Replay vs. Cursor for Responsive UI: Which AI Creates Best Layouts from Video in 2026?

TL;DR: Replay leverages video analysis and behavior-driven reconstruction to generate superior, responsive UIs compared to screenshot-based tools like Cursor, especially in complex, multi-page applications.

Replay vs. Cursor for Responsive UI: Which AI Creates Best Layouts from Video in 2026?#

The promise of AI-powered code generation has been tantalizing developers for years. Tools that claim to translate designs or screenshots into functional code are popping up everywhere. But how well do they actually perform, especially when it comes to creating truly responsive user interfaces? Let's pit Replay, a video-to-code engine, against Cursor, a popular AI-powered code editor, to see which tool delivers better results in 2026.

The core difference lies in the input and the AI's understanding. Cursor, and similar tools, often rely on static images. Replay, on the other hand, analyzes video. This allows it to understand user behavior, interactions, and the intent behind the UI, leading to significantly better outcomes.

The Problem with Screenshot-to-Code#

Screenshot-to-code tools face inherent limitations. They can only see a single state of the UI. They don't understand:

• •Transitions: How elements animate or change on interaction.
• •User Flow: The sequence of actions a user takes to accomplish a task.
• •Dynamic Content: How data changes based on user input or external sources.

This results in code that is often brittle, incomplete, and requires significant manual tweaking to achieve true responsiveness.

Replay: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

Replay takes a fundamentally different approach. By analyzing video, it uses what we call "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction." This means:

• •Understanding User Intent: Replay doesn't just see pixels; it understands what the user is trying to do.
• •Reconstructing Interactions: It identifies clicks, scrolls, form submissions, and other user actions.
• •Generating Dynamic Code: It produces code that accurately reflects the dynamic behavior of the UI.

This approach makes Replay far more effective at generating responsive UIs that work as intended, without extensive manual intervention.

Key Features Compared#

Let's look at a feature comparison between Replay and a typical screenshot-to-code tool, which is similar to Cursor's capabilities in this area.

As you can see, Replay offers a significant advantage in understanding and replicating user behavior, leading to more robust and responsive UI generation.

Building a Responsive Navigation Bar with Replay#

Let's illustrate the difference with a practical example: building a responsive navigation bar. Imagine you have a video recording of a user interacting with a website's navigation. Here's how Replay would handle it:

Step 1: Upload the Video to Replay#

Simply upload your video recording to the Replay platform. The AI will begin analyzing the video, identifying UI elements and user interactions.

Step 2: Replay Analyzes the Video and Identifies Key Elements#

Replay's engine identifies the navigation bar, its elements (logo, links, search bar), and how they respond to different screen sizes and user interactions.

Step 3: Generate the Code#

Replay generates clean, functional code for the navigation bar, including:

• •HTML Structure: Semantic HTML elements for accessibility and SEO.
• •CSS Styling: Responsive styling using media queries to adapt to different screen sizes.
• •JavaScript Logic: Handling of dropdown menus, search functionality, and other interactive elements.

Here's an example of the generated CSS:

css
/* Responsive Navigation Bar */

.navbar {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: space-between;
  align-items: center;
  padding: 1rem;
  background-color: #f0f0f0;
}

.navbar-logo {
  font-size: 1.5rem;
  font-weight: bold;
}

.navbar-links {
  display: flex;
  gap: 1rem;
}

/* Mobile View */
@media (max-width: 768px) {
  .navbar-links {
    display: none; /* Hide links on smaller screens */
  }

  .navbar-toggle {
    display: block; /* Show the hamburger menu */
  }
}

This CSS includes media queries to handle the navigation bar's appearance on different screen sizes. Replay automatically detects these responsive behaviors from the video and translates them into code.

Step 4: Integrate with Your Project#

You can then easily integrate the generated code into your existing project. Replay supports various frameworks and libraries, making integration seamless.

💡 Pro Tip: Replay's style injection feature allows you to apply your existing design system to the generated code, ensuring consistency across your application.

Addressing Complex User Flows#

One of the biggest challenges in UI development is handling complex user flows, such as multi-step forms or e-commerce checkout processes. Screenshot-to-code tools struggle with these scenarios because they can only capture a single snapshot of each page.

Replay excels at reconstructing these flows because it analyzes the entire video, understanding how the user navigates between pages, fills out forms, and interacts with dynamic elements.

For example, if the video shows a user going through a checkout process, Replay can generate:

• •The HTML structure for each page in the checkout flow.
• •The CSS styling to maintain a consistent look and feel.
• •The JavaScript logic to handle form validation, data submission, and payment processing.
• •Integration with backend services (e.g., using Supabase) to store and process data.

📝 Note: Replay's Supabase integration simplifies the process of connecting your UI to a backend database, allowing you to quickly build full-stack applications.

Here's an example of generated JavaScript code for handling form submission:

typescript
// Example form submission handler
const handleSubmit = async (event: Event) => {
  event.preventDefault();

  const formData = new FormData(event.target as HTMLFormElement);
  const data = Object.fromEntries(formData.entries());

  try {
    const response = await fetch('/api/submit-form', {
      method: 'POST',
      headers: {
        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
      },
      body: JSON.stringify(data),
    });

    if (response.ok) {
      console.log('Form submitted successfully!');
      // Redirect to success page
    } else {
      console.error('Form submission failed.');
      // Display error message
    }
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error submitting form:', error);
    // Display error message
  }
};

This code demonstrates how Replay can generate the necessary JavaScript to handle form submission, including data validation and communication with a backend API.

⚠️ Warning: Always review and test the generated code thoroughly before deploying it to production. While Replay significantly reduces development time, it's important to ensure that the code meets your specific requirements and security standards.

Replay's Advantages in a Nutshell#

Here are some key advantages of using Replay for responsive UI generation:

• •Saves Time: Automates the tedious process of manually coding UIs.
• •Reduces Errors: Minimizes the risk of human error in coding.
• •Improves Consistency: Ensures a consistent look and feel across your application.
• •Enables Rapid Prototyping: Allows you to quickly create and iterate on UI designs.
• •Enhances Collaboration: Facilitates collaboration between designers and developers.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features and usage. Paid plans are available for more advanced features and higher usage limits.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both tools aim to generate code from designs, Replay focuses on video analysis and behavior-driven reconstruction, enabling it to understand user intent and generate more dynamic and responsive UIs. V0.dev relies on text prompts and design specifications.

Can Replay integrate with my existing codebase?#

Yes, Replay supports various frameworks and libraries, making integration with existing codebases seamless.

What types of videos can Replay process?#

Replay can process a wide range of video formats, including screen recordings, user testing videos, and design walkthroughs.

How accurate is Replay's code generation?#

Replay's code generation accuracy is constantly improving. However, it's important to review and test the generated code to ensure it meets your specific requirements.

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