"AI that writes code for you!" they all claim. Cool. But that's like saying "a vehicle that moves you from place to place" and not distinguishing between a bicycle, a sedan, and an 18-wheeler truck.
There are dozens of AI coding tools out there, and to most people, they all sound the same. They're built for completely different jobs, and using the wrong one is frustrating for everyone. Not only does it not get you what you want, but it also burns money on AI credits, sometimes $100s / month!
And it's not just about who you are (developer vs non-developer). It's also about what you're building.
Simple landing page
Mobile app
Full SaaS product with authentication and payments
E-commerce store
Each of these has different requirements, and some tools handle certain types of projects way better than others.
Here's what I've learned after experimenting with these tools: there are really three distinct categories, each solving different problems. Let me break them down so you can pick what tools that fit your needs.
Skip to the bottom for tips to vibe code for free forever (and my recommendations on getting started).