How I Used Replit To Vibe Code My Latest App

If you have an idea for an app, you can turn it into reality with Replit.

I used Replit to create Prompt Snips. This is a website where you can share your AI prompts with other users, and it only took me an hour or two to build.

I took out a Replit premium subscription that cost me $25 per month. I used up pretty much all of my monthly credits to build Prompt Snips, which you can visit at promptsnips.com.

Getting Started Takes Minutes, Not Months

Replit works like any AI agent you’ve used. Once you have a subscription, you get access to a chat interface where you can describe the app or site you want to build. It’s good for building web apps, data apps, games, and general web projects.

I wouldn’t describe myself as a developer. So I did this the old-fashioned way.

I wrote up a product requirements document or PRD describing what I wanted Replit to create for me. I told Replit I wanted to create a tool for sharing AI prompts, and it helped me create a PRD.

I wanted third-party feedback on my PRD. So I headed over to ChatGPT, pasted in the Replit output, and asked it to evaluate it. ChatGPT gave me several changes I could make to the document.

Then I headed back to Replit, pasted in the new version, and it started building Prompt Snips for me.

Why Most Vibe Coders Give Up Too Early

I spent about an hour or two going back and forth, working on various iterations. At any point, you can roll back your app if it makes changes you don’t like or goes down a rabbit hole.

Replit is easy to use. You select “build” if you want Replit to make changes to your code. Select “plan” if you want to ask questions. Select “edit” if you want to modify specific elements.

You see a live preview of your project. If you want to dive deeper, you can select “console” to see potential errors, and “deployments” to deploy your app.

You can edit specific files of your project. This was different from other AI coding apps I’ve tried.

If you click on “footer,” you can see all the text and styling that appears on your app’s footer. This is good if you want to make changes yourself rather than using up credits, or if you find AI too slow.

The Secret Sauce New Vibe Coders Miss

I went back and forth between Replit and ChatGPT, iterating on the design, features, and functionality. When I got a version I was somewhat happy with, I took a screenshot, pasted it into ChatGPT, and asked for feedback.

ChatGPT suggested UX improvements and design changes. Then I went back to Replit and pasted in these suggestions.

Once your app is ready, it’s time to deploy it. You can do this with Replit and connect or a custom domain.

Another option is to deploy your project to GitHub. Simply click on “all tools” and navigate to Git. Now you have version control for your app.

For my project, I connected my GitHub repository to Render. Render is a service for hosting web apps. I used Replit to figure out how to get them all working together.

What I Actually Built

I built Prompt Snips to share AI prompts. I paste my content into Prompt Snips - the AI prompt I’d use for ChatGPT. I can click “shareable link” to share this prompt with others.

I also created a section for pasting in the AI response. I can copy the link from ChatGPT and paste in the source link. I can add custom tags, a title, and set it to public, unlisted or private.

This is all possible because I created a database with Replit. Then I get a shareable link I can use or give to others.

The link gives instant access to the prompt and output. I also get an embeddable version I can embed as an iframe or script on my website. There’s a “get image” feature - basically a card I can share on X or LinkedIn, or download as a PNG.

I wouldn’t have been able to create any of this myself without Replit.

It’s a simple, barebones app for people who want to paste AI prompts, get a link, and share with others.

The Real Numbers Behind This Vibe Coding Project

I spent 60 to 90 minutes building this web app with Replit. Then I made a couple of changes myself and spent about 20–30 minutes fixing the database and deploying it. The whole project took about 120 minutes and cost me less than $25.

If I wanted to do something like this with a developer, I’d have spent a couple hundred dollars.

Replit is surprisingly easy to use. You have your familiar chat interface from ChatGPT and Claude. You can select “apps” to access all your previous apps. You can select “usage” to see how much of your credits you’ve used.

I didn’t go over the $25 per month for this particular app. But if you’re building multiple apps, you’ll probably eat into your credits and spend more. I used $15 of the $25 for this app.

One thing I really liked about Replit versus other AI coding apps is you get granular control over your code and the app. I didn’t feel locked in.

I could navigate to files and go into any files related to my project. I could edit and review code and text myself without relying on AI and eating into credits. I could export all the code to my desktop and use it with another app if I wanted.

Three Apps I’m Building Next

I’m working on several other apps inside Replit. One will help me see earnings dates for stocks I own. Another will act as a business directory for my local newsletter project. I’m also crafting an app to help users write better AI prompts.

If you have an idea for an app and know how to describe it, you don’t need coding skills to create it. You can ask Replit to iterate on its features and functionality.

Don’t be afraid to take screenshots of your app or errors and either paste them into Replit or another AI tool like ChatGPT for feedback and suggestions.

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