Tempo Review 2026: AI App Builder for React-First Vibe Coding

Quick definition: Tempo is a browser-based AI platform that turns natural language prompts into full-stack React applications, combining multi-agent planning with a visual editor and one-click deploys.

One-minute highlights

• Multi-agent system plans user flows before generating code
• Visual drag-and-drop React editor with real-time preview
• Flat-rate message credits instead of token-based billing
• MCP App Store for adding payments, messaging, and AI agents

Jump to the specs? Visit the dedicated Tempo tool page for feature lists, signup links, and related reads.

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Introduction to Tempo

Tempo (formerly Tempo Labs) started life as a visual React editor for designer-developer collaboration. It has since evolved into a full prompt-to-app platform where you describe what you want, and multiple AI agents collaborate to plan, build, and ship your project. The platform generates detailed user flow diagrams before writing code, which sets it apart from tools that jump straight into generation.

The target audience is clear: indie hackers, early-stage product teams, and frontend developers who want React-based MVPs without weeks of manual setup. If you're building customer-facing web apps and want visual control over the output, Tempo sits in an interesting spot between pure no-code builders and traditional IDEs.

One thing worth noting upfront: Tempo is React-focused. If your stack is Vue, Svelte, or anything outside the React ecosystem, this tool won't fit your workflow. That's a deliberate trade-off — the specialization means tighter integration and cleaner output for React projects, but it limits who can use it.

Core Features of Tempo

Multi-Agent Planning

This is Tempo's headline differentiator. When you drop a prompt — say, "build a SaaS dashboard with Stripe billing and user analytics" — the system doesn't immediately start generating code. Instead, multiple AI agents collaborate on a plan. You get user flow diagrams, screen breakdowns, and an architecture outline before a single component is written.

The practical benefit: fewer dead-end builds. Tools that generate code instantly often produce something that looks right on the surface but falls apart when you try to add a second feature. Tempo's planning step catches structural issues early. You can review and adjust the plan before committing to a build, which saves credits and rework.

Visual React Editor

Once code is generated, Tempo gives you a visual editor for tweaking components directly. You can drag elements around, adjust layouts, change styles, and see the result in real time. This isn't a separate design tool — it modifies the actual React code underneath.

For developers, this means less time fiddling with CSS. For non-developers, it means you can make UI adjustments without touching code. The editor handles common patterns well: navigation bars, cards, forms, and dashboards all respond predictably to visual edits.

Iterative Prompting

You can chat with Tempo to refine your app after the initial build. Add a feature, change the login flow, swap a colour scheme — the AI retains context from previous iterations, so you don't start from scratch each time. The platform claims its bug-fixing loops are credit-efficient, meaning they don't aggressively burn through your allowance on retry cycles.

One-Click Deploys and Code Export

Tempo handles deployment directly or lets you export the full codebase for self-hosting. The exported code is standard React/Next.js, so you can hand it off to a developer or deploy to Vercel, Netlify, or any hosting service. This is a meaningful advantage over platforms that lock you into proprietary hosting.

MCP App Store

A relatively new addition: Tempo's MCP App Store lets you bolt on integrations — Stripe for payments, Resend for email, AI agents, messaging, and more — without writing integration code yourself. Think of it as a plugin marketplace for generated apps.

Pricing, Plans and Hidden Costs

Free tier

Tempo offers a genuinely free plan at $0/month. You get limited message credits and can build small frontends. It's enough to test the platform and ship a basic prototype, but you'll hit the ceiling quickly on anything complex.

Paid plans

Two paid tiers exist:

• Pro (~$30/month): Higher message limits, access to all AI features, and full code export. This is the plan most solo builders will land on. Tempo uses flat-rate message credits rather than token-based pricing, which makes costs more predictable than platforms that bill by model tokens.

• Agent+ ($4,500/month): The premium tier includes human design reviews and code audits on top of AI generation. This is aimed at agencies and funded startups that want quality guarantees. For most indie hackers, this is overkill.

Hidden costs or gotchas

You can buy additional credits in tiers ranging from $50/month (250 credits) to $500/month (unlimited). The credit system is straightforward, but if you run complex autonomous loops, costs can stack up. Keep an eye on credit consumption during iterative builds.

There's no per-seat pricing publicly listed for teams, so if you're adding collaborators, confirm the cost structure before committing.

Pros and Cons

What we like

• Planning before building. The multi-agent planning step genuinely reduces wasted iterations. You catch structural problems before code exists.
• Flat-rate credits. Easier to budget than token-based billing. You know what each message costs.
• Clean React output. The exported code is standard React/Next.js. No proprietary runtime or locked-in hosting.
• Visual editing that modifies real code. Not a separate layer — what you see in the editor is what exists in the codebase.
• MCP App Store. Adding Stripe, auth, or messaging takes minutes instead of hours of integration work.

What could be better

• React-only. If you work with Vue, Svelte, Angular, or anything else, Tempo isn't for you.
• Agent+ pricing is extreme. $4,500/month prices out most small teams. The gap between $30 and $4,500 is massive with nothing in between.
• Complex project limits. For large-scale apps with many interconnected features, the planning system can hit its ceiling. Manual intervention becomes necessary.
• Limited security documentation. Enterprise controls like SSO and SOC2 aren't publicly advertised. If compliance matters, you'll need to contact their team directly.
• No mobile-native output. Tempo generates web apps. If you need iOS or Android binaries, look elsewhere.

How Tempo Compares

Tempo vs Lovable

Both are prompt-to-app builders, but they prioritize different things. Lovable leads with aesthetic polish — the generated UIs tend to look more refined out of the box. Tempo leads with planning — you get architecture diagrams and user flows before code generation starts.

Lovable supports more framework flexibility and has stronger design-first workflows. Tempo gives you more control over the generated React code and offers the MCP integration marketplace. If visual polish is your priority, Lovable edges ahead. If you want structured planning and React specialization, Tempo is the stronger choice.

Pricing is comparable on the lower tiers. Both offer free plans and ~$20–30/month paid tiers.

Tempo vs Bolt.new

Bolt.new is built for speed. You type a prompt and get a working app in seconds — no planning phase, no user flow diagrams. It's the fastest path from idea to deployed prototype in the vibe coding space.

Tempo trades that speed for structure. The multi-agent planning adds time upfront but reduces rework on the back end. Bolt.new also has open-source elements and broader framework support, while Tempo is proprietary and React-only.

For quick throwaway prototypes, Bolt.new wins. For projects you plan to iterate on over weeks or months, Tempo's planning approach pays off.

Who Should Use Tempo

Best for

• Solo founders building React MVPs. The planning-first approach means fewer dead-end prototypes, and the visual editor lets you polish without a designer.
• Small product teams with React expertise. If your stack is already React/Next.js, Tempo slots in naturally. The exported code is clean enough to continue developing manually.
• Non-technical founders with a technical co-founder. The visual editor is approachable for non-developers, while the code export gives engineers something they can actually work with.

Not ideal for

• Teams using non-React frameworks. Vue, Svelte, Angular developers won't get value here.
• Enterprise teams needing compliance. Without documented SSO, SOC2, or GDPR controls, Tempo isn't ready for regulated environments.
• Mobile-first projects. No native iOS/Android output. If mobile is your primary target, check Replit or other cross-platform builders.
• Budget-conscious teams that need human oversight. The Agent+ tier with human reviews is prohibitively expensive for most small teams.

Tips for Getting Better Results

• Start with a tight scope. Give Tempo a focused objective — one core feature with clear user flow — rather than a full product spec. Expand after the first version works.
• Review the plan before building. Don't skip the user flow review. Catching a wrong assumption here saves real credits on rebuilds.
• Use the visual editor for layout, prompts for logic. The drag-and-drop editor handles UI tweaks well. For business logic changes, iterative prompts produce better results.
• Export early. Once you have a solid foundation, export the code and continue in your IDE. Tempo is strongest for the 0-to-1 phase, not ongoing maintenance.
• Track your credits. Set a mental budget per project. Complex iterative sessions can burn through credits faster than expected.

FAQs

Is Tempo free? Yes. The free tier lets you build small projects with limited credits. Paid plans start at roughly $30/month.

What framework does Tempo output? React and Next.js. No other frameworks are supported.

Can I export the code? Yes. Full codebase export is available, and the output is standard React that runs anywhere.

Does Tempo handle deployment? It offers one-click deploys and also supports export to Vercel, Netlify, or any hosting provider.

How does it compare to other vibe coding tools? Tempo's planning-first approach sets it apart. For a broader comparison, check our best vibe coding tools guide.

Verdict

Tempo occupies a specific niche well: React-focused, planning-first vibe coding. The multi-agent planning system is a genuine differentiator that reduces wasted builds, and the visual editor gives you control without writing CSS by hand. The flat-rate credit system makes costs predictable, and the MCP App Store removes friction from common integrations.

The limitations are real, though. React-only support locks out a significant chunk of developers. The pricing gap between the $30 Pro plan and the $4,500 Agent+ tier leaves mid-market teams without a clear option. And if you need enterprise security controls, you'll have to go through a sales conversation to find out if they exist.

For solo founders and small teams building React web apps, Tempo is worth testing. Start with the free tier, build a scoped MVP, and see if the planning workflow clicks for you. If you're comparing options, the Tempo tool page has full specs and the vibe coding tools comparison covers the broader landscape.

Rating: 7/10