Replay vs v0.dev: Which is the best video-to-code AI for UI in 2026?

TL;DR: Replay leverages video analysis and behavior-driven reconstruction to generate functional UI code, differentiating itself from screenshot-based tools like v0.dev.

The holy grail of UI development in 2026? Turning design concepts into working code instantly. While screenshot-to-code tools offer a glimpse into this future, they often fall short when faced with dynamic user interactions and complex workflows. This is where video-to-code engines like Replay step in, offering a more robust and intelligent solution. Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison: Replay vs. v0.dev.

Understanding the Core Difference: Behavior vs. Visuals#

Traditional screenshot-to-code tools, like v0.dev, primarily analyze static images. They excel at recognizing visual elements but struggle with understanding the why behind user actions. Replay, on the other hand, adopts a "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" approach. It analyzes video recordings of user interactions, capturing not just the visuals, but also the sequence of events, user input, and overall intent.

This fundamental difference translates to a more accurate and functional code generation. Imagine a user navigating through a multi-step form. A screenshot-to-code tool might only capture individual screens, requiring manual stitching and logic implementation. Replay, by analyzing the video, understands the flow, dependencies, and data transformations involved, generating a complete and working UI.

Feature Breakdown: Replay vs. v0.dev#

Let's break down the key features and compare the capabilities of Replay and v0.dev.

As the table highlights, Replay's video-based approach offers significant advantages in understanding user behavior, generating multi-page applications, and handling dynamic content.

Diving Deeper: Implementation Details#

Let's look at specific scenarios and how Replay addresses them compared to screenshot-based alternatives.

Scenario 1: Generating a Multi-Step Checkout Flow#

Imagine a user recording a video of their checkout process on an e-commerce website.

With a screenshot-to-code tool, you'd need to capture screenshots of each step (shipping address, payment information, order confirmation) and manually connect them. This involves writing code to handle navigation, data persistence, and form validation.

Replay, however, analyzes the entire video, automatically detecting the different steps, extracting the relevant UI elements, and generating the necessary code to handle the entire flow.

typescript
// Replay generated code for handling navigation between checkout steps
const navigateToNextStep = async (currentStep: string) => {
  switch (currentStep) {
    case 'shipping':
      // Validate shipping address
      await validateShippingAddress();
      // Navigate to payment step
      setCurrentStep('payment');
      break;
    case 'payment':
      // Process payment
      await processPayment();
      // Navigate to confirmation step
      setCurrentStep('confirmation');
      break;
    // ... more steps
  }
};

This code snippet demonstrates how Replay understands the sequential nature of the checkout flow and generates code to handle navigation and data validation.

Scenario 2: Integrating with Supabase#

Many modern web applications rely on backend services like Supabase for data storage and authentication.

Replay simplifies this integration by automatically detecting data interactions within the video and generating the necessary Supabase API calls.

typescript
// Replay generated code for fetching product details from Supabase
const fetchProductDetails = async (productId: string) => {
  const { data, error } = await supabase
    .from('products')
    .select('*')
    .eq('id', productId);

  if (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching product details:', error);
    return null;
  }

  return data[0];
};

This code snippet shows how Replay automatically generates the Supabase query to fetch product details based on the user's interaction with the UI. Screenshot-to-code tools typically require manual configuration and coding for database interactions.

Step-by-Step Guide: Using Replay to Generate UI from Video#

Here's a simplified guide on how to use Replay:

Step 1: Recording the User Flow#

Record a video of the user interacting with the desired UI. Ensure the video captures all the key interactions and data inputs.

💡 Pro Tip: Use a screen recording tool that captures mouse movements and keyboard inputs for better accuracy.

Step 2: Uploading the Video to Replay#

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

Step 3: Reviewing and Refining the Generated Code#

Replay generates code in various frameworks (React, Vue, Angular). Review the generated code and make any necessary refinements.

📝 Note: While Replay aims for high accuracy, some manual adjustments might be required, especially for complex UIs.

Step 4: Integrating with Your Project#

Integrate the generated code into your existing project. Replay provides seamless integration with popular development tools and workflows.

Common Pitfalls of Screenshot-to-Code and How Replay Avoids Them#

Screenshot-to-code tools often struggle with:

• •Dynamic Content: Animations, state changes, and real-time updates are difficult to capture and replicate from static images.
• •Complex Interactions: Multi-step forms, drag-and-drop interfaces, and other complex interactions require significant manual coding.
• •Accessibility: Ensuring accessibility (e.g., ARIA attributes, semantic HTML) is often overlooked in screenshot-based approaches.

Replay mitigates these issues by analyzing video, which inherently captures dynamic content and complex interactions. Furthermore, Replay's AI models are trained to generate accessible code, ensuring that the generated UI is usable by everyone.

⚠️ Warning: No code generation tool is perfect. Always review and test the generated code thoroughly before deploying it to production.

Real-World Use Cases#

Replay isn't just a theoretical concept; it's being used in various real-world scenarios:

• •Rapid Prototyping: Quickly generate working prototypes from user recordings, accelerating the design and development process.
• •UI Modernization: Reconstruct legacy UIs from video demonstrations, simplifying the migration to modern frameworks.
• •Automated Testing: Generate automated UI tests from user recordings, ensuring consistent and reliable testing.
• •Documentation: Create interactive documentation from video tutorials, providing a more engaging and informative learning experience.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers various pricing plans, including a free tier for basic usage. Paid plans provide access to advanced features and higher usage limits. Check the Replay website for the most up-to-date pricing information.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

The core difference lies in the input source and analysis method. v0.dev relies on static screenshots, while Replay analyzes video recordings. This allows Replay to understand user behavior and generate more functional and complete code.

What frameworks does Replay support?#

Replay currently supports React, Vue, and Angular, with plans to add support for more frameworks in the future.

How accurate is the generated code?#

Replay aims for high accuracy, but the accuracy can vary depending on the complexity of the UI and the quality of the video recording. Always review and test the generated code thoroughly.

Does Replay support custom UI libraries?#

Yes, Replay supports custom UI libraries through style injection and component mapping.

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