What Is Vibe Coding? Everything You Need To Know

Vibe coding is the practice of using natural language to ask AI to build you something, such as a web app, landing page, or SaaS software tool. The prompts you give will be conversational, and you’ll keep refining your request until the generated code is what you pictured.

You get to focus on the end goal, as opposed to writing lines of code.

Ultimately, vibe coding makes a previously high-skill level task accessible for all. That said, if you’re familiar with coding already, it’s important to bear in mind that vibe coding is quite different from the usual strategies. For example:

• Vibe coding isn’t traditional coding – you don’t need to write lines of HTML, CSS, or JavaScript
• Vibe coding isn’t entirely no-code – using your prompts, the AI will create code from scratch, as opposed to providing you with pre-built elements for you to drag and drop (which many website builders do)
• Vibe coding isn’t going to replace professionals – while vibe coding makes creating apps beginner friendly, it’s only really suitable for smaller projects (complex tasks will still need human oversight and maintenance)

Still, major companies like Google, Wix, and Microsoft, are investing in vibe coding platforms this year, bringing the ability to create apps to the masses.

Who Coined the Term “Vibe Coding”?

Andrej Karpathy, previously the head of AI at Tesla and a co-founder at OpenAI, has been credited with the creation of vibe coding. Karpathy first mentioned the term on X in February 2025:

“There’s a new kind of coding I call “vibe coding”, where you fully give into the vibes, embrace exponentials, and forget that the code even exists.”

You’re not alone if you’ve been searching “what is vibe coding?” online. Yes, I know website builders inside and out, but I wouldn’t call myself a tech expert by any means, and vibe coding is a new term for me too.

Since February, vibe coding has been added to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary as a slang term. It’s defined as “writing computer code in a somewhat careless fashion, with AI assistance.”

And, as of November 6, the Collins English Dictionary made vibe coding the word of the year for 2025. While technically two words, this just proves how rapidly the practice and trend has caught on since February.

Vibe coding is quite straightforward to understand. Make your request to the AI platform using natural language, as if you’re describing your goal to another human.

The AI will then generate the code, allowing you to review the end result in seconds. The vibe coding process works like this:

1. Choose your vibe coding platform
2. Write up and send your prompt (instructions) using natural language
3. AI will generate code based on what you’ve described
4. Refine the code with additional prompts and feedback
5. Test the code before sharing

It’s really a loop – describe your idea, AI brings your vision to life, refine the output, test the code, and repeat until you’re happy with the result.

There are two key vibe coding methods to understand:

1. The first is more of a back-and-forth – you converse with the AI model, and continue to refine your request until you get the code you want. This is the best option for beginners or anyone building smaller projects, since AI does all of the work.
2. The second vibe coding method is more collaborative. Like before, you describe your idea (for example, a fully developed customer service app) and AI brings it to life. You can continue to use AI to refine the code, but a human will step in to test and review the app’s quality and security before it’s launched.

Is vibe coding actually easy?

I’ve been building websites for years, and have reviewed hosting providers and explored new AI tools as they pop up, so I’m not a complete tech novice. That said, I’ve found vibe coding a little difficult to get to grips with, and it’s not something you’ll pick up right away.

Yes, you can input a prompt and see what the AI creates, but what happens after that? There’s little guidance on next steps or what to do with the generated code, so you need to factor in time to do your own research. Plus, with limited credits available on free plans, it can be hard to feel confident enough in vibe coding to splurge on a premium plan.

Emma Ryan Lead Writer

If you want to create an app or website, you can use vibe coding, opt for a no-code builder, or use traditional coding methods. The right process for you will depend on your skill level, budget, and time constraints. But vibe coding is the most beginner-friendly, low-cost, and speedy option currently.

I’ve summarized the key differences between vibe coding, no-code platforms, and traditional coding below:

Vibe coding and no-code platforms, like website builders, are quickly becoming part of the same package. For example, Wix and Hostinger have both introduced vibe coding tools to give users more flexibility and control when creating something from scratch.

From reducing costs and saving you time to causing possible security risks, there are plenty of pros and cons when it comes to vibe coding:

With the rapid development of AI in 2025, vibe coding is the latest trend to hit businesses and creators. While it has been promoted as a beginner-friendly way to develop apps and workflows, I’d argue it’s not as low-effort or hands-off as some might think. Human input is still necessary, and your AI-generated code will only be as good as your prompt.

Plus, could vibe coding be replaced by something even shinier in the next six months? With the fast-moving pace of the AI industry, it’s possible. And, if that’s the case, is it even worth learning how to vibe code?

Ultimately, vibe coding is democratizing the process of creating software, and it’s a cheaper option for businesses that might otherwise need to budget for a developer. However, you do need to make time to understand the basics of vibe coding, and how to effectively and securely deploy your app.

This is vibe coding for beginners 101. It can’t solve every issue or roadblock a business faces, and it’s not a magic wand that can simply streamline and improve your workflows in seconds. There are a few key limitations to consider:

1. The lost in translation problem – AI can misunderstand your “vibe,” for example, “minimalist” might translate to empty. You still need to get humans to review and edit the work.
2. The last 10% is the hardest – vibe coding is fantastic for getting you 90% of the way there, especially if you’re testing new ideas, but it can be tricky to perfect and refine the code.
3. Code quality (the under the hood stuff) – AI-generated code won’t always be clean, secure, or perfectly optimized for SEO, and while it’s improving steadily, it’s still risky to use it.

This is why using an AI feature within a trusted, well-established platform (such as a major website builder or recognizable name, like Base44) can be safer than experimenting with a random vibe coding tool, especially for beginners. A vibe coding tool that’s part of a wider ecosystem means factors like security and optimization will be handled for you.

However, there are a few best practices to follow to minimize the risks and get the best results:

• Provide AI with clear and precise prompts
• Break down tasks to avoid overcomplicating things
• Ask questions if you need clarity from the AI model
• Save your progress and keep backups when experimenting
• Don’t be afraid to start again with a fresh prompt

Advice for beginners...

When you’re new to vibe coding, your prompts really matter – especially to help you get the most out of your credits! My advice is, be clear and specific, but don’t get bogged down in too much detail. The conversational back-and-forth with the AI assistant is part of the vibe coding process. Look up prompt examples if you’re feeling stuck on where to start!

Lucy Carney Editor

You can use vibe coding for small business projects or personal tasks, such as building a web app, automating a workflow, or designing a tracker to monitor your daily goals.

Just from browsing the subreddit r/vibecoding, I can see that people have used vibe coding tools to create video games, build an app to help users learn Japanese, generate resumes, and even create an AI-powered whiteboard.

For small businesses, you can use vibe coding tools like Base44 to:

• Improve customer experiences, such as by building an AI chatbot to answer FAQs
• Make your workflows more efficient so you can focus on other priorities
• Boost audience engagement, for example by creating a custom form for your website visitors

Since this is a rapidly evolving industry, the list of vibe coding platforms that you can use continues to grow each day, but there are some recognizable names that we can recommend, such as Base44 and Lovable:

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Hostinger Horizons	Base44	Lovable	Tempo Labs	Bolt
Overall Rating 4.6	Overall Rating 4.1	Overall Rating 4.0	Overall Rating 4.0	Overall Rating 3.5
Starting Price $6.99/mo	Starting Price $16/mo	Starting Price $25/mo	Starting Price $30/mo	Starting Price $25/mo
Free Plan or Free Trial 7-day free trial	Free Plan or Free Trial Free plan, with 25 credits/mo	Free Plan or Free Trial Free plan, with 30 credits/mo	Free Plan or Free Trial Free plan, with 30 credits/mo	Free Plan or Free Trial Free plan, with 1 million tokens/mo
Free Credits (Daily) 5	Free Credits (Daily) 5	Free Credits (Daily) 5	Free Credits (Daily) 5	Free Credits (Daily) 300k
Credit Allowances 30-400/mo	Credit Allowances 25-1,200/mo	Credit Allowances 100-5,000/mo	Credit Allowances 30-Unlimited/mo	Credit Allowances 300k-Unlimited/mo

From a website builder perspective, Wix is testing its own vibe coding tool, known as Wix Vibe. Wix also acquired Base44 in June to help accelerate the product’s growth. And Hostinger has jumped on the vibe coding train as well, launching Hostinger Horizons in February 2025.

Beyond website builders, standalone vibe coding platforms also exist. For example, Lovable is quickly making a name for itself as a top vibe coding platform, costing $21 per month (billed annually). The search term “Lovable AI” is currently trending up by 93,372% globally, so you can see the surge in interest.

AI can and is making life easier for businesses that are getting started online and growing their brands. Whether they’re looking to build a website or create an app, vibe coding has made developing software accessible to anyone, no matter the skill level or budget.

Of course, vibe coding is very new, so there’s still a lot to learn about using it effectively and optimizing your work. That said, the use of natural language and the fast-paced nature of vibe coding make it a great testing ground for new ideas and experiments, and it looks like it’s here to stay.

Start vibe coding with Base44

Base44 lets you design websites, apps, dashboards, portals, and more with its AI-powered chatbot.

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