Factory AI
An advanced AI coding tool: generates complex apps, docs, works well with large existing projects, has access to web search, MCPs, can run code on my local machine + UX is best for coders.
I'm building "Inbox agent" using this tool, gonna report back soon.Heyboss AI
I'd say the most creative AI Coding tool on the market.
Can build production-grade apps, with backend and database.
I'm building my inbox agent here too; so far, I really love the design output.
Works great for non-coders.Emergent Labs
Agentic Vibe coding tool. Handles entire apps with frontend & backend.
Works pretty fast and feels like a CTO or a tech cofounder.
The multi-agent thing (coding agent, testing agent...) is cool too. I think it might turn into something big.Wrapifai
Best for form-based apps (calculators, AI generators, etc).
I use it to build mini tools for SEO or lead magnets.
100% no-code. Super easy to use.
I built this little app today with 1 prompt and 1 minute.Create.xyz
It can clone a product when you drop the link to it.
Has connections to things like the movie DB, HackerNews, and more.
Auth with one prompt.
Good if you wanna create functioning products with just a few prompts.CodeMate
Perhaps the best for generating mobile apps from your phone.
Also, it's mobile-first itself—basically "generate mobile app from your mobile".
Produces React Native apps (not just web wrappers).
Uses Claude 3.7 Sonnet.Cursor
The best.
Works best for coders and not such a good fit for no-coders.
Can assist, autocomplete, refactor, and even build entire modules/projects.
Here it's been asked to migrate from Tailwind v3 to v4.Bolt
Started as a side project of StackBlitz and went huge, raising $105M.
Works for everyone (coders, no-coders, marketers...).
Has out-of-the-box integration with Supabase for data, auth...
I built several lead magnets using Bolt.Lovable
Fastest-growing EU-based startup today ($10M ARR).
Native Supabase integration.
The best AI+NoCode mix on the market (the WYSIWYG part).
Takes in screenshots as input and can produce full web apps.
I use it instead of Figma.Windsurf
Works well for advanced apps. My top 3.
Acts as a true agent.
Can use web search.
Has memory.
Best for lazy coders.Stitch from Google
Best for prototyping.
Can be used by founders, designers, no-coders.
Much faster than all the others.Grok Studio from xAI
My favorite way of playing with code.
I think people could use it to learn coding (I strongly suggest all vibe coders to learn coding).Canva Code
Perfect for lead magnets for founders, no-coders, and marketers.Augment Code
Works in VS Code and JetBrains.
Built for coders.
Can execute code, run terminal, find issues, and analyze the code.
Find performance optimization ideas in production.Build with Mocha
For non-coders.
Builds full-stack apps from prompts.
100% complete (auth, DB, hosting, emails...).
Perfect for non-tech people, e.g., for your grandma.Rork
Text-to-app AI agent.
Builds mobile apps.
Publishing directly on TestFlight.
Perfect for building mobile apps for non-coders.Clark
AI agent to build internal enterprise apps.
Can build an app from Jira tickets.
A mix of prompting, Figma-like editing, and coding.GitHub Copilot
The OG of this game, started back in 2020.
Can generate code.
Handles large codebases.
Can merge PRs, fix bugs, search code.
Supports agent mode now and also it's open-sourced.Replit AI
Most advanced AI Agent for coding, in my opinion.
Has two modes: Agent or Assistant.
True full-stack app generator. Has its own server, DB, hosting...
Here is the real app I built using it.v0 from Vercel
Best for making well-designed web pages or UIs.
Doesn't work well for full-stack apps.
Can use Figma as a starting point.
Lets you edit elements one by one.MarsX
(My own product)
A mix of AI, NoCode, and High Code.
I built SEO Bot AI, Listing Bott, and Index Rusher using MarsX.
It takes the whole coding world to the next level since it isn't a website builder, but a "SaaS builder".Devin
Not expensive anymore.
Targets the corporate world.
Acts as a junior dev in a dev team.
Sends pull requests, works alongside you or your team.
Doesn't work as well for me yet; I don't know why. Feels like it works well for good repos. Mine is a mess.Webdraw
Best for people with zero coding experience.
Totally genius UX.
Free.
Turns sketches into web apps.Tempo Labs
Generates full-stack apps using a text or image prompt.
It starts by making an architecture and diagrams.
I think they have the best AI Coding UX—wow.Trae
Goes all the way from 0 to 1 via prompting.
Free.
From ByteDance.
Can do full-stack web apps.
For coders.Cline
VS Code plugin.
Works for large codebases.
Supports any LLM.
Runtime awareness.Databutton
From my friends from Norway.
Backed by VCs who backed one of my startups.
Has a very unique approach, different from most of the players.
Works great for true no-coders.Continue.dev
An open-source alternative to Cursor.
Great for those who want to build their own AI IDE (like the maker from Pear AI who forked it).Base44
For non-coders.
All-in-one.
Creates dashboard-like apps pretty well.Qodo
For coders.
Can write tests, refactor, and generate code.
Supports all LLMs (including DeepSeek).Caffeine AI
New player.
Too early to say anything. For now, just putting them into the list to come back to them later when they launch.Aider
Can generate most things out of prompts.
Has a cool terminal UI.
Acts as a pair programmer.
Works locally.Pear AI
Entered into YC.
Had a huge drama around forking a GitHub repo.
Had a mentor call with them—two very talented guys taking an alternative path on competing with Cursor.GitHub Spark
Works well for small or demo apps.
Still behind the "waitlist" for the technical preview.IDX
Free alternative to Cursor.
Can build mobile apps.
Uses Gemini.Tabnine
Mostly works as an advanced AI Autocomplete.
Slowly getting into AI code generation.Amazon CodeWhisperer
Can generate unit tests.
Helps with coding.JetBrains
I'd expect them to be leading this whole AI Code Generation thing. Back in the day, their autocomplete and ReSharper were just so cool. But somehow, they just wasted it all. I hope they catch up.ChatGPT Code Interpreter
Great for no-coders learning to code.
Building Windows 95 demo.Haystack
An IDE built on top of a canvas.
Really cool and creative idea for UX of code refactoring with AI.
Also does code reviewing.Claude 3.7 or 4 Sonnet
The best coding LLM.Claude Code
Can search code, run tests, and push to GitHub.
Claude Code is a CLI tool that lets you delegate engineering tasks to Claude with full access to your codebase, tests, and GitHub—all from your terminal.OpenAI Codex
For coders.
Works for existing repos.
Seems like it'll compete with Devin.Jules from Google
For coders.
Can be used as a bug fixer or for simple tasks.
Can review code.AmpCode
From Sourcegraph.
Agentic (parallel) coding tool
That's it.
Let me know if you know more.
Here are some of my own startups:
↳ Unicorn Platform – website and directory builder
↳ ListingBott – finds all relevant web directories & lists you there
↳ SEO Bot AI – AI blog generator for SEO
↳ TinyAdz – B2B ad network for tech products & services
↳ More about me: johnrush.me
My newsletter: johnrushx.substack.com
How to build web directories: johnrush.me/directory-guide
Top comments (5)
Oh man! That must have taken quite the time to have tried out 46(!) AI coding agens and IDEs! Most impressive, thanks for sharing with us! ✨
how much free time did you have?
not much
I think cost is also an important factor in deciding which AI to use, so you should add information about the cost for each AI
Insane that you went through all these, it actually helps a ton - takes guts to put it all out there so straight, respect.
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