Best AI Coding Tools in 2025: A Practical Comparison
So we have a wide variety of AI coding tools floating around in the market right now. Cursor, Windsurf, Lovable, B.new, Data Button, Tempo, GitHub Copilot — and honestly, a lot more.
If you’re new to coding or just curious about which AI coding tool is the best for your use case, this post will help. I’ll break down the features of each platform, show you how they handle the same coding prompt, and then give recommendations depending on your background and goals.
Group A vs. Group B
To make sense of the chaos, I like to divide these tools into two groups:
- Group A → Developer-focused tools like Cursor, Windsurf, or VS Code extensions such as GitHub Copilot.
- Group B → Beginner-friendly platforms like Lovable, B.new, Tempo, and Data Button.
Why split them this way?
- Group A tools are powerful, flexible, and relatively unopinionated. You can use any tech stack you want — React, Next.js, Python, Node, Astro, whatever. But they assume you have at least some coding knowledge. They don’t hold your hand with integrations or deployment.
- Group B tools are built for speed and simplicity. They come with one-click integrations for Stripe, Supabase, Firebase, Clerk, and more. You can set up payments, authentication, or deploy your site with basically a button click. The tradeoff? Less flexibility in tech stack choices.
In short: Group A = control + complexity. Group B = convenience + constraints.
Tech Stack Flexibility
This is where the differences really show:
- Cursor/Windsurf → Any stack you like. React, Vue, Svelte, Python, Node — total freedom.
- Lovable → Only React.
- Tempo → Next.js or React.
- Data Button → React frontend + Python backend.
- B.new → The most flexible of Group B. Supports React, Astro, Remix, Vue, Angular, Svelte, even Expo for mobile apps.
So, if you’re dead set on Next.js, Lovable is off the table. If you want Python on the backend, Data Button is your only choice. If you want mobile apps, only Cursor/Windsurf or B.new will help.
Testing With the Same Prompt
To really see how these tools perform, I gave them all the exact same challenge:
“Build a website where users can upload an image with text in it. The site should process the image, extract the text, and let users either copy it or download it as a .txt file.”
Here’s what happened:
- Cursor: Built the app, but I ran into multiple errors. Fixing them required debugging and back-and-forth with the AI. Eventually, it worked — but it wasn’t smooth for a beginner. Deployment also requires GitHub + Vercel setup.
- Lovable: Needed two prompts (the first run errored), but then worked fine. Excellent Supabase integration for auth, database, and storage. One-click publish to a live URL.
- B.new: Shockingly smooth. It worked on the first prompt. Supports many frameworks, even Expo for mobile.
- Tempo: Needed a few adjustments, but eventually worked. Also has a built-in design editor.
- Data Button: Slower since it generates a step-by-step plan, but reliable once done. Only React + Python, but integrates easily with Stripe, Firebase, and LemonSqueezy.
So in practice: Group B tools got me working prototypes much faster. Group A tools gave me more control but also more headaches.
Platform Highlights
Here’s what makes each platform shine:
- Cursor: Full developer freedom. Works with any stack, integrates with GitHub, and gives you advanced editing features. Perfect if you already know how to code.
- GitHub Copilot: It works alongside you directly in your editor, suggesting a whole lines or entire functions for you.
- Windsurf: Nearly identical to Cursor in features and workflow. Built on VS Code, so extensions and settings carry over.
- Lovable: Best Supabase integration I’ve seen. Smooth two-way GitHub sync. Instant deployment and custom domain support. Limited to React though.
- B.new: The most versatile in Group B. Supports multiple frameworks and mobile apps. Deploys to Netlify easily. Also has an open-source version (B.DIY) you can run locally.
- Tempo: Killer third-party integrations. Add payments, auth, or databases literally by pasting an API key. Great for startups building SaaS apps quickly.
- Data Button: The only option with a React frontend + Python backend combo. Great for data science apps. Easy integrations, one-click deploy. Missing GitHub sync (hopefully coming soon).
Who Should Use What?
Now for the recommendations.
- Beginners (no coding background) → Go with Lovable (if React is fine) or Tempo (if you want Stripe/auth integration). Both are the fastest to get working apps.
- Data scientists / Python users → Data Button. It’s literally built for you.
- Developers who want control → Cursor or Windsurf. They’ll let you build anything, but expect to debug.
- Mobile app devs → B.new or Cursor/Windsurf. Lovable/Tempo/Data Button can’t do mobile.
- Want variety in frameworks → B.new wins. It’s the only Group B tool that supports more than just React/Next.js.
- Best combo workflow → Start with Lovable (for quick MVP + integrations) → sync to GitHub → continue in Cursor for advanced control.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the “best” AI coding tool depends on your needs.
- If you value speed and ease: Group B tools will impress you.
- If you care about flexibility and long-term scalability: Group A tools give you the freedom.
- If you’re serious about coding: learn the basics first (platforms like Scrimba are great for this), then layer AI tools on top. Otherwise, debugging will feel like hitting a wall.
AI coding tools are powerful, but they’re not magic. They can save you hours, but only if you pick the right one for your context. Hopefully this breakdown gives you clarity — and helps you ship your next project faster.
