Replay vs Lovable.dev: Which Generates More Performant React Components from Video (2026)?

TL;DR: Replay's behavior-driven reconstruction, powered by Gemini, consistently outperforms Lovable.dev in generating performant and functionally complete React components from video recordings.

Screenshot-to-code is dead. In 2026, developers need more than just static visual representations to generate functional UIs. We need tools that understand behavior. Lovable.dev, while a decent screenshot-to-code tool, simply can't compete with Replay's ability to analyze video and reconstruct working UI based on observed user interactions. This isn't just about pixels; it's about understanding intent.

The Problem with Static Screenshots#

The fundamental issue with screenshot-based code generation is its inherent lack of context. A screenshot is a single point in time, devoid of the dynamic interactions that define a user interface. Think about it: how can a tool generate the correct

handler, form validation, or API call from a static image? It can't, not reliably.

This leads to:

• •Incomplete Functionality: Missing event handlers, form submissions, and dynamic updates.
• •Poor Performance: Generated code often relies on inefficient workarounds to simulate behavior.
• •Increased Development Time: Developers spend more time fixing and adding functionality than if they started from scratch.

Lovable.dev, like other screenshot-to-code tools, falls victim to these limitations. It's a good starting point for generating a basic UI shell, but it's far from a complete solution.

Replay: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

Replay takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of analyzing static images, Replay analyzes video recordings of user interactions. This allows Replay, powered by Gemini, to understand the intent behind the user's actions and reconstruct the UI accordingly. This "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" is the key to generating more performant and functionally complete React components.

Replay leverages several key features to achieve this:

• •Multi-page Generation: Replay can analyze multi-page flows within a single video, generating code for entire applications.
• •Supabase Integration: Seamless integration with Supabase for data persistence and authentication.
• •Style Injection: Replay intelligently injects styles to match the original UI's appearance.
• •Product Flow Maps: Replay generates visual representations of the user flow, making it easier to understand the application's structure.

💡 Pro Tip: Replay can even infer API endpoints and data structures from network requests captured in the video.

Replay vs. Lovable.dev: A Head-to-Head Comparison#

Let's look at a detailed comparison of Replay and Lovable.dev:

📝 Note: The "Behavior Analysis" column reflects the ability to understand user intent and translate it into functional code.

Proof in the Code: A Real-World Example#

Let's consider a simple example: a login form. A screenshot-to-code tool like Lovable.dev might generate the following (simplified) code:

jsx
// Lovable.dev Output (Simplified)
import React from 'react';

function LoginForm() {
  return (
    <div>
      <input type="text" placeholder="Username" />
      <input type="password" placeholder="Password" />
      <button>Login</button>
    </div>
  );
}

export default LoginForm;

This code is visually similar to the original form, but it's completely non-functional. There's no state management, no event handling, and no API call.

Now, let's see what Replay generates from a video recording of a user interacting with the same login form:

typescript
// Replay Output (Simplified)
import React, { useState } from 'react';
import { supabase } from './supabaseClient';

function LoginForm() {
  const [username, setUsername] = useState('');
  const [password, setPassword] = useState('');
  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);

  const handleSubmit = async (e: React.FormEvent) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    setLoading(true);

    try {
      const { error } = await supabase.auth.signInWithPassword({
        email: username,
        password: password,
      });

      if (error) {
        console.error('Error signing in:', error.message);
        alert('Invalid credentials');
      } else {
        console.log('Successfully signed in!');
        // Redirect to dashboard or other page
        window.location.href = '/dashboard';
      }
    } finally {
      setLoading(false);
    }
  };

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
      <input
        type="text"
        placeholder="Username"
        value={username}
        onChange={(e) => setUsername(e.target.value)}
      />
      <input
        type="password"
        placeholder="Password"
        value={password}
        onChange={(e) => setPassword(e.target.value)}
      />
      <button type="submit" disabled={loading}>
        {loading ? 'Logging in...' : 'Login'}
      </button>
    </form>
  );
}

export default LoginForm;

Notice the difference? Replay's output includes:

• •State Management: Using
  text

  useState
  to manage the username and password.
• •Event Handling: An
  text

  onSubmit
  handler that prevents default form submission and triggers the login process.
• •Supabase Integration: Calls to the Supabase authentication API to sign in the user.
• •Loading State: Visual feedback to the user while the login process is in progress.

This is a functional component that can be directly integrated into a React application. Lovable.dev's output, on the other hand, requires significant manual intervention to achieve the same level of functionality.

⚠️ Warning: While Replay generates more complete code, it's still crucial to review and test the generated code thoroughly.

Step-by-Step: Generating a Multi-Page Application with Replay#

Here's how to generate a multi-page application from a video recording using Replay:

Step 1: Record Your User Flow#

Record a video of yourself interacting with the application you want to reconstruct. Make sure to capture all the key user flows and interactions.

Step 2: Upload to Replay#

Upload the video to Replay. Replay will automatically analyze the video and generate the corresponding React components.

Step 3: Review and Refine#

Review the generated code and make any necessary adjustments. Replay provides a visual editor that allows you to easily modify the UI and logic.

Step 4: Integrate into Your Project#

Integrate the generated code into your React project. You can use Replay's Supabase integration to easily connect to your backend.

The Future of Code Generation is Behavior-Driven#

The limitations of screenshot-to-code tools are becoming increasingly apparent. In 2026, developers need tools that can understand user behavior and generate functional UIs. Replay's behavior-driven reconstruction is the future of code generation. By analyzing video recordings, Replay can generate more performant, complete, and maintainable React components. Lovable.dev simply can't compete.

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?#

v0.dev is a text-to-code tool, while Replay is a video-to-code tool. Replay focuses on capturing and reconstructing real-world user interactions, while v0.dev focuses on generating UI components from textual descriptions.

Can Replay generate code for other frameworks besides React?#

Currently, Replay primarily supports React. Support for other frameworks is planned for future releases.

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