Overview
Choosing an AI coding tool depends on your workflow, budget, and preferences. This comparison covers the top LLM-powered coding tools in 2026 — their strengths, pricing, and ideal use cases.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Cursor | Copilot | Claude Code | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interface | IDE (VS Code fork) | VS Code extension | Terminal CLI | IDE (VS Code-based) |
| Completions | Yes | Yes | No (agentic only) | Yes |
| Chat | Yes | Yes | Yes (terminal) | Yes |
| Agent Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes (default) | Yes (Cascade) |
| Multi-file Edits | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Good |
| Custom Rules | .cursorrules | copilot-instructions.md | CLAUDE.md | Settings |
| MCP/Extensions | No | Copilot Extensions | MCP Servers | No |
| Git Integration | Basic | PR summaries | Deep (commits, PRs) | Basic |
| Free Tier | Limited | Limited | No (API billing) | Generous |
Best For
Cursor
Developers who want an all-in-one AI IDE. Great for those switching from VS Code who want deeper AI integration.
GitHub Copilot
Teams already on GitHub. Best ecosystem integration: PRs, issues, code review, and Actions.
Claude Code
Senior developers who prefer terminal workflows. Best for complex refactoring and multi-file tasks.
Windsurf
Developers who want agentic AI with a generous free tier. Good alternative to Cursor.
Pricing Summary
| Tool | Free | Pro/Individual | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cursor | 2K completions | $20/month | $40/user/month |
| GitHub Copilot | Limited | $10/month | $19/user/month |
| Claude Code | None | API usage (~$10-50/month) | API usage |
| Windsurf | Generous | $15/month | Custom |