# Cursor vs Claude Code vs Codex CLI: three coding tools side by side

Canonical: https://theagenticweekly.com/compare/cursor-vs-claude-code-vs-codex-cli · Last verified: 2026-10-27 · Published: 2026-10-27 · Author: Agentic Weekly (operated independently from Texas, US) · Evidence: Evidence: Reported for prices and features (read Oct 27, 2026, America/Chicago). Claude Code and Codex CLI were each smoke-tested on 2026-10-25 with a small local model; Cursor was not run.

> Cursor is an editor from $8 per month, Claude Code is a terminal agent included in paid Claude plans from $17 to $20 per month, and Codex CLI is an open-source terminal agent included with ChatGPT plans. Pick by where you work and which account you already pay for. We smoke-tested Claude Code and Codex CLI with a small local model, not Cursor, so this page does not rank quality.

## Side by side

Table: Cursor, Claude Code and Codex CLI compared

|  | Cursor | Claude Code | Codex CLI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form | AI code editor | Terminal agent, also IDE, desktop and web | Terminal agent |
| Price | $8 to $200 per month (Free tier) | Paid Claude plans: $17 to $20 Pro, Max from $100; not on Free | Free software; usage in ChatGPT plans |
| Open source | No | No | Yes (Apache-2.0) |
| Models | Grok on Plus; third-party at API price on Premium | Claude models | OpenAI models, or a local model |
| Our test | Not run | [Tested Oct 25](https://theagenticweekly.com/tests/claude-code) | [Tested Oct 25](https://theagenticweekly.com/tests/codex-cli) |

## How to pick

- Editor first: Cursor ([pricing](https://theagenticweekly.com/what-is/cursor-pricing)).
- Terminal first with a Claude plan: Claude Code ([pricing](https://theagenticweekly.com/what-is/claude-code-pricing)).
- Terminal first, open source, or you already have ChatGPT: Codex CLI.
- Two-tool detail: [Cursor vs Codex CLI](https://theagenticweekly.com/compare/cursor-vs-codex-cli), [Claude Code vs Cursor](https://theagenticweekly.com/compare/claude-code-vs-cursor), [Claude Code vs Codex CLI](https://theagenticweekly.com/compare/claude-code-vs-codex-cli).

## FAQ

### Which is best: Cursor, Claude Code or Codex?

There is no verified winner. We compare price and fit: Cursor from $8 per month, Claude Code with paid Claude plans, Codex CLI with ChatGPT plans. Our smoke tests of Claude Code and Codex CLI used a small local model and do not rank quality.

### Which is cheapest?

Codex CLI and opencode are free software, but model usage costs money unless run locally. Among paid entry points, Cursor Plus is $8 per month and Claude Pro is $17 billed annually or $20 monthly.

## Sources

- [Cursor pricing](https://cursor.com/pricing) (fetched 2026-10-27)
- [Claude pricing](https://claude.com/pricing) (fetched 2026-10-27)
- [ChatGPT pricing](https://chatgpt.com/pricing) (fetched 2026-10-27)
- [Codex repository (README)](https://github.com/openai/codex) (fetched 2026-10-25)

## Related

- [Cursor vs Codex CLI](https://theagenticweekly.com/compare/cursor-vs-codex-cli)
- [Claude Code vs Cursor](https://theagenticweekly.com/compare/claude-code-vs-cursor)
- [Best AI coding agents](https://theagenticweekly.com/best/ai-coding-agents)
- [Cursor pricing](https://theagenticweekly.com/what-is/cursor-pricing)
- [Claude Code pricing](https://theagenticweekly.com/what-is/claude-code-pricing)
- [How to install Claude Code](https://theagenticweekly.com/what-is/how-to-install-claude-code)
- [AI coding tool questions answered](https://theagenticweekly.com/what-is/ai-coding-tool-questions-answered)
- [All explainers and answers](https://theagenticweekly.com/what-is)

## Changelog

- 2026-10-27: First published. Facts read from the sources listed below on this date.

## How to cite

Agentic Weekly, "Cursor vs Claude Code vs Codex CLI: three coding tools side by side", last updated 2026-10-27, https://theagenticweekly.com/compare/cursor-vs-claude-code-vs-codex-cli