Free tool
AI Coding Assistant Comparison (2026)
Every major AI coding tool — Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, Windsurf, Cline, Zed, JetBrains Junie, Replit, Amazon Q, Tabnine, Augment, Gemini Code Assist, Google Antigravity — by price, billing model, form, and features. Filter by tool, billing, or open-source. Verified June 2026.
- AiderOpen-source / BYO-keyFreefree/BYO-keyCLIopen-source
Terminal pair programmer, edits + auto-commits to your git repo, repo map, 100+ languages, OSS
- Models: Any LLM (Claude, GPT, DeepSeek, local)
- Best for: Terminal-first devs wanting free, model-agnostic pair programming
- Amazon Q DeveloperFreeFreeusage/creditsextension
~50 agentic req/mo, completions, AWS-aware, scans
- Models: Amazon-managed (Claude on Bedrock)
- Best for: AWS devs trying agentic coding free
- ClineOpen-source / BYO-keyFreefree/BYO-keyextensionopen-source
Autonomous agent (plan/act), codebase context, MCP, terminal+browser, Apache-2.0
- Models: 30+ providers incl. local (Ollama/LM Studio)
- Best for: Full control + BYO key, no platform markup
- CursorHobby (Free)FreesubscriptionIDE
Limited Tab + Agent, no card
- Models: Frontier models, limited (Auto mode)
- Best for: Trying Cursor / light use
- GitHub CopilotFreeFreeusage/creditsextension
2,000 completions/mo, ~50 chat, agent mode, CLI, MCP
- Models: Claude Haiku 4.5, GPT-5 mini, Gemini
- Best for: Casual / student use in your editor
- Google (Antigravity)Public preview (Free)FreesubscriptionIDE
Agent-first IDE: plan/execute/verify across editor+terminal+browser; generous Gemini limits
- Models: Gemini 3 Pro + Claude Sonnet 4.6 + GPT-OSS
- Best for: Google's agent-first IDE, free to try
- JetBrains (AI / Junie)AI FreeFreeusage/creditsIDE
Limited completion + chat, small Junie agent quota
- Models: Local + limited cloud
- Best for: Basic in-IDE AI for JetBrains users
- WindsurfFreeFreesubscriptionIDE
Unlimited autocomplete + inline edits, light Cascade agent quota, MCP
- Models: SWE-1 + limited frontier
- Best for: Free agentic IDE with unlimited autocomplete
- ZedPersonal (Free)Freefree/BYO-keyIDEopen-source
2,000 edit predictions/mo, unlimited BYO-key AI, fast native editor, MCP
- Models: BYO key or external agents (Claude Code)
- Best for: Fast native editor with BYO-key AI
- GitHub CopilotPro$10/mousage/creditsextension
Unlimited completions, agent mode, cloud agent, ~$15 credits, MCP
- Models: Claude, GPT-5, Gemini (picker)
- Best for: Individual devs in VS Code / JetBrains
- JetBrains (AI / Junie)AI Pro$10/mousage/creditsIDE
Enhanced cloud AI, Junie + Claude agent, codebase context, MCP
- Models: Cloud models + Junie agent
- Best for: JetBrains devs wanting Junie
- ZedPro$10/mousage/creditsIDEopen-source
Unlimited edit predictions, $5 hosted credits, overage at API+10%
- Models: Zed-hosted + BYO key
- Best for: Hosted models without managing keys
- Amazon Q DeveloperPro$19/seatper-seatextension
Higher limits, Java/.NET transforms, AWS integration, security scans, MCP
- Models: Amazon-managed (Claude on Bedrock)
- Best for: AWS teams modernizing codebases
- GitHub CopilotBusiness$19/seatper-seatextension
Org policy, IP indemnity, agent mode, 1,900 AI credits/user (~$19), MCP
- Models: Claude, GPT-5, Gemini (org-managed)
- Best for: Teams already on GitHub
- Google (Gemini Code Assist)Standard$19/seatper-seatextension
Unlimited completions, chat, agent, GCP integration, codebase context
- Models: Gemini 2.5 / 3 family
- Best for: Teams building on Google Cloud
- Anthropic (Claude Code)via Claude Pro$20/mosubscriptionCLI agent
Agentic terminal coding, full codebase context, MCP, subagents, hooks, plan mode
- Models: Claude Sonnet 5 + Opus 4.8
- Best for: Most individual Claude Code users
- Augment CodeIndie$20/mousage/creditsextension
Context Engine (large codebases), agent, MCP, code review, SOC 2, no training, ~40k credits
- Models: Frontier (Claude, GPT, Gemini)
- Best for: Solo devs on large codebases
- ClineTeams$20/seatper-seatextensionopen-source
Team mgmt on the OSS agent; first ~10 seats free
- Models: Same 30+ providers (org keys)
- Best for: Teams wanting an OSS agent + admin
- CursorPro$20/mosubscriptionIDE
Unlimited Tab (Fusion) + generous Auto pool, extended Agent, MCP, cloud agents, Bugbot; ~$20/mo API usage pool
- Models: All frontier (Claude Opus 4.8, GPT-5.6, Gemini 3.1)
- Best for: Most working developers
- WindsurfPro$20/mousage/creditsIDE
Cascade agent (higher quotas), MCP, codebase context
- Models: Claude, GPT, Gemini + SWE-1
- Best for: Individual devs wanting Cascade flows
- ReplitCore$25/mousage/creditsweb
Replit Agent (autonomous builds), ~$25 credits, 5 collaborators, 2 parallel agents, hosting
- Models: Claude (Replit Agent) + frontier
- Best for: Build + ship apps from the browser
- JetBrains (AI / Junie)AI Ultimate$30/mousage/creditsIDE
Full Junie + Claude agent, ~$35/mo credits, rollover
- Models: GPT-5, Claude Sonnet 4.6, Gemini 2.5 Pro + full Junie
- Best for: Heavy JetBrains + Junie users
- ZedBusiness$30/seatper-seatIDEopen-source
Org AI policies, training off by default, unlimited predictions, BYOK
- Models: BYO key (no extra charge)
- Best for: Teams needing AI governance
- GitHub CopilotPro+$39/mousage/creditsextension
Unlimited completions, 7,000 AI credits/mo (~$70), premium models, audit logs
- Models: All premium models incl. Opus
- Best for: Heavy users wanting all premium models
- GitHub CopilotEnterprise$39/seatper-seatextension
Everything in Business + 3,900 AI credits/user (~$39), GitHub.com-wide features, audit
- Models: Claude, GPT-5, Gemini (org-managed)
- Best for: Large orgs standardized on GitHub
- TabnineCode Assistant$39/seatper-seatextension
Codebase-grounded completions + chat, SaaS/VPC/on-prem/air-gapped, zero retention · annual only
- Models: Multiple LLMs + private/on-prem
- Best for: Privacy/compliance enterprises
- CursorTeams$40/seatper-seatIDE
SSO, admin, team rules, Bugbot reviews, analytics, privacy mode
- Models: All frontier models
- Best for: Teams needing admin + shared context
- WindsurfTeams$40/seatper-seatIDE
SSO, admin analytics, higher quotas, Cascade agent
- Models: Frontier models + SWE-1
- Best for: Teams on Windsurf/Cascade
- Google (Gemini Code Assist)Enterprise$45/seatper-seatextension
Full GCP integration, admin controls, codebase customization, security
- Models: Gemini 3 family
- Best for: Enterprises on GCP
- TabnineAgentic$59/seatper-seatextension
Agentic workflows, Context Engine, terminal CLI agent, MCP · annual only
- Models: Multiple LLMs (BYO + hosted)
- Best for: Enterprises wanting private agentic coding
- CursorPro+$60/mousage/creditsIDE
~3.5× Pro's API usage pool (~$70/mo), priority access
- Models: All frontier models
- Best for: Heavy individual agent users
- Anthropic (Claude Code)via Claude Max 5×$100/mosubscriptionCLI agent
~5× Pro usage, priority access, agentic + MCP
- Models: Sonnet 5 + Opus 4.8 (more Opus)
- Best for: Daily heavy Claude Code users
- Augment CodeBusiness$100/mousage/creditsextension
Up to 50 seats, $100 usage included, Context Engine, team controls
- Models: Frontier (Claude, GPT, Gemini)
- Best for: Teams on large codebases (flat price)
- GitHub CopilotMax$100/mousage/creditsextension
Unlimited completions, 20,000 AI credits/mo (~$200), priority access, MCP
- Models: All premium models, priority to newest
- Best for: Heaviest individual Copilot users
- Anthropic (Claude Code)via Claude Max 20×$200/mosubscriptionCLI agent
~20× Pro usage, highest limits, parallel agents
- Models: Sonnet 5 + Opus 4.8
- Best for: Power users running agents all day
- CursorUltra$200/mousage/creditsIDE
~20× usage, priority new features
- Models: All frontier + priority to new ones
- Best for: All-day agentic coding
Verified June 2026, USD, individual/standard tier unless marked /seat. AI coding prices move monthly. Most “subscription” prices are now a FLOOR, not a cap — Cursor, Windsurf, Replit, Augment, Zed Pro, JetBrains, Copilot and others meter agent/premium-model usage against an included credit allowance, so heavy users pay overages. “Open-source” = the editor/agent license (Cline, Zed), not the AI models (all proprietary); Claude Code is source-available. Confirm on the vendor's page before buying.
Want the verdict, not just the table?
The table lays out every plan; these head-to-heads add the opinionated pick — which to choose for your workflow, and why.
Frequently asked
Do I need a separate subscription for Claude Code?
No. Claude Code has no standalone subscription — it's included on every paid Claude plan. Claude Pro ($20/mo, or $17/mo annual) covers most individuals with Sonnet 4.6 and Opus 4.8 in the terminal, IDE, web, and desktop. Max 5x ($100/mo) and Max 20x ($200/mo) raise the shared usage limits ~5× and ~20× for heavy or all-day agentic use. You can alternatively pay-as-you-go via the Anthropic API, but the subscription plans are the value path for most developers.
What changed with GitHub Copilot pricing in 2026?
On June 1, 2026, every Copilot plan moved to usage-based billing. Each plan (Free, Pro $10, Pro+ $39, Business $19/user) now includes a monthly allowance of GitHub AI Credits (1 credit = $0.01) that fund premium model/agent requests; once exhausted, paid plans can buy more. Code completions and next-edit suggestions stay unlimited and don't consume credits on any paid plan. So the monthly price is now a floor — heavy agent/premium-model users can incur overages.
Which AI coding tools are actually open source vs. just free to use?
Genuinely open source: Cline (Apache-2.0 agent, BYO key) and the Zed editor (GPL/AGPL — though Zed's hosted AI credits are a paid add-on). 'Free to use' but closed source: Cursor Hobby, Windsurf Free, GitHub Copilot Free, Amazon Q Free, and Google Antigravity's preview are all $0 but proprietary. Claude Code's CLI is source-available (you can read it) but not OSI open-source — and the underlying models are closed everywhere.
What's the cheapest way to get an agentic coding tool in 2026?
For $0: Cline (open-source, BYO API key — you only pay model providers, often pennies per task), Google Antigravity (free in public preview with Gemini 3), Windsurf Free, or Copilot Free. For a flat ~$20/mo with hosted models included: Cursor Pro, Windsurf Pro, Claude Pro (Claude Code), Augment Indie, or Replit Core ($25). Watch for usage/credit overages — most $20 plans meter agent and premium-model usage beyond an included allowance.
Is Tabnine still a good pick for individual developers?
Not really in 2026. Tabnine retired its free and individual tiers and is now enterprise/team-focused, starting at $39/user/month (Code Assistant) or $59/user/month (Agentic), annual billing only. Its differentiator is privacy and deployment flexibility (SaaS, VPC, on-prem, air-gapped) with zero code retention — so it fits compliance-sensitive enterprises, not solo developers, who are better served by Cursor, Copilot Pro, Claude Code, Cline, or Zed.