Compared · prices checked 10 November 2026
Cursor vs Codex
Pick Cursor if you are a developer who wants an AI-first editor and to work line by line, steering the code yourself. Pick Codex if you already pay for ChatGPT, or want an agent running several software tasks in the cloud, the desktop app and the command line. Both have a free tier with limited AI use; Cursor Premium is $30 a month, while Codex comes inside ChatGPT plans, Plus at $20 a month.
Cursor
Anysphere (owned by SpaceX)
An AI code editor with agents, cloud agents and a command line tool.
Pick it when
You want to work line by line in an editor
For
A developer who wants an AI-first editor.
What it costs
Free; Plus $8 (Grok models only), Premium $30, Super $100, Ultra $200 a month; Teams $30+ a user a month
Read from cursor.com on 10 November 2026
Free plan with limited AI use
Founders on eChai
7 of 25 named it for “Which AI agents are running in your stack right now?”
Codex
OpenAI
OpenAI's coding agent, in the ChatGPT desktop app, the command line and the cloud.
Pick it when
You pay for ChatGPT, or want several tasks running in the cloud
For
A developer who already pays for ChatGPT and wants an agent for software work.
What it costs
Included in ChatGPT plans: limited on Free; Go $8, Plus $20, Pro from $100 a month
Read from chatgpt.com on 10 November 2026
Free: Limited Codex access on ChatGPT Free
Founders on eChai
4 of 25 named it for “Which AI agents are running in your stack right now?”
