For the past two years, the AI automation world has been split into two camps:

• Tools that build apps
• Tools that build workflows

But that split might finally be over. A new player—Replit Agent 3—just entered the arena with bold claims that could make standalone tools like Lovable and Nad obsolete.

So, I decided to put Replit Agent 3 through a brutal, head-to-head test against its biggest rivals to separate marketing hype from reality. Here’s what I found: where it shines, where it fails, and—most importantly—how you can actually make money with it today.

What Makes Replit Agent 3 Different?

Replit’s Agent 3 isn’t just another AI code generator. It introduces two big leaps forward that make it stand out:

1. Automated Self-Testing

Forget buggy first drafts. Agent 3 doesn’t just spit out code—it actually:

• Spins up a virtual browser
• Clicks through the app like a real user
• Finds errors
• Fixes them in a continuous loop

Think of it as having a junior QA engineer built into your AI. This is a major step forward in reliable app development with AI.

2. Extended Autonomy

The second big leap is time. Agent 3 has jumped from about 20 minutes of unsupervised runtime to over 200 minutes.

That means you can:

• Dictate an app idea into your phone while on a walk
• Put your phone away
• Come back hours later to a functional prototype

The gap between idea and execution is shrinking fast.

Replit Agent 3 vs. Rivals

I tested Agent 3 against Lovable and Google’s Gemini across different challenges. Here’s how it stacked up:

• Pet Grooming CRM → Replit wins. It was slower but built a more complete, functional app.
• 3D Game → Lovable wins. Agent 3 struggled since self-testing doesn’t work for 3D games.
• AI Performance Coach App → No clear winner. All platforms struggled with complex multimodal features like audio input and AI coaching.

Bottom line: Replit is slower but more reliable for web apps.

The Slack Agent Builder: A Sneaky Power Play

One of the most exciting parts of Agent 3 is the new Slack integration. Normally, building a Slack bot is a nightmare. Replit has simplified it into a guided setup.

This opens up huge opportunities for:

• Selling AI-powered internal tools to businesses
• Automating repetitive tasks inside Slack
• Supercharging team workflows

While I ran into some bugs, this feature has massive potential for businesses already living inside Slack.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

✅ The Good

• Thorough testing → More reliable apps than rivals
• Long autonomy → Works for hours unsupervised
• Slack integration → Unlocks real business use cases

⚠️ The Bad

• Slow → Rivals like Lovable are much faster for prototypes
• Expensive → Higher costs than competitors

❌ The Ugly

• Disconnected halves → The app builder and workflow builder don’t yet integrate
• No event triggers → A must-have for real automation
• No multi-agent support → Lags behind platforms like Relevance AI

How to Actually Make Money with Replit Agent 3

Here’s where things get interesting. Instead of chasing SaaS dreams, the real money is in selling services with Agent 3. Here are four opportunities:

1. Build Internal Tools for Businesses
   Replace clunky spreadsheets with custom AI-powered tools—charge anywhere from $500 to $20,000.
2. Offer Slack Agents
   Businesses will pay for Slack integrations that automate tasks and boost productivity.
3. Sell Advanced Websites
   Don’t offer static pages—build websites with interactive AI tools, calculators, or chatbots that generate leads.
4. Teach Others
   Package your knowledge into courses or training programs for beginners or businesses that want their teams AI-enabled.

💡 Pro tip: Avoid trying to build a scalable SaaS on Replit right now. It’s not ready for mission-critical public apps. Stick to internal tools and services where reliability matters less.

Final Verdict: Is Replit Agent 3 Worth It?

So, is Replit Agent 3 a Lovable or Nad killer? Not yet.

But it’s a massive step forward in autonomous app building and a clear signal of where the market is headed:

• All-in-one platforms that combine app building + workflow automation
• Faster paths from idea → execution
• More opportunities for non-technical builders

If you’re looking for a way into the AI automation gold rush, Replit Agent 3 is worth watching—and learning.