AI startup Replit launches feature to vibe code mobile apps

Thomas Fuller | SOPA Images | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesAI coding startup Replit is now letting users create and publish mobile apps for Apple devices using only natural language prompts, the latest evolution in so-called vibe-coding. The Mobile Apps on Replit feature, introduced on Thursday, allows creators and small business owners to go from idea to working app in minutes, and to the App Store in days, the company said in a blog post on Thursday. Replit is also integrating the feature with Stripe, allowing users to monetize their apps. The move is a step forward in the AI-powered coding space, offering consumers a highly accessible use-case that goes beyond what bigger players like OpenAI, Microsoft and Google currently offer. For example, if a stock trader tells the agent to "build an app that tracks the top 10 public companies by market cap," Replit generates the mobile app, complete with a functioning interface, and gives users a way to preview and test the app. Vibe-coding is one of the most pervasive trends to emerge from the generative AI boom, and the momentum has continued to pick up to start 2026. That's largely thanks to Claude Code, a product from Anthropic, which has gone viral in tech circles. In December, Anthropic announced that Claude Code reached $1 billion in annualized revenue in six months. In September, Replit was valued at about $3 billion in a fundraising round. The hottest company in the space is Cursor creator Anysphere, which raised $2.3 billion at a $29.3 billion valuation in November. Lovable, Europe's leading player, was recently valued at $6.6 billion. As more vibe-coding products come online, software stocks, already beaten down in the AI era, could see further erosion. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF, which counts Salesforce, Adobe and ServiceNow among its top 10 constituents, has fallen 11% in the last three months as investors grow concerned about the risk from AI agent and coding products. Before publishing a Replit-powered app, users have to submit it for review to Apple, which has notoriously strict App Store guidelines and user data agreements. According to Apple, 90% of submissions are reviewed in less than 24 hours. Vibe-coded software has come under fire recently for security flaws. A new study from cybersecurity startup Tenzai found that popular AI coding agents, including Replit and Claude Code, consistently ship apps with critical vulnerabilities, such as failing to prevent cyberattacks or password brute force attacks.If you're interested, take a look at the Replit sites that the TechCheck team vibe-coded and published:Market Bling, tracking the top companies by market cap: linkPattern Haven, a community for sewists: link WATCH: Google's vibe-coding play