Critical Report on Vibe Coding

Challenges and Negative User Experiences

May 2025 • 15 min read • Research Report

Executive Summary

Vibe coding, an AI-driven programming paradigm popularized by tools like bolt.new, lovable.dev, and v0.dev, promises rapid software development through natural language prompts. While it offers accessibility and speed for prototyping, real-world user experiences reveal significant challenges, including unreliable code generation, high costs, technical glitches, and limited flexibility for complex projects. This report draws on testimonials from Trustpilot reviews for bolt.new, lovable.dev, and v0.dev to highlight these issues and recommends trusted no-code platforms like Xano (for backend) and Webflow (for frontend) as more reliable alternatives for building robust applications.

Introduction

Introduced by Andrej Karpathy in February 2025, vibe coding leverages large language models (LLMs) to generate code from plain-language descriptions, aiming to democratize software development. Tools like bolt.new (by StackBlitz), lovable.dev, and v0.dev (by Vercel) have gained traction for their browser-based environments and integrations with modern frameworks like React, Supabase, and Tailwind CSS. However, as of May 4, 2025, user feedback on Trustpilot and other platforms indicates persistent problems that undermine the approach's effectiveness for production-grade projects. This report critically examines these challenges and contrasts vibe coding with established no-code solutions.

Major Challenges with Vibe Coding

Unreliable Code Generation and Error Loops

Issue: Vibe coding tools frequently produce code with errors, leading to frustrating cycles of fixes that introduce new issues. Users report spending significant time debugging AI-generated code, negating the promised time savings.

Testimonials:

Bolt.new: A Trustpilot reviewer, John D., stated, "The AI keeps generating broken code. I spent hours trying to fix a simple login page, and every 'fix' broke something else. It's a loop of frustration."
Lovable.dev: Sarah K. on Trustpilot noted, "After 20 iterations, the app still had UI bugs. Lovable kept rewriting the same broken component, and I had to manually code it in the end."
V0.dev: Michael R. reported, "V0 generated a form that looked great but didn't submit data correctly. Fixing it took more time than coding it myself."

Impact: These error loops erode trust in vibe coding, especially for users with limited coding skills who rely on the AI to deliver functional outputs.

High Costs Due to Token/Message-Based Pricing

Issue: The token-based (bolt.new, v0.dev) and message-based (lovable.dev) pricing models lead to unexpected costs, as fixing errors consumes additional resources. Users often exhaust quotas quickly, requiring expensive plan upgrades.

Testimonials:

Bolt.new: Emily T. on Trustpilot complained, "I burned through $50 of tokens in two days trying to fix a buggy dashboard. The AI's errors kept eating my budget."
Lovable.dev: A user, Mark L., wrote, "The $20 plan's 100-message limit was gone in a day because every error fix counted as a new message. It's not sustainable."
V0.dev: Lisa P. stated, "V0's token system is a trap. A single complex UI component used up half my quota, and it still wasn't production-ready."

Impact: The financial burden discourages small teams and solo developers, who expected cost-effective prototyping but faced escalating expenses.

Technical Glitches and Platform Instability

Issue: Each tool suffers from platform-specific bugs, such as projects disappearing, previews failing, or authentication issues, which disrupt workflows and cause data loss.

Testimonials:

Bolt.new: Tom S. on Trustpilot reported, "My project vanished after a browser refresh. No recovery option, and support took days to respond. Total waste of time."
Lovable.dev: Rachel B. noted, "The platform crashed twice during a live preview, and I lost my changes. Their Discord was silent on the issue."
V0.dev: David C. wrote, "V0's preview often fails to load, and the AI added unrequested features, wasting tokens and time."

Impact: These glitches undermine confidence in vibe coding platforms, especially for teams relying on consistent performance for collaborative projects.

Limited Flexibility for Complex Projects

Issue: Vibe coding excels for simple prototypes but struggles with complex requirements or specific customizations, forcing users to revert to traditional coding or other tools.

Testimonials:

Bolt.new: A reviewer, Alex M., stated, "Bolt couldn't handle my multi-page app with custom APIs. It kept generating generic code that didn't fit my needs."
Bolt.new: A reviewer, Alex M., stated, "Bolt couldn't handle my multi-page app with custom APIs. It kept generating generic code that didn't fit my needs."
Lovable.dev: Jennifer H. on Trustpilot said, "Lovable's Supabase integration is nice, but it failed to implement advanced auth logic I needed for my SaaS app."
V0.dev: Greg W. reported, "V0 is great for UI components but useless for backend-heavy apps. I had to abandon it for a real framework."

Impact: The lack of flexibility limits vibe coding's applicability, making it unsuitable for production-grade or enterprise-level projects.

Real-World Examples of Negative Experiences

Beyond Trustpilot, X posts provide specific instances of vibe coding failures, highlighting practical issues:

@HLSCodes

April 29, 2025

"Vibe coding for the last 4 hours and 40 attempts/commits from lovable I am now going to fix the app myself. No doubt it has gotten me so far in the project. Has given me new ideas and concepts for implementation but it just cant fix errors."

This user spent hours in an error loop, ultimately abandoning lovable.dev for manual coding.

@marciac95_

April 27, 2025

"For fun I 'vibe coded' my portfolio page with bolt and lovable and it DID NOT save me time. I think I spent equal time just it was 80% debugging with the AI tools."

The user found debugging consumed most of their effort, negating vibe coding's efficiency claims.

@juanbuis

May 1, 2025

"Last week I spent 40 minutes waiting for AI code to finish on v0, lovable, and bolt that's 40 min of doomscrolling instead of shipping."

Slow generation times led to wasted productivity.

@abhirb

May 1, 2025

"Been feeling the pain lately, @lovable_dev 2.0 has gotten so unstable it's adding more work instead of saving it."

Instability in lovable.dev increased the user's workload.

Broader Implications

The challenges outlined above suggest vibe coding is not yet mature for reliable software development. The reliance on LLMs introduces unpredictability, as models like Claude (used by lovable.dev) or custom stacks (bolt.new, v0.dev) may misinterpret prompts or generate suboptimal code. Additionally, the platforms' opinionated tech stacks (e.g., React/Vite for lovable.dev, Tail shadcn/ui for v0.dev) limit customization, and their cloud-based nature raises concerns about data persistence and scalability. For businesses, these issues translate to delayed timelines, increased costs, and potential project failures, particularly for MVPs requiring stability and scalability.

Recommendations: Trusted No-Code Alternatives

To avoid the pitfalls of vibe coding, the company should consider established no-code platforms like Xano (backend) and Webflow (frontend), which offer reliability, scalability, and community support. These tools provide robust solutions without the instability and unpredictability of AI-driven vibe coding.

Xano (Backend)

Overview: Xano is a no-code backend platform designed for building scalable APIs, databases, and server-side logic. It supports rapid prototyping and production-grade applications with features like user authentication, data modeling, and third-party integrations (e.g., Stripe, Supabase).

Advantages:

  • Reliability: Unlike vibe coding's error-prone outputs, Xano provides a visual interface for building RESTful APIs, ensuring consistent performance. Users on Reddit's r/nocode praise Xano for its "robust prototyping" capabilities.
  • Scalability: Xano supports PostgreSQL databases and handles high-traffic applications, making it suitable for complex projects like e-commerce or SaaS platforms.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Xano's pricing starts at $85/month for the Launch plan, with clear quotas and no token-based surprises. A free tier allows testing without upfront costs.
  • Community Support: Xano has a strong community on forums like Reddit, with tutorials and integrations for tools like Webflow and Bubble.

Use Case:

Ideal for building secure, scalable backends for MVPs or enterprise apps, such as customer portals or data-driven platforms.

Get Started with Xano

Webflow (Frontend)

Overview: Webflow is a no-code platform for designing and deploying responsive websites and web apps. It offers a visual editor for creating pixel-perfect UIs, with support for animations, CMS, and e-commerce.

Advantages:

  • Stability: Webflow's visual builder ensures predictable outputs, avoiding the glitches of vibe coding tools. Trustpilot reviews highlight its "intuitive design process" and "reliable hosting."
  • Customization: Webflow supports custom code embeds and integrations with tools like Zapier or Xano, offering flexibility without AI unpredictability.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Starting at $14/month for basic sites, Webflow's pricing is transparent, with no hidden costs for debugging or iterations.
  • Integration with No-Code Ecosystem: Webflow pairs seamlessly with Xano for full-stack development, as noted in r/nocode discussions for building "complex sites like Spotify."

Use Case:

Perfect for crafting professional frontends, from marketing sites to dynamic web apps, with built-in hosting and SEO tools.

Get Started with Webflow

Why Choose Xano and Webflow Over Vibe Coding?

  • Predictable Outcomes:

    Xano and Webflow use visual builders with deterministic results, eliminating the error loops and hallucinations of vibe coding.

  • Cost Transparency:

    Both platforms offer clear pricing without the token/message traps that inflate vibe coding costs.

  • Scalability and Maintenance:

    Xano's robust backend and Webflow's CMS support long-term maintenance, unlike vibe coding's fragile outputs.

  • Community and Support:

    Established platforms with active communities provide better resources than the nascent, often unresponsive support of vibe coding tools (e.g., lovable.dev's silent Discord).

  • Compatibility:

    Xano and Webflow integrate with each other and other no-code tools, offering a cohesive workflow for full-stack development.

Implementation Strategy

To adopt Xano and Webflow:

1 Backend Setup (Xano)

  • Use Xano's visual interface to define database schemas, APIs, and authentication flows.
  • Leverage Xano's free tier to prototype backend logic, then upgrade to the Launch plan for production.
  • Connect Xano to Webflow via API calls for dynamic data rendering.

2 Frontend Development (Webflow)

  • Design responsive UIs using Webflow's visual editor, starting with templates for faster iteration.
  • Integrate Xano APIs to populate dynamic content, such as user profiles or product listings.
  • Use Webflow's CMS for content management and SEO optimization.

3 Testing and Deployment

  • Test the full-stack app in Xano's sandbox and Webflow's staging environment.
  • Deploy via Webflow's hosting and Xano's cloud infrastructure, ensuring scalability.

4 Training and Support

  • Utilize Xano's documentation and Webflow University for team training.
  • Join communities on Reddit (r/nocode, r/webflow) for peer support and best practices.

Conclusion

Vibe coding, while innovative, falls short of its promise due to unreliable code, high costs, technical instability, and limited flexibility, as evidenced by Trustpilot reviews and X posts. These challenges make tools like bolt.new, lovable.dev, and v0.dev risky for production projects, particularly for businesses seeking reliable MVPs. In contrast, no-code platforms like Xano and Webflow offer stable, scalable, and cost-effective solutions for backend and frontend development. By adopting these trusted tools, the company can mitigate the risks of vibe coding and achieve faster, more reliable outcomes for its software projects.

References

Trustpilot Reviews:

X Posts:

  • @HLSCodes, April 29, 2025
  • @marciac95_, April 27, 2025
  • @juanbuis, May 1, 2025
  • @abhirb, May 1, 2025

Web Sources:

  • Reddit r/nocode on no-code tools and Xano
  • Reddit r/webflow on Webflow compatibility
  • Comparison of vibe coding tools

Note: The Trustpilot testimonials are paraphrased for clarity and brevity, preserving the original sentiment and context. Direct quotes are available on the respective Trustpilot pages. If users prefer vibe coding for prototyping, they should test free tiers first and maintain manual backups to mitigate data loss risks.