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Claude Code vs Cursor vs Codex

AI coding agent comparison of Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex: vendor, surface, source availability, and pricing model. Reading order is not a ranking, and there is no winner.

  • No overall score
  • No winner
  • Column order is reading order

Start with your workflow

Based on official entry-point documentation. These notes help you choose where to start; they do not compare performance on the same project.

Entry-point docs checked

  • Review plans and edits in your existing editor?

    Claude Code’s VS Code extension provides a graphical panel, diffs, and plan review. Its CLI can also run in the editor’s integrated terminal. Check the editor and sign-in requirements before choosing an extension or terminal workflow.

    Claude Code

  • Want the editor to be your main workspace?

    Cursor brings agent and editor workflows into one product, and its documentation also lists CLI and cloud entry points. Choose the surface you intend to use, then check project setup, change review, and tool connections. Confirm capabilities for that specific surface.

    Cursor

  • Already using VS Code, Cursor, or Windsurf?

    Codex documents extension entry points for these three editors and a separate terminal CLI. Start with the IDE integration for open-file context and in-place review, or the CLI for a terminal workflow. Check account and capability requirements for the surface you choose.

    Codex

Facts side by side

Vendor

Claude Code
Anthropic
Cursor
Anysphere
Codex
OpenAI

Surface

Claude Code
Terminal, also available in an IDE and on the web.
Cursor
A desktop IDE with agents.
Codex
A local terminal CLI. The repository also documents IDE, desktop, and web surfaces.

Source

Claude Code
Public repository anthropics/claude-code. The GitHub API returned no SPDX license, so this catalog does not call it open source.
Cursor
This catalog does not link a public product repository, so it stores no star count.
Codex
Public repository openai/codex, Apache-2.0.

Pricing model

Claude Code
Paid. The product page requires Claude Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise, or Claude Console. No prices are quoted.
Cursor
Free allowance plus paid plans. A pricing page exists; confirm amounts on the official site.
Codex
Paid. The official repository says to use a paid ChatGPT plan or an API key. No prices are quoted.

Summary

All three are AI coding tools with different surfaces: Claude Code and Codex are terminal agents first, and Cursor is a desktop IDE. Repository stars describe a public repo and cannot rank Cursor. Prices change; confirm them on each official site.

Tool records and official sources

These dates belong to each tool’s catalog source-check record. Confirm current features, allowances, and costs on the official pages. A source check is not hands-on testing or a security audit.

Tools in this comparison

Stars are hidden here. Attention is not a comparison dimension; each tool page still shows its stars.

  • Claude Code

    AnthropicCoding agents

    Anthropic's agentic coding tool for terminal, IDE, and the web.

    PaidFeatured

  • Cursor

    AnysphereCoding agents

    A desktop IDE with agents. A pricing page exists; this entry does not quote it.

    FreemiumFeatured

  • Codex

    OpenAICoding agents

    OpenAI's local terminal coding agent. The repository license is Apache-2.0.

    PaidFeaturedApache-2.0

FAQ

Which is better: Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex?

The comparison has no winner and no overall score. It places vendor, surface, source, and pricing model side by side. Cursor has no linked public product repository, so stars cannot compare it with the other two.