Editor, terminal or cloud?
Coding assistants now differ more by how they work than by which model they use. Some live in your editor and help line by line, others run from a terminal as agents, and others take on tasks in the cloud while you do something else. Many developers use more than one. Prices here are entry plans, and most tools meter heavier use.
Cursor
The leading AI-first editor.
Cursor is the most popular way to get AI inside an editor without changing how you work. Its tab autocomplete is widely considered best in class, and it comes with agent modes for bigger changes.
Heavy agent users can hit the plan's included usage quickly, so watch your limits.
- Best-in-class autocomplete
- Familiar environment
- Included usage has limits
Claude Code
A terminal agent for serious, multi-step work.
Claude Code runs in your terminal and works across your repository with real-time visibility and subagents. It is a strong choice for larger, multi-step tasks and for developers comfortable at the command line.
Usage limits on the entry plan can feel tight for all-day use. Disclosure: it is made by Anthropic, whose AI helped draft parts of this site.
- Strong on multi-step tasks
- Subagents and full visibility
- Tight limits on the entry plan
- Terminal-first
OpenAI Codex
Coding tasks you can start and leave running.
Codex stands out for letting you kick off cloud tasks and come back to the results, and it is included with ChatGPT plans, so many people can try it at no extra cost.
Cloud tasks need an internet connection and are unsuitable for air-gapped work.
- Runs tasks in the background
- Included with ChatGPT
- Not for air-gapped environments
GitHub Copilot
The lowest entry price and deep GitHub ties.
Copilot works as an extension in VS Code and JetBrains and on GitHub.com, so there is no need to switch editors. It offers the lowest entry price here and is a natural fit for automating pull requests.
As of mid-2026, its credits also consume GitHub Actions minutes, so check your costs if you use agents heavily.
- Lowest entry price
- Works in your current editor
- Credits also consume Actions minutes
Devin Desktop
The former Windsurf, now built for managing several agents.
Formerly Windsurf, Devin Desktop combines a capable in-house model with Cascade, which handles long editing sessions well. It suits developers who want to run several agents at once.
The rebrand was still rough as of mid-2026, and its Kanban-style default view adds some friction.
- Handles long editing sessions
- Multi-agent workflow
- Rough edges after the rebrand
- Kanban view adds friction
Google Antigravity
Google's agent platform, with a browser subagent.
Antigravity is a standalone app, CLI and SDK that works alongside your other editors. Its browser subagent is useful for testing web apps as it builds them.
Inline autocomplete lags behind Cursor, so it complements an editor rather than replacing one.
- Browser subagent
- Works alongside other editors
- Autocomplete trails Cursor
Kiro
Spec-first development for teams that plan before they code.
Kiro turns requirements into structured specs before it writes code, then uses an Auto agent to route work across models. This suits teams that want more discipline than free-form prompting gives them.
The entry plan is capped at 1,000 credits a month, and the structure can feel slow for quick jobs.
- Structured specs
- Automatic model routing
- 1,000-credit monthly cap
- Slower for quick jobs
How to choose
Start with Cursor if you live in an editor, Claude Code if you prefer the terminal, and Codex if you want to hand off background tasks. Copilot is the easy choice for GitHub-centered teams.
Real costs depend on usage, so test on real tickets for a week before choosing a plan for your team.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI coding assistant?
Cursor is our top pick for everyday editor work, and Claude Code and Codex are the stronger choices for agent-style tasks.
What is the cheapest AI coding assistant?
GitHub Copilot has the lowest entry price on this list, at $10 a month.
Can these tools replace developers?
They speed up a lot of work, but people still need to review code, make design decisions and take responsibility for what ships.