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Buyer's guide · Updated
The best AI coding assistants, compared
AI coding assistants now go well beyond autocomplete: most can run agents that edit many files, review pull requests or work in the cloud while you do something else.
We compared five popular options on what they suit best, free plans, entry prices and the catches in each plan. Prices are in USD as listed by each vendor and usually exclude tax. Most plans meter heavy AI use, so read the usage notes.
Comparison at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Key strengths | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub Copilot | Developers who live in GitHub and want broad IDE support | Yes (2,000 completions a month) | $10/mo (Pro) | Works in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, Xcode, Neovim, Eclipse and Zed; code completions are unlimited on paid plans; can turn issues into pull requests | Chat and agent work consume GitHub AI Credits (1 credit = $0.01); individual-plan data may be used for training unless you opt out |
| Cursor | An AI-first editor with agents built in | Yes (limited) | $8/mo (Plus, Grok models only) | Agent on every plan; Premium ($30/mo) adds cloud agents, automations and AI code reviews via Bugbot | Plus is limited to Grok models; third-party models are billed separately at API list price; usage pool is shared with Grok and refreshes weekly |
| Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) | Unlimited tab completions with an agent IDE | Yes (light agent quota) | $20/mo (Pro) | Unlimited Tab completions and inline edits even on Free; Pro adds frontier models, free use of SWE-2 and cloud agents | Free has limited model availability; extra usage beyond quotas is charged at API pricing |
| Claude Code | Terminal-based agentic coding | No (not on Claude Free) | $17/mo billed annually or $20 monthly (Claude Pro) | Included in every paid Claude plan; the same subscription covers chat, so one plan serves coding and writing | Shares one usage pool with Claude chat, reset on a rolling five-hour window plus weekly limits |
| OpenAI Codex | ChatGPT subscribers who want a coding agent | Yes (limited Codex access) | See site | Included with ChatGPT plans; Plus expands Codex usage and Pro gives longer Codex sessions | Free and Go plans have limited access; prices were not shown on OpenAI's pricing page when we checked |
Prices as listed on each vendor's pricing page on 28 October 2026; they change often and usually exclude tax. “See site” means the vendor did not show a price we could verify.
Our take on each tool
GitHub Copilot
$10/mo (Pro)
The safest default for most developers: cheap to start, works almost everywhere, and tightly tied to GitHub issues and pull requests. Heavy agent users should watch their credit usage.
Visit GitHub Copilot ↗Cursor
$8/mo (Plus, Grok models only)
Best if you want the editor itself built around AI agents. Plans bundle Grok and X features, so compare what you actually need before choosing a tier.
Visit Cursor ↗Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)
$20/mo (Pro)
Windsurf has been renamed Devin Desktop, with plans and settings carried over. The free plan is one of the more generous for completions; Pro is the real working tier.
Visit Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) ↗Claude Code
$17/mo billed annually or $20 monthly (Claude Pro)
A good fit if you are comfortable in the terminal and already pay for Claude. Heavy users may need Max (from $100/mo) or pay-as-you-go API credits.
Visit Claude Code ↗OpenAI Codex
See site
If you already pay for ChatGPT, try Codex before buying another tool. Confirm current plan prices on OpenAI's site.
Visit OpenAI Codex ↗How we picked
- We chose the assistants developers most often compare and that offer self-serve plans an individual can buy.
- Every price, free-plan detail and limit was read on the vendor's own pricing page on 28 October 2026. Where a price was not shown, we wrote “See site”.
- We judged each on editor support, free-plan usefulness, how usage is metered, and who it suits. No vendor paid for placement.
FAQ
What is the best free AI coding assistant?
GitHub Copilot Free (2,000 completions a month) and Devin Desktop Free (unlimited Tab completions, light agent quota) are the most useful free plans in this list.
Is GitHub Copilot or Cursor better?
Copilot is cheaper to start ($10/mo Pro) and works inside many editors. Cursor is a full AI-first editor with agents on every plan. Pick Copilot to keep your editor, Cursor to switch to one built around agents.
What happened to Windsurf?
Windsurf is now called Devin Desktop. According to its maker, plans, pricing, extensions and settings carry over automatically.
Do AI coding assistants train on my code?
It depends on the plan. GitHub says individual Copilot data may be used for training unless you opt out in settings; Cursor offers a privacy mode. Check each vendor's privacy settings.
Why do prices say usage limits apply?
Agent and chat features cost the vendor per request, so most plans include a usage pool or credits and charge extra, or slow down, once you exceed it.
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