Prime Highlight:
- Replit has launched “Mobile Apps on Replit,” enabling users to create and publish Apple mobile apps using simple text instructions, advancing the trend of vibe coding.
- The feature allows creators and small businesses to build apps in minutes, monetise them via Stripe, and submit them to the App Store within days.
Key Facts:
- Replit is preparing for a new funding round that could value the company at $9 billion, up from a $3 billion valuation in its last round.
- The launch puts Replit ahead of major tech firms like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google in offering an end-to-end, consumer-focused mobile app creation platform.
Background:
Replit has launched a new feature that allows users to build and publish mobile apps for Apple devices using only text-based instructions. The move marks the latest advance in “vibe coding,” a growing trend where users create software by describing what they want in simple language.
The feature, called Mobile Apps on Replit, was announced on Thursday. According to the company, creators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses can turn an idea into a functional app within minutes and submit it to the Apple App Store within days. Replit has also integrated Stripe into the platform, enabling users to accept payments and monetise their apps.
The launch comes as Replit moves closer to a new funding round that could value the company at $9 billion, according to a source familiar with the matter. The startup was valued at around $3 billion during its last fundraising round in September.
Replit said the feature lowers the barrier to app development by removing the need for traditional coding skills. For example, a user can ask the AI to build an app that tracks the top 10 public companies by market value, and the system generates a working app with a usable interface and testing tools.
The update places Replit ahead of larger technology firms such as OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google in offering a consumer-friendly, end-to-end mobile app creation tool.
Vibe coding has gained strong momentum since the generative AI boom, especially after the rise of Anthropic’s Claude Code, which gained widespread attention in tech circles. Anthropic reported that Claude Code reached $1 billion in annualised revenue within six months of launch.
However, concerns remain. A recent study by cybersecurity startup Tenzai found that AI-generated apps often contain serious security gaps. Replit-powered apps must also pass Apple’s strict review process, though Apple says most reviews are completed within 24 hours.
Despite the risks, the launch signals a major shift in how software may be built in the future.