| Cursor | Claude Code | GitHub Copilot | OpenAI Codex | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | AI code editor | Terminal agent | IDE extension | Cloud agent |
| Based on | VS Code (fork) | Standalone CLI | VS Code / JetBrains plugin | Cloud sandbox |
| Starting price | Free (Hobby) | $20/mo (Pro) or API | $10/mo (Individual) | $20/mo (ChatGPT Pro) |
| Models | Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok, own | Claude models only | OpenAI models | OpenAI models |
| Autonomy | High (Agent + Tab) | Very high (full task execution) | Medium (suggestions + agent) | Very high (cloud sandbox) |
| Inline completions | Yes (proprietary Tab model) | No (terminal-based) | Yes (Copilot) | No (task-based) |
| Multi-file editing | Yes (Composer) | Yes (multi-file agent) | Limited (Copilot Workspace) | Yes (sandbox) |
| Runs locally | Yes (extension) | No (cloud) | ||
| MCP support | Limited | |||
| CI/CD integration | Yes (Bugbot) | Yes (headless mode) | Yes (Copilot Workspace) | Yes (GitHub) |
AI coding tools compared
When to choose Cursor
Cursor is the strongest choice when you want the richest graphical AI coding experience with the flexibility to use multiple AI models. It excels at combining fast inline completions (Tab) with autonomous task execution (Agent) in one seamless editor. If you prefer terminal-based workflows with maximum extensibility, Claude Code may be a better fit. If you want lightweight suggestions in your existing IDE, GitHub Copilot is the simplest option.