I built a complex app with Claude Code, Google Antigravity, and Codex, and only one felt like a coding veteran

Three AI coding tools, Claude Code, Google Antigravity, and OpenAI Codex, were challenged to build a personal finance management app with interactivity, expense tracking, budget management, and functional pages. The author aimed to determine which tool would produce a polished, functional application with minimal manual intervention.

OpenAI Codex, powered by GPT-6 Astra, produced a functional app with a green background and generally followed instructions. However, it exhibited poor typography, small text, and unrefined interfaces, affecting readability and overall polish. The transactions page and Analytics page were particularly disappointing.

Google Antigravity, powered by Gemini 3.8, exhibited a significant improvement over Codex. It featured proper sizing of text, natural spacing, and an overall refined presentation. The Savings Goals page was notably well-designed, while the Transactions page needed more attention. Antigravity's icons lacked personality compared to Claude Code's offerings.

Claude Code emerged as the clear winner, handling the app building with an expert touch. Its typography, spacing, and overall design felt polished and professional. Claude Code thoughtfully added data visualizations throughout the application, and its gradients, icons, and animations enhanced the user experience. Unlike Codex and Antigravity, Claude Code implemented elements consistently across the app, creating a cohesive and intuitive interface.

In conclusion, while all three AI coding tools demonstrated the ability to build a functional app, Claude Code excelled in delivering a refined, professional experience. For future projects, the author is confident in turning to Claude Code as the top choice for building polished, everyday-use applications.