Replit · Setup guide
How to set up Replit
Create or import a project in Replit’s browser editor, choose Free Mode for a small first build, validate it in Preview, and publish only after a separate smoke test. Plan mode is listed on Core and above.
The “Open Replit” link goes to the vendor site. It is not an affiliate-tracked link on this page — no commission is claimed for that click. Affiliate disclosure.
Before you begin
- A Replit account and a modern browser.
- A project idea, imported repository, or small existing app.
- A clear boundary for secrets, connected services, and publishing.
Authentication
Replit account sign-in
Account: Replit account
Connected services and publishing permissions should be reviewed separately from the initial project login.
Install or open it
1. Get the harness ready
These steps are written for beginners. On Mac, Terminal is the black/white text window where you type commands. On Windows, use PowerShell or Terminal. Use the OS tabs to hide steps that are not for your computer, then copy one command at a time.
- 01
Open Replit in your browser
You do not need a local install for the standard Agent workflow. Open Chrome, Safari, or Edge, go to replit.com, and sign in or create an account. The managed runtime and published hosting remain separate from the browser preview.
Replit Project Editor - 02
Open the Project Editor
From the Replit home screen, create a new project or open an existing one so the browser IDE loads.
Replit Project Editor - 03
Choose a project type or start from a prompt
Describe a small app, or use the supported Git import flow. Review dependencies, environment variables and repository access separately before running an imported project; do not assume imported secrets or integrations are configured.
Replit Agent overview
Repository or project
2. Start in the right place
Keep the first repository small, clean, and easy to roll back while you learn the harness’s permissions and context model.
- 01
Create or import a project
Use the Project Editor to start from a prompt, import a GitHub repository, or upload a project archive.
Replit welcome - 02
Choose Free Mode and keep the first ask small
The current first-app guide builds with Free Mode, which uses intelligent model routing. The pricing page lists Free Mode usage on Core and Pro, and lists Plan mode on Core; account eligibility and current usage allowance can vary, so check the in-product mode selector before starting.
Build your first app - 03
Core: optional Plan mode before larger builds
If Plan mode is available on your plan, use it for larger changes and keep secrets in the Secrets pane — not in chat.
Plan mode
First run
Build a preview-only slice
Use this task to test the workflow before handing over a larger repository or production responsibility.
- 01Ask Agent for one small UI change or isolated page in Free Mode, or review a Plan first if your account includes Plan mode.
- 02Test it in Preview at desktop and mobile widths without publishing.
- 03Before publishing, check the current plan limits, deployment configuration, and public URL, then smoke-test the deployed app.
Why this is safe: Preview separates an early experiment from a public deployment and makes visual and functional checks easy.
Stop and review if
- Agent requests production credentials for a prototype.
- The preview depends on an unreviewed external integration.
- The publish action appears before the expected checks are complete.
The operating boundary
Privacy, data, and cost
The setup is incomplete until you know what the harness can see, what account pays for it, and who approves a risky action.
Privacy
Replit processes project content on its managed platform; projects, connected services and published apps have distinct visibility and data scopes. The captured privacy policy does not establish a universal model-training or retention guarantee; check the actual workspace contract and provider settings.
Training on code: tier dependent
Workspace, team, and connected-service policies can affect where project data is processed.
Sensitive repos: Do not paste secrets into prompts, add credentials only through the documented secret store, and keep the first project non-production.
Pricing
The current pricing page lists Core at $20/month or $18/month billed annually, with up to 30 hours of Free Mode chat, up to 60 projects in Free Mode, $20 toward the most powerful models, and Plan mode. Pro is $100/month or $90/month billed annually, with more Free Mode usage, $100 toward the most powerful models, and 10 parallel agents. Enterprise pricing is custom. Check the live plan and deployment pages before estimating hosting or compute spend.
Model: hybrid
Watch out: Power/Max Auto is paid, Free Mode has a plan allowance and no manual picker, and Enterprise uses its own Auto/provider controls. Plan docs describe effort-based charges; inspect the actual mode and usage meter. Collaborators have separate auto-approve/auto-apply settings, so another member's choice does not establish yours.
When setup goes wrong
Plan mode is unavailable.
Use Free Mode for a small prompt, or check whether your current plan and workspace include Plan mode before selecting it.
Agent changes more than the requested slice.
Narrow the prompt, define file boundaries, and use Plan mode if it is included in the current plan.
The Preview works but publishing fails.
Check deployment configuration, environment secrets, build output, and the limits shown for your current plan before publishing.
Next steps
After the first successful run
Keep the pilot small, then compare surfaces and budget before a team rollout.
Setup details change quickly. The page was checked October 2, 2026; use the official source below before installing in a managed or production environment.