Back to Blog
January 4, 20267 min readReplay vs. Cursor

Replay vs. Cursor for Mobile UI: Which AI Code Generator is More Accurate in 2026?

R
Replay Team
Developer Advocates

TL;DR: Replay, leveraging video analysis and behavior-driven reconstruction, offers superior accuracy in generating functional mobile UI code compared to Cursor, which primarily relies on static image analysis.

Replay vs. Cursor for Mobile UI: Which AI Code Generator is More Accurate in 2026?#

The landscape of AI-powered code generation is rapidly evolving. Tools promising to translate designs and mockups into functional code are becoming increasingly common. However, the accuracy and usability of the generated code vary significantly. This article dives deep into a head-to-head comparison between Replay and Cursor, two prominent AI code generators, specifically focusing on their performance in reconstructing mobile UI in a realistic 2026 context.

Cursor, while powerful, primarily relies on static image analysis, similar to many screenshot-to-code tools. This approach struggles with dynamic elements, user interactions, and understanding the intent behind the design. Replay, on the other hand, takes a radically different approach: behavior-driven reconstruction from video. By analyzing video recordings of user flows, Replay understands how the UI is used, not just how it looks. This distinction leads to dramatically improved accuracy and functionality in the generated code.

The Problem with Screenshot-to-Code#

Traditional screenshot-to-code tools, including Cursor's core functionality, face inherent limitations:

  • Lack of Context: A static image provides no information about animations, state changes, or user interactions.
  • Limited Understanding of Logic: The tool can only infer the visual structure, not the underlying logic or data flow.
  • Difficulty with Dynamic Content: Elements that change based on user input or backend data are poorly handled.

These limitations result in code that requires significant manual rework to become truly functional.

Replay: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction from Video#

Replay addresses these challenges by using video as the source of truth. This allows Replay to:

  • Capture User Flows: Analyze how users interact with the UI, including taps, swipes, and form submissions.
  • Understand Intent: Infer the purpose of each UI element and the relationships between them.
  • Generate Functional Code: Produce code that accurately reflects the intended behavior of the UI, including state management, data binding, and event handling.

Key Features of Replay#

  • Multi-page Generation: Replay can generate code for entire user flows spanning multiple screens.
  • Supabase Integration: Seamlessly connect the generated UI to a Supabase backend for data storage and retrieval.
  • Style Injection: Customize the appearance of the UI using CSS or Tailwind CSS.
  • Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user flows captured in the video and understand the logic of the application.

💡 Pro Tip: Replay's ability to analyze videos of real user interactions provides a richer dataset for AI training, leading to more accurate and robust code generation.

Replay vs. Cursor: A Detailed Comparison#

The following table highlights the key differences between Replay and Cursor:

FeatureCursorReplay
Input TypeScreenshots, Static ImagesVideo Recordings
Behavior AnalysisLimitedComprehensive
Multi-Page SupportLimited
State ManagementBasic InferenceAccurate Reconstruction
Supabase Integration
Style InjectionBasicAdvanced (CSS/Tailwind)
Product Flow Maps
Accuracy in Complex FlowsLowHigh
Understanding User IntentLowHigh

Implementing a Mobile UI with Replay: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's walk through a simplified example of using Replay to generate code for a mobile UI, specifically a simple to-do list application.

Step 1: Record the User Flow#

Use a screen recording tool to capture a video of you interacting with a to-do list application. This should include adding new tasks, marking tasks as complete, and deleting tasks.

Step 2: Upload the Video to Replay#

Upload the video to the Replay platform. Replay will automatically analyze the video and identify the key UI elements and user interactions.

Step 3: Generate the Code#

Click the "Generate Code" button. Replay will generate clean, functional code for the to-do list application, including React components, state management logic, and event handlers.

Step 4: Customize and Deploy#

Customize the generated code as needed and deploy it to your mobile application.

Here's a snippet of the generated code for adding a new task:

typescript
// Generated by Replay import React, { useState } from 'react'; const TodoList = () => { const [tasks, setTasks] = useState([]); const [newTask, setNewTask] = useState(''); const handleAddTask = () => { if (newTask.trim() !== '') { setTasks([...tasks, { id: Date.now(), text: newTask, completed: false }]); setNewTask(''); } }; return ( <div> <input type="text" value={newTask} onChange={(e) => setNewTask(e.target.value)} placeholder="Add a new task" /> <button onClick={handleAddTask}>Add</button> <ul> {tasks.map((task) => ( <li key={task.id}> {task.text} </li> ))} </ul> </div> ); }; export default TodoList;

⚠️ Warning: While Replay significantly reduces development time, it's crucial to review and test the generated code thoroughly to ensure it meets your specific requirements.

The Power of Video: Why Replay Excels#

Replay's ability to analyze video provides several key advantages:

  • Accurate State Management: Replay can accurately reconstruct the state of the UI at different points in the user flow, ensuring that the generated code correctly handles state transitions.
  • Intelligent Event Handling: Replay can identify and generate event handlers for all user interactions, including taps, swipes, and form submissions.
  • Seamless Integration with Backend: Replay's Supabase integration allows you to easily connect the generated UI to a backend database, enabling you to build full-fledged applications.

Real-World Use Cases#

Replay is particularly well-suited for the following use cases:

  • Rapid Prototyping: Quickly generate functional prototypes from video recordings of design mockups.
  • Legacy Code Modernization: Reconstruct legacy UIs from video recordings of user interactions.
  • Automated Testing: Generate automated UI tests from video recordings of user flows.

📝 Note: The accuracy of Replay's code generation depends on the quality of the video recording. Ensure that the video is clear, stable, and captures all relevant user interactions.

The Future of AI-Powered Code Generation#

As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more sophisticated code generation tools emerge. Replay's behavior-driven approach represents a significant step forward, offering a more accurate and efficient way to build functional UIs. The ability to learn from user behavior, not just static images, will be crucial for creating truly intelligent and adaptable code generation tools.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features. Paid plans are available for users who require more advanced functionality or higher usage limits. Check the Replay website for the most up-to-date pricing information.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both Replay and v0.dev aim to generate code, they differ significantly in their approach. v0.dev typically relies on text prompts and predefined templates. Replay uses video analysis to understand user behavior and reconstruct the UI accordingly, leading to more accurate and functional code. Replay is best for reconstructing existing UIs or complex user flows, while v0.dev is better suited for generating new UIs from scratch.

What types of video recordings can Replay analyze?#

Replay can analyze a wide range of video recordings, including screen recordings, webcam recordings, and even recordings of physical devices. The key is to ensure that the video is clear, stable, and captures all relevant user interactions.

What programming languages does Replay support?#

Replay currently supports React, but support for other popular frameworks like Vue.js and Angular is planned for the future.

How does Replay handle complex UI interactions?#

Replay uses advanced AI algorithms to analyze video recordings and identify complex UI interactions, such as drag-and-drop operations, animations, and state transitions. This allows Replay to generate code that accurately reflects the intended behavior of the UI.


Ready to try behavior-driven code generation? Get started with Replay - transform any video into working code in seconds.

Ready to try Replay?

Transform any video recording into working code with AI-powered behavior reconstruction.

Launch Replay Free