Can I vibecode Aurelius?

KINDA · weekend project
price $49/moyou'd save $588/yrbuild time multi-daycategory 🔬 user researchreplaced by 0 people

The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For Aurelius, organize interview notes, code excerpts, and synthesize themes into findings. The hard boundary is research-specific tagging, collaboration, reporting, and import workflows, plus participant network, synthesis workflow, and collaboration.

the prompt
Build a personal replacement for Aurelius in an empty repository.
Use Next.js 15, TypeScript, PostgreSQL, Drizzle ORM, and Resend; do not offer alternative stacks.
The core loop is: organize interview notes, code excerpts, merge duplicates, connect evidence to themes, and publish a transparent view of synthesized research findings.
Make the first run work locally with one documented command.
Store all user data locally by default and make export straightforward.
Put secrets in .env, ship .env.example, and never commit credentials.
Create public and private feedback intake with consent text and optional contact details.
Support posts, votes, comments, tags, statuses, owners, and duplicate merging.
Add a research note type with evidence links, quotes, themes, and confidence.
Build search and filters across feedback, customers, segments, themes, and status.
Provide email notifications, moderation, export, deletion, and an audit log.
Publish a read-only roadmap or findings page using only explicitly public items.
Include clear empty, loading, success, and recoverable error states.
Add input validation, safe filenames, and graceful handling of unavailable APIs.
Write focused tests for the core transformation and one end-to-end happy path.
Create a README with setup, architecture, permissions, data location, and backup steps.
Do not add accounts, billing, telemetry, analytics, or a hosted control plane.
Deliberately leave out a paid research-participant marketplace.
Deliberately leave out unlimited video storage and automated transcription.
Deliberately leave out enterprise repositories, SSO, and governance.
Finish by running the tests and listing the exact commands used.

$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter) or copy it raw · this prompt is generated from the build plan · improve it via PR

why people still pay

People still pay for Aurelius because people pay either for access to participants or for a research repository that keeps evidence usable across an organization. The recurring cost buys recruitment, consent, scheduling, media storage, transcription, tagging consistency, notifications, search, and retention, not just the visible interface.

what you lose

xresearch-specific tagging, collaboration, reporting, and import workflows

xlarge participant panel

xrecording and transcription infrastructure

xadvanced research repository

xenterprise governance

share on X ↗"I just replaced Aurelius ($49/mo) with one prompt"
the escape hatch

Don't feel like building it? These folks already made it free.

QualCoderSerious interview coding, memos and theme reports on your desktop, with serious desktop-software vibes.658aug 2026open sourceCATMACollaborative text coding in a browser, built by academics and uninterested in your sales funnel.102jul 2026open sourceTaguetteCode interview excerpts and export themes without recreating an enterprise research repository.88jan 2026open source

all 3 free alternatives to Aurelius →· no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real

the numbers

Aurelius pricing

planmonthlyannual (per mo)what you get
professional$49/workspaceUnlimited users, projects, notes, insights, documents and storage.
premium$199/workspaceUnlimited users, projects, notes, insights, documents and storage plus advanced capabilities.
enterprisecustomCustom security, service and procurement terms.

free tierno free tier

billingAnnual prices are public; a monthly toggle exists, but exact month-to-month rates were not exposed in the checked page output. A 30-day trial is offered.

verified 2026-08-12 · source ↗

questions
Can I vibecode Aurelius?

Kinda. The core of Aurelius is buildable in a weekend with the prompt on this page, but there are real gaps: research-specific tagging, collaboration, reporting, and import workflows, large participant panel. Read the honest list above before committing.

How much does Aurelius cost?

Aurelius costs about $49/month (Pro, checked 2026-07-31), which is $588 per year.

What do I lose by replacing Aurelius?

Honestly: research-specific tagging, collaboration, reporting, and import workflows; large participant panel; recording and transcription infrastructure; advanced research repository; enterprise governance. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.

Is there an open-source alternative to Aurelius?

Yes: QualCoder (Serious interview coding, memos and theme reports on your desktop, with serious desktop-software vibes.) CATMA (Collaborative text coding in a browser, built by academics and uninterested in your sales funnel.) Taguette (Code interview excerpts and export themes without recreating an enterprise research repository.) All 3 curated free alternatives are at canivibecodeit.com/aurelius/alternatives. The prompt is for when you want it exactly your way.

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