Reviewed by Harsh Desai · Last reviewed:
Frontman
An AI frontend agent that updates your live code from plain English descriptions
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What does Frontman do?
- •Live DOM access sees real-time DOM, component tree, CSS styles, routes and server logs for full context.
- •Natural language edits click any browser element then describe changes in plain English to update code.
- •Framework support works with Next.js App Router, Pages Router, Turbopack, Astro SSR SSG Islands and Vite React Vue Svelte.
- •Rule files automatically loads project rules from agents.md, claude.md or your custom files.
- •BYOK integration bring your own key for Anthropic, OpenAI or OpenRouter with no markup.
- •Device presets offers responsive testing with iPhone, iPad and desktop viewport presets.
- •Hosted Pro editing Pro plan adds hosted visual editing with reviewable diffs for dev teams.
- •Real-time updates watches your running dev server and applies frontend changes instantly.
- •Error fixing uses live server logs to identify and fix issues through natural language.
- •Design consistency maintains design tokens and reduces handoffs between designers and developers.
- •Unlimited projects Pro allows unlimited projects per organization with per-seat billing.
- •Middleware Runtime Runs as open-source middleware in your dev server to instantly see live DOM, component tree, CSS and routes.
- •Plain English Edits Click browser elements then describe changes in natural language to watch source code update automatically.
- •Custom Rule Loading Automatically loads project rules from agents.md, claude.md or your custom files for consistent AI behavior.
- •Reviewable Diffs Pro plan delivers hosted visual editing with reviewable diffs that simplify team frontend collaboration.
Pricing:
- •Self-hosting Free run on your infrastructure, manage updates and bring your own AI key.
- •Frontman Pro €15 per seat per month billed monthly with 14-day free trial and 17% yearly discount.
- •Pro teams includes hosted visual editing, reviewable diffs and unlimited projects per organization.
- •Separate AI costs usage billed directly by OpenAI, Anthropic or OpenRouter providers.
What are Frontman's limitations?
- •Framework limits supports only Next.js, Astro and Vite frameworks at this time.
- •Self-host effort requires you to manage your own infrastructure and handle updates manually.
- •Per-seat pricing hosted Pro needs a credit card and charges per seat each month.
- •Frontend focus changes stay tied to the running dev server and target frontend code only.
Our Verdict
For the Vibe Builder, Frontman turns live frontend iteration into an intuitive visual jam session where clicking any element instantly surfaces contextual AI prompts that rewrite the code behind it while preserving your creative flow. The tool feels like having a collaborative designer paired with a code interpreter that reacts in real time to clicks, drags, and natural language requests, letting you sculpt interfaces without leaving the browser. Its focus on immediate visual feedback aligns perfectly with vibe-first workflows where seeing the change matters more than understanding every line. This makes rapid prototyping sessions feel fluid and alive rather than mechanical.
For the Developer, Frontman connects directly to your local dev server for supported Next.js, Astro, and Vite projects so every AI-generated edit compiles and hot-reloads without manual file operations or context switching. You stay inside familiar code structures while the assistant handles boilerplate adjustments, style tweaks, and component logic based on your instructions. Self-hosting remains completely free if you supply the infrastructure and your own API keys, while the Pro tier at €15 per seat per month opens up unlimited projects and removes friction for team environments. The separation of AI costs through OpenAI, Anthropic, or OpenRouter keeps billing transparent and flexible.
One honest limitation is the narrow framework support and the requirement that a dev server must be running, which restricts its usefulness for many existing codebases and creates setup overhead; self-hosted users must also manage their own infrastructure and updates. These constraints plus the per-seat credit-card model for hosted Pro keep the tool from feeling universally applicable today. Overall it earns a 7.5/10 because the core click-to-edit experience is genuinely productive when you are inside its supported ecosystem but the boundaries are still noticeable.
Skip it if you work outside Next.js, Astro, or Vite or need deep backend integration, and consider Cursor instead for broader codebase reasoning and editing capabilities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Frontman and how does it work?
Frontman is a self-hostable AI coding tool that lets developers run large language models locally or via their own keys for code generation and editing directly in the browser. It works by connecting to your infrastructure where you manage updates while bringing your own AI API keys from providers like OpenAI or Anthropic. This setup keeps your code private and avoids vendor lock-in compared to cloud-only alternatives.
Is there a free version of Frontman?
Yes there is a free tier of Frontman through its self-hosting option where you run it on your own infrastructure and manage updates yourself. This free version still requires you to supply your own AI keys for functionality. The 14-day trial is available on paid plans instead.
Who should use Frontman in 2026?
In 2026 Frontman suits teams and individual developers who prioritize data privacy self-hosting and control over their AI coding environment without relying on third-party cloud services. It works best for organizations already managing their own infrastructure or those wary of sending proprietary code to external providers. Solo devs comfortable with setup can also benefit from its unlimited local usage potential.
How does Frontman pricing work across all tiers?
Frontman pricing includes Self-hosting Free to run on your infrastructure manage updates and bring your own AI key Separate AI costs usage billed directly by OpenAI Anthropic or OpenRouter providers Frontman Pro €15 per seat per month billed monthly with 14-day free trial and 17% yearly discount and Pro teams which includes hosted visual editing reviewable diffs and unlimited projects per organization. All tiers separate the tool cost from the underlying AI usage which gets billed directly by the model providers. This structure keeps base expenses predictable while AI consumption depends on your actual coding activity.
Should I choose Frontman or Cursor as an alternative?
Choose Frontman if you need self-hosted privacy controls and organization-wide features like reviewable diffs that Cursor lacks in its standard setup. Cursor might fit better for quick cloud-based coding without any infrastructure management. Most users evaluating both end up with Frontman for team deployments due to its unlimited projects per organization in Pro teams.
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Frontman
Free tier available