AI Tools for Kotlin/Android Development: My Experience and Recommendations

In my recent exploration of AI tools for Android and Kotlin multi-platform development, I’ve evaluated four primary options to determine which provides the most value for developers. Here’s my assessment:

1. Gemini in Android Studio

I strongly advise against using the experimental Gemini integration currently available in Android Studio. My testing reveals significant limitations: it fails to understand context, cannot effectively locate relevant code, and provides only generic responses. To be clear, I’m referring to the built-in Studio version, not the newer Gemini 2.5 Pro model which shows more promise.

2. Claude.ai (Web-Based)

This web-based tool costs $20/month and offers powerful capabilities. However, its lack of direct IDE integration creates friction in the development workflow, requiring constant copying and pasting between windows. While it can import GitHub projects, I found it struggles with larger codebases due to context window limitations. It serves adequately for occasional problem-solving but proves inefficient for regular code generation tasks.

3. Cline/Aider

These open-source tools offer flexibility—Aider through a command-line interface and Cline via a VS Code-based GUI. Both connect your codebase to various API backends (Claude, Open Router, or self-hosted options). In my testing, I encountered two significant drawbacks: the DIY configuration requirements create unnecessary friction, and the API costs can escalate quickly, particularly with Claude’s services. I believe these tools may become more viable later this year as cheaper API alternatives like DeepSeek R1 and Gemini 2.5 Pro mature.

4. Cursor

I found Cursor to be the most practical option currently available. This proprietary implementation offers excellent value at $20/month for 500 premium requests to Claude 3.7 in thinking mode. Its zero-configuration approach allows immediate productivity, and its automatic AI selection for different tasks optimizes both performance and cost-effectiveness.

Conclusion

Based on my extensive testing, I recommend avoiding Gemini in Android Studio entirely, using web-based tools for occasional specific problems, monitoring Cline/Aider for future potential, and adopting Cursor as the current best option for productive Kotlin and Android development.