Replit · Setup guide
How to set up Replit
Create or import a project in Replit’s browser editor, keep the first Starter build on Lite, validate Preview, and publish only after a separate smoke test. Plan mode is a Core+ tip — not the free default.
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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. A Desktop App exists as an optional peer (still cloud).
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 in plain language, or import GitHub later via replit.com/github.com/user/repo or the guided import flow. Secrets are not imported automatically.
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
Starter: stay on Lite and keep the ask small
On the free Starter plan, Lite is the only Agent build path, so keep prompts small. Agent may show a short plan before building — that is not the same as Plan mode. Plan mode, Economy/Power Full builds, and Connectors need Core/Pro.
Build your first app - 03
Core+: optional Plan mode before larger builds
If you are on Core or Pro, use Plan mode for bigger changes, prefer Economy for default paid builds, 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 on Lite (Starter) or after a Plan review (Core+).
- 02Test it in Preview at desktop and mobile widths without publishing.
- 03If you publish on Starter, expect one published app, a 30-day auto-down window, and a Made with Replit badge — then retest the public URL.
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 projects, connected services, and published apps have different data boundaries; review workspace and integration 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
Starter is free with Lite Agent, daily credits, and limited publishing; Core (~$20/mo) unlocks Plan mode and Full builds; Pro is higher capacity. Agent, compute, and publishing can bill separately. From 2026-08-01, Replit cut cloud autoscale, storage, and transfer rates — re-check the current cloud pricing page before modeling hosting cost.
Model: hybrid
Watch out: Plan-mode chats and Agent builds still consume credits — set spend limits before a team pilot. Education programmes may exist; confirm eligibility on Replit’s current pricing/education pages.
When setup goes wrong
Plan mode is unavailable.
You are likely on Starter. Stay on Lite with a smaller prompt, or upgrade to Core before using Plan mode.
Agent changes more than the requested slice.
Narrow the prompt, define file boundaries, and on Core+ return to Plan mode for one change at a time.
The Preview works but publishing fails.
Check deployment configuration, environment secrets, build output, and the current plan’s publishing limits (Starter: one app / 30-day expiry).
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 August 8, 2026; use the official source below before installing in a managed or production environment.