Replay AI vs Anima: Which generates the better UI? In 2026 and 2027.

TL;DR: Replay's behavior-driven video-to-code engine offers a more robust and intelligent approach to UI generation compared to screenshot-based tools like Anima, particularly in handling complex user flows and dynamic content, leading to superior, functional code.

The landscape of UI development is rapidly evolving. By 2026 and 2027, AI-powered code generation will be commonplace. But not all code generation is created equal. While screenshot-to-code tools like Anima have gained traction, a new paradigm is emerging: behavior-driven reconstruction. This is where Replay steps in, leveraging video analysis and AI to understand user intent and generate truly functional UI code. This article dives deep into comparing Replay AI vs. Anima, highlighting the key differences and showcasing why Replay offers a more powerful solution for modern UI development.

The Problem with Screenshots: Static vs. Dynamic#

Screenshot-to-code tools, like Anima, analyze static images of UI elements. This approach has inherent limitations:

• •Lack of Context: Screenshots don't capture user interactions, animations, or dynamic content updates. They provide a snapshot, not the full story.
• •Brittle Code: The generated code often relies on fixed pixel positions and assumptions about element behavior. Any change to the design can easily break the generated code.
• •Limited Functionality: Screenshots only represent the visual appearance. They can't capture the underlying logic or data flow.

Replay addresses these limitations by analyzing video of user interactions. This allows Replay to understand the behavior of the UI, not just its appearance.

Replay: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

Replay uses "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" – treating video as the source of truth. It analyzes user interactions, animations, and data flow to generate code that accurately reflects the intended behavior of the UI. This approach offers several key advantages:

• •Dynamic Content Handling: Replay can understand how elements change based on user input or data updates.
• •Complex Flow Reconstruction: Replay can reconstruct multi-page flows, capturing the navigation and interactions between different screens.
• •Functional Code Generation: Replay generates code that not only looks like the original UI but also behaves like it.

How Replay Works: Under the Hood#

Replay's engine utilizes advanced AI models, including Gemini, to process video data. The process can be broken down into these key steps:

1. •Video Segmentation: The video is segmented into individual frames and scenes.
2. •Object Detection: AI models identify and classify UI elements within each frame.
3. •Behavior Analysis: Replay analyzes the changes in UI elements over time to understand user interactions and data flow. This includes detecting clicks, scrolls, form submissions, and animations.
4. •Code Generation: Based on the behavior analysis, Replay generates clean, functional code that recreates the UI.
5. •Integration & Customization: Replay allows you to integrate the generated code with your existing codebase and customize the styling and functionality.

Replay AI vs. Anima: A Detailed Comparison#

Let's compare Replay and Anima across several key features:

📝 Note: This table reflects the anticipated capabilities of both tools in 2026 and 2027, based on current trends and development roadmaps.

As you can see, Replay offers significant advantages in handling dynamic content, reconstructing complex flows, and generating higher-quality, functional code.

Replay in Action: A Practical Example#

Let's illustrate how Replay can be used to reconstruct a simple e-commerce product page from a video recording.

Step 1: Record the User Flow#

Record a video of a user interacting with the product page. This should include scrolling, clicking on images, adding the product to the cart, and proceeding to checkout.

Step 2: Upload to Replay#

Upload the video to Replay. The AI engine will begin analyzing the video.

Step 3: Review and Customize#

Replay generates the code for the product page, including the layout, styling, and functionality. You can review the code and make any necessary customizations.

Here's a simplified example of the generated code:

typescript
// Generated by Replay
import React, { useState } from 'react';
import './ProductPage.css'; // Style Injection

const ProductPage = () => {
  const [quantity, setQuantity] = useState(1);

  const handleAddToCart = async () => {
    // Simulate adding to cart (Supabase integration example)
    const response = await fetch('/api/add-to-cart', {
      method: 'POST',
      body: JSON.stringify({ productId: '123', quantity }),
    });
    const data = await response.json();
    console.log(data);
  };

  return (
    <div className="product-page">
      <h1>Awesome Product</h1>
      <img src="/product-image.jpg" alt="Product" />
      <p>Description of the product.</p>
      <div className="quantity-selector">
        <button onClick={() => setQuantity(quantity - 1)}>-</button>
        <span>{quantity}</span>
        <button onClick={() => setQuantity(quantity + 1)}>+</button>
      </div>
      <button onClick={handleAddToCart}>Add to Cart</button>
    </div>
  );
};

export default ProductPage;

💡 Pro Tip: Replay's Supabase integration allows you to easily connect the generated code to your backend database.

Step 4: Integrate with Your Codebase#

Integrate the generated code into your existing codebase. Replay provides clear instructions and support for various frameworks and platforms.

The Future of UI Generation: Behavior is Key#

In 2026 and 2027, the ability to understand and reconstruct user behavior will be crucial for UI generation tools. Screenshot-based tools will struggle to keep up with the demands of dynamic and interactive UIs. Replay, with its behavior-driven approach, is poised to lead the way in this new era of AI-powered UI development.

Here's a quick comparison table summarizing the core advantages of Replay:

⚠️ Warning: While AI-powered code generation tools can significantly speed up development, it's important to always review and test the generated code thoroughly.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features. Paid plans are available for more advanced features and higher usage limits. Check out Replay's pricing page for the most up-to-date information.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both Replay and v0.dev aim to accelerate UI development, they approach the problem differently. v0.dev primarily uses text prompts to generate UI components, while Replay leverages video analysis to understand user behavior and reconstruct existing UIs. Replay excels at recreating complex flows and dynamic interactions, offering a more accurate and functional representation of the original design.

What frameworks does Replay support?#

Replay currently supports React, Vue.js, and Angular. Support for other frameworks is planned for future releases.

How accurate is Replay's code generation?#

Replay's code generation accuracy is constantly improving as the AI models are refined. While manual cleanup may still be required in some cases, Replay significantly reduces the amount of time and effort needed to recreate UIs.

Can Replay handle complex animations and transitions?#

Yes, Replay is designed to handle complex animations and transitions. By analyzing the video recording, Replay can understand the timing and behavior of these animations and accurately recreate them in the generated code.

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