for very different workflows. Cursor feels like your souped-up desktop IDE got a brain transplant, while Replit is the cloud-native playground that literally coined the term "vibe coding." Let's break down which one deserves a spot in your workflow.
What Even Is Vibe Coding?
Before we dive into the showdown, let's get on the same page. Vibe coding is essentially conversational programming—you tell an AI agent what you want to build using natural language, and it writes the code for you. Think of it as pair programming with a really fast, never-tired colleague who doesn't judge your 3 PM coffee-fueled ideas.
The beauty of vibe coding isn't just speed (though that's a nice perk). It's about lowering the barrier to entry. Suddenly, designers can prototype functional apps, product managers can mock up features, and developers can explore new languages without the usual learning curve. You're focusing on the what and why while AI handles the how.
Cursor: The Power User's AI Playground
Cursor is essentially a fork of VS Code that's been injected with serious AI steroids. If you're already comfortable in a traditional IDE environment, Cursor will feel like coming home—except now your home has a superintelligent assistant living in it.
What Makes Cursor Shine
The editor integrates models like Claude Sonnet 4.5 directly into your workflow, giving you AI-powered autocomplete that actually understands context. We're not talking about basic tab completion here—Cursor can predict entire functions, refactor messy code, and even explain what that cryptic regex pattern does.
The keyboard shortcuts are intuitive, bracket handling is smooth, and you can bring your own AI model if you're particular about which LLM does your bidding. Cursor recently introduced features like improved Plan Mode and AI Code Review right in the editor, plus they launched Bugbot in mid-2025—a debugging assistant that watches your code changes and flags potential issues before they become production nightmares.
What Makes Cursor Stand Out
If you're working on complex, multi-file projects that require deep integration with your local development environment, Cursor is tough to beat. It handles large codebases gracefully, supports virtually every language and framework under the sun, and integrates with the entire VS Code extension ecosystem. You get the familiarity of a professional IDE with AI superpowers baked in.
Cursor is also fast. Like, noticeably fast. The autocomplete doesn't lag, the AI suggestions pop up when you need them (not five seconds after you've already typed the line), and the whole experience feels polished.
The Catch
Cursor lives on your local machine, which means you're responsible for setting up your environment, managing dependencies, and dealing with the occasional "works on my machine" syndrome. It's also desktop-only—if you need to code from a Chromebook or your phone while waiting for a flight, you're out of luck.
Replit: Where Vibe Coding Was Born
Replit didn't just jump on the vibe coding bandwagon—they built the wagon, painted it, and invited everyone to hop on. Their entire platform is designed around the idea that coding should be accessible, collaborative, and happen entirely in the cloud.
What Makes Replit Special
Replit calls itself "the safest place for vibe coding," and they're not exaggerating. The platform is purpose-built for natural language programming, letting you describe what you want and watching it materialize in real-time. No setup, no configuration files, no "let me just install these 47 dependencies first."
Everything runs in the browser. You can start a new Python project, spin up a React app, or build a Discord bot without ever leaving your browser tab. The environment is pre-configured, dependencies are managed automatically, and deployment is literally one click away. It's the ultimate low-friction experience.
What Replit Does Best
For beginners, educators, and rapid prototypers, Replit is unmatched. The collaborative features let multiple people code in the same project simultaneously—think Google Docs, but for programming. This makes it perfect for pair programming, teaching, or just showing a friend what you're building.
The AI integration is deeply woven into the platform. You're not just getting autocomplete; you're getting an AI agent that understands the entire Replit ecosystem and can help you deploy, debug, and iterate without context-switching.
Replit also shines for quick experiments and side projects. Want to test an API? Build a landing page? Create a simple game? You can go from idea to live URL in minutes, not hours.
The Limitations
Replit's cloud-native approach is both its strength and weakness. You're dependent on an internet connection, and while the free tier is generous, serious projects will push you toward paid plans. Performance can also be a consideration—complex applications or compute-heavy tasks might feel sluggish compared to running locally.
The editor itself, while improving, doesn't have the same depth of customization and extension support that Cursor (via VS Code) offers. If you're a power user who's tweaked your IDE to perfection over years, Replit might feel limiting.
The Verdict: It Depends on Your Vibe
Here's the honest truth: there's no universal winner. Your ideal editor depends on what you're building and how you like to work.
Choose Cursor if:
- You're working on complex, production-grade applications
- You need deep integration with local tools and services
- You value speed, customization, and a professional IDE experience
- You're already comfortable with development workflows and want AI to supercharge them
- You need to work offline or with sensitive codebases that can't live in the cloud
Choose Replit if:
- You're learning to code or teaching others
- You want zero-friction prototyping and deployment
- Collaboration is a priority
- You code from multiple devices or need browser-based access
- You're building web apps, bots, or smaller projects that benefit from instant hosting
- You want the full vibe coding experience without any setup headaches
The Hybrid Approach
Here's a secret: you don't have to choose just one. Many developers use Replit for quick experiments, prototypes, and collaborative sessions, then move serious projects to Cursor when they need more control and performance. Think of Replit as your sketchbook and Cursor as your professional studio.
Both platforms are evolving rapidly. Cursor is adding more AI features and improving its already-impressive capabilities, while Replit continues to refine what vibe coding means in practice. The real winner? Developers who get to choose tools that match their workflow instead of fighting against them.
So which editor is best for vibe coding? The one that gets out of your way and lets you build what's in your head. Sometimes that's Cursor's powerful, local-first approach. Sometimes it's Replit's frictionless, cloud-native magic. And sometimes, it's both.
