Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GitHub Codespaces VS replit

Compare GitHub Codespaces VS replit and see what are their differences

GitHub Codespaces logo GitHub Codespaces

GItHub Codespaces is a hosted remote coding environment by GitHub based on Visual Studio Codespaces integrated directly for GitHub.

replit logo replit

Code, create, andlearn together. Use our free, collaborative, in-browser IDE to code in 50+ languages — without spending a second on setup.
  • GitHub Codespaces Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-01
  • replit Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-30

GitHub Codespaces features and specs

  • Instant Setup
    GitHub Codespaces allows for quick setup of development environments, enabling developers to start coding within minutes.
  • Consistency
    By using Codespaces, all team members can work in consistent development environments, avoiding the 'works on my machine' problem.
  • Scalable
    Codespaces can easily scale up or down resources based on the needs of the project, offering flexibility in resource allocation.
  • Integrated with GitHub
    Seamless integration with GitHub means that Codespaces takes advantage of all GitHub features like pull requests, issues, and workflows directly within the development environment.
  • Customizable Environments
    Developers can define the configuration of their development environments using devcontainer.json files, making it easy to set up tailored workspaces.
  • Remote Development
    Codespaces allows developers to work from virtually anywhere without needing to rely on the power of their local machines.

Possible disadvantages of GitHub Codespaces

  • Cost
    Using Codespaces incurs a cost based on compute and storage resources, which can add up, especially for larger teams or more intensive projects.
  • Internet Reliance
    Codespaces are cloud-based, so a stable internet connection is required. Any disruption in connectivity can hinder development progress.
  • Customization Limitations
    While customizable, Codespaces may not support all specific or advanced development setups or niche tools as effectively as local environments.
  • Performance Variability
    Performance might vary depending on the selected instance type and current load on GitHub's infrastructure.
  • Dependency on GitHub Ecosystem
    Codespaces are tightly integrated with GitHub, which could be a downside for teams that use other platforms or who prefer a more platform-independent solution.
  • Learning Curve
    Developers unfamiliar with cloud-based environments may face a learning curve when first transitioning to Codespaces.

replit features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Replit offers an intuitive interface that makes it easy to start coding without needing to set up development environments. This can significantly lower the barrier to entry for beginners.
  • Collaborative Coding
    Replit facilitates real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to work on the same codebase simultaneously, similar to tools like Google Docs.
  • Supports Multiple Languages
    Replit supports a wide range of programming languages including Python, JavaScript, C++, and many more. This makes it flexible for users with different needs.
  • Cloud-Based
    Being a cloud-based platform, Replit enables users to access their code from any device with an internet connection, eliminating the need for local storage.
  • Built-in Package Manager
    Replit comes with built-in package managers for various languages, making it easier to include third-party libraries and dependencies.
  • Educational Tools
    The platform offers various resources for educators, such as interactive coding environments and classroom management tools, making it ideal for academic settings.

Possible disadvantages of replit

  • Performance Limitations
    Being a cloud-based IDE, Replit may encounter performance issues for larger projects or those requiring intensive computational resources.
  • Limited Customization
    The environment may lack some customization options and advanced settings available in traditional, locally-installed IDEs.
  • Dependency on Internet
    Since it's cloud-based, an active internet connection is mandatory for coding, which can be a drawback in situations with unreliable internet access.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Hosting code on a third-party platform may raise privacy and security issues, especially for proprietary or sensitive projects.
  • Subscription Costs
    While Replit offers a free tier, advanced features, higher resource limits, and premium support come at a subscription cost, which may be a barrier for some users.
  • Limited Debugging Tools
    The platform's debugging tools may not be as robust as those available in more established, dedicated IDEs.

GitHub Codespaces videos

Brief introduction of GitHub Codespaces

More videos:

  • Review - GitHub Codespaces First Look - 5 things to look for

replit videos

Repl.it SciTech Talk | MIT Arab SciTech 2019

More videos:

  • Review - KaBooM! by Swag Bags
  • Review - Kaboom Mold And Mildew With Bleach Review
  • Review - First Step Coding intro to Repl.it
  • Review - Kaboom Review with the Game Boy Geek

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GitHub Codespaces and replit)
Text Editors
42 42%
58% 58
Programming
14 14%
86% 86
IDE
33 33%
67% 67
JavaScript
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare GitHub Codespaces and replit

GitHub Codespaces Reviews

12 Best Online IDE and Code Editors to Develop Web Applications
Beginners who want to try their luck can use GitHub Codespaces for free with limited benefits, but you will have enough features to carry on. If you are a team or an enterprise, you can start using GitHub Codespaces at $40/user/year.
Source: geekflare.com

replit Reviews

  1. Monkeyman666
    · sysadmin at dagul ·
    Nice web hosting for small website [non production]

    easy setup.

    🏁 Competitors: Heroku
  2. very good for my kids

8 Best Replit Alternatives & Competitors in 2022 (Free & Paid) - Software Discover
Replit is a simple yet powerful online ide, editor, compiler, interpreter, and repl. Code, compile, run, and host in 50+ programming languages. The collaborative browser based ide – replit.
12 Best Online IDE and Code Editors to Develop Web Applications
Moreover, the moment you are ready with the code, it instantly goes live to the world. If you also want to learn about code, Replit has more than three million technologists, creatives, passionate programmers, and more. With real-time collaboration with your teams, your team will be more productive. Additionally, you can create applications, bots, etc., with the help of...
Source: geekflare.com
Best Online Code Editors For Web Developers
Replit allows users to write code and build apps and websites using a browser. The site also has various collaborative features, including capability for real-time, multiuser editing with a live chat feed.
Source: techarge.in

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, replit should be more popular than GitHub Codespaces. It has been mentiond 624 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

GitHub Codespaces mentions (148)

  • VSCode's SSH Agent Is Bananas
    https://github.com/features/codespaces All you need is a well-defined .devcontainer file. Debugging, extensions, collaborative coding, dependant services, OS libraries, as much RAM as you need (as opposed to what you have), specific NodeJS Versions — all with a single click. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • GitHub Workflows: The First Line of Defense
    For this week, our task was to automate everything: GitHub workflows for testing, linting, building, and error checking. Additionally, I set up a dev container that contributors can use in GitHub Codespaces for a fast, hassle-free setup. Finally, we were assigned to write tests for a classmate's project! - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Dear AWS, how do I build & develop purely on AWS right now?
    As an alternative for Cloud9, you can use vscode.dev, which runs VS Code in the browser or other alternatives that are more integrated and personalized like gitpod.io or Github Codespaces. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • Ask HN: Any Recommendations Around Programming on an iPad?
    Check out GitHub Codespaces https://github.com/features/codespaces I have used it for learning C, Rust and Go. It even has a VSCode editor in the browser. It’s pretty easy to setup. Create a repo, add a hello_world.c, push the code, then in the UI press the green code option and select Create code space on main and then use the gcc from the terminal to compile... - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Local development with Subdomains, Mobile Testing, and OAuth
    I updated the settings in my router to keep my IP assigned to my computer to avoid needing to update the DNS file. ### Remote Development One option I didn't try is doing all of your development remotely in something like Github Workspaces. From what it looks like, I think this would provide all the functionality needed except, you'd be dependent on internet and be locked into their pricing. I've worked in this... - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
View more

replit mentions (624)

  • Top 10 Vibe Coding AI Tools Every Developer Needs in 2025
    Replit is a full cloud IDE with built-in AI help, GitHub integration, and real-time collaboration. You can spin up applications, bots, or games in 50+ languages — right from your browser. - Source: dev.to / 5 days ago
  • Top 10 Vibe Coding AI Tools Every Developer Needs in 2025
    Replit is a browser-based development platform that supports real-time collaboration, multi-language support, and integrated deployment. Its built-in AI assistant enhances productivity by generating, debugging, and explaining code. - Source: dev.to / 16 days ago
  • 7 AI Tools That Can Replace a Full Dev Team in 2025!
    Replit is an online IDE, and Ghostwriter is its AI pair programmer. It autocompletes code, suggests fixes, explains logic, and can even scaffold full apps. Perfect for collaborative real-time coding, especially if you’re building fast MVPs. - Source: dev.to / 22 days ago
  • Launch HN: ASim (YC S21) – Mobile app that generates mobile apps
    Looks like many of those mobile app generators these days: https://asim.sh/ https://replit.com/ https://a0.dev/ https://www.tempo.new/ Seems like most (all?) are making react native apps using expo. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • I Took a Popular Vibe Coding Course and Built a Sample App
    This course was created in partnership with Replit (an online coding environment), with Michele Catasta (President of Replit) and Matt Palmer (Head of Developer Relations) as instructors. Through about 1 hour and 34 minutes of video lessons, you learn how to build and deploy two web applications using AI coding agents. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing GitHub Codespaces and replit, you can also consider the following products

CloudShell - Cloud Shell is a free admin machine with browser-based command-line access for managing your infrastructure and applications on Google Cloud Platform.

VS Code - Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

StackBlitz - Online VS Code Editor for Angular and React

Sublime Text - Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor for code, html and prose - any kind of text file. You'll love the slick user interface and extraordinary features. Fully customizable with macros, and syntax highlighting for most major languages.

vscode.dev - Now when you go to https://vscode.dev, you'll be presented with a lightweight version of VS Code running fully in the browser.

Microsoft Visual Studio - Microsoft Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) from Microsoft.