Two years ago, I was manually coding everything. Spending weeks building features that would still have bugs on launch day.
Then I discovered vibe coding, and everything changed.
I’m not exaggerating when I say this shift made me more money than the previous 8 years combined. I built a WordPress plugin that generates daily sales. I launched a SaaS product doing $100 MRR. And I did it faster than I ever thought possible.
But here’s what nobody tells you about these AI coding tools: most of them waste your time and money.
I tested 5 of the most hyped vibe coding platforms over the last 6 months. I built the same types of projects on each one: a task manager, expense tracker, and booking system. Real apps that need databases, authentication, and payment processing.
Some tools crushed it. Others burned through my money and delivered nothing.
Let me save you the headaches I went through.
What Even Is Vibe Coding?
If you’re new to this, vibe coding is when you describe what you want in plain English, and AI writes the code for you.
No more Googling “how to centre a div” for the 500th time.
You just say: “Build me a subscription app with Stripe integration and a user dashboard.”
The AI handles it.
This is how I’ve been building products that actually make money. Not toys. Not demos. Real software people pay for.
The 5 Tools I Actually Tested (And My Honest Take)
1. Lovable—The SaaS MVP Machine
What it does: Lovable turns your text descriptions into full React applications with backends included. It’s specifically built for web apps.
What I built: An expense tracking app with user auth and data visualisation.
The real deal:
- Generated a working prototype in literally 5 minutes
- Supabase backend automatically configured (that’s database + auth handled)
- The Visual Edits feature lets you tweak UI without more prompts
- Clean code with React and Tailwind CSS
The painful parts:
- Credit system burns fast—I blew through 100 credits in 3 days
- Sometimes creates buggy database queries you have to fix manually
- Free tier gives you 5 credits daily (that’s maybe 2 features max)
Cost: Free tier available. Pro is $25/month for 100 credits.
My verdict: For validating SaaS ideas fast, Lovable is unbeatable. I used it to build a client portal in one evening that would’ve taken me 2 weeks the old way.
Perfect for MVPs. Not great once you need production-level control.
2. Cursor—The Real Developer’s Tool
What it does: Cursor is a full AI-powered code editor built on VS Code. It’s not a builder—it’s an IDE that helps you write actual code.
What I built: My WordPress plugin that’s getting daily sales (built this with Cursor).
The real deal:
- Understands your entire codebase across multiple files
- Best AI code completion I’ve ever used, period
- Works with ANY programming language
- You have complete control over every line of code
- The context window is massive—it remembers your whole project
The painful parts:
- Learning curve if you’re not already a developer
- Pricing got confusing after their June 2025 changes
- $20/month base, but heavy users can hit $200+ with overages
- Sometimes lags with really large codebases
Cost: Hobby (free), Pro ($20/month), Ultra ($200/month).
My verdict: This is what serious builders use. When I built my WordPress plugin that’s actually making money, I used Cursor. The AI helped me write features I wouldn’t have known how to code myself.
If you want to build real products and are willing to learn some code, Cursor is worth every penny.
3. Bolt—Disappointed and Frustrated.
What it does: Supposedly builds full-stack apps from prompts using WebContainer tech.
What I tried to build: Simple task management app.
The brutal truth:
- Looks impressive in demos, falls apart in practice
- Creates unexpected side effects constantly
- The planning feature sounds good but executes poorly
- Token pricing is hidden and confusing
My verdict: I wasted an entire weekend fighting with Bolt. What should’ve taken an hour took 6 hours and still didn’t work right.
Skip it. Use Lovable instead and save yourself the headache.
4. Replit—Good for Learning, Not Production
What it does: Browser-based coding environment with AI features.
What I built: Web scraper for research.
The real deal:
- Zero setup—just open browser and start coding
- Great for quick prototypes
- Built-in deployment
The painful parts:
- Credit system gets expensive fast
- Not powerful enough for complex production apps
- Limited compared to Cursor for serious work
Cost: Free tier available. Paid starts at $25/month.
My verdict: Replit is fine for learning or tiny projects. But if you’re building something to sell, you’ll outgrow it fast.
So Which One Should You Actually Use?
After 6 months and dozens of projects, here’s what I recommend:
Building a SaaS Product?
→ Use Lovable
I built my $100 MRR subscription tool in one weekend with Lovable. Yes, you’ll hit limitations eventually. But for getting an MVP live fast? Nothing else comes close.
Perfect for idea validation before you invest serious time and money.
Building Mobile Apps or Complex Software?
→ Use Cursor
My WordPress plugin that gets daily sales? Built with Cursor. When you need real, production-ready code that you can actually maintain and scale, Cursor is the answer.
Worth the $20/month. Worth the learning curve. Worth every penny if you’re serious.
Need Just UI Components?
→ Use v0
For beautiful landing pages and UI work, v0 is solid. But remember it’s frontend only.
Skip Bolt completely. Trust me on this one.
The Thing Nobody Tells You About Vibe Coding
Here’s the reality check: the tool doesn’t make you rich. The product you build does.
I’ve built products with Lovable that flopped. I’ve built products with Cursor that make money daily.
What actually matters is:
- Are you solving a painful problem?
- Will people pay to fix that problem?
- Can you reach the people who have that problem?
The tool just gets you there faster.
That said, using the right tool means you can test 10 ideas in the time it used to take to build one. That’s the real advantage.
Need Help Picking the Right Tool for Your Project?
I’ve spent 2 years building products with these tools. I’ve made the mistakes so you don’t have to.
If you need help with:
- Choosing the right vibe coding tool for your specific project
- Building your SaaS MVP from scratch
- Setting up WordPress plugins that actually sell
- Getting your first product to $100+ MRR
Email me at [email protected]
I’ll show you the exact setup I use to build products that generate revenue, not just GitHub stars.
Let’s turn your idea into income.