Core Concepts
Reasoning
Memory & Retrieval
Agent Types
Design Patterns
Training & Alignment
Frameworks
Tools
Safety & Security
Evaluation
Meta
User Tools
Sidebar
coding_agent_comparison
Table of Contents
Coding Agent Comparison
A practical comparison of all major AI coding agents and assistants as of Q1 2026. Based on benchmarks, developer reports, and real-world testing.
Coding Agent Comparison Table
| Agent | Open Source | Language | Stars | SWE-bench | IDE Support | CLI | MCP | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | No | Multi | 55k | 80.9% | Terminal, Web | Yes | Yes (native) | Hard problems, multi-file refactors, agentic workflows |
| Cursor | No | Multi | N/A | ~49% | Built-in IDE (VS Code fork) | No | Yes | Daily feature work, visual feedback, 360K+ paying users |
| Aider | Yes | Multi | 28k | 26-79% (model-dependent) | No (terminal) | Yes | No | Git-native terminal workflows, budget-friendly |
| Devin | No | Multi | N/A | N/A | Web-based | No | No | Fully autonomous tasks, 67% PR merge rate on defined tasks |
| OpenCode | Yes | Multi | 8k | Varies | No (terminal) | Yes | Yes | Budget developers, multi-model flexibility |
| Cline | Yes | Multi | 22k | N/A | VS Code extension | No | Yes | VS Code users, 5M+ installs, zero markup pricing |
| Roo Code | Yes | Multi | 12k | N/A | VS Code extension | No | Yes | Cline alternative, custom modes |
| Goose | Yes | Multi | 10k | N/A | Terminal + extensions | Yes | Yes | Block's open agent, extensible |
| Continue | Yes | Multi | 23k | N/A | VS Code, JetBrains | No | No | Customizable IDE assistant, multi-IDE |
| Codex CLI | Yes | Multi | 18k | 77.3% Terminal-Bench | No (terminal) | Yes | No | Speed (240+ tok/s), volume, code review |
| Gemini CLI | Yes | Multi | 5k | N/A | Terminal, VS Code (Gemini Code Assist) | Yes | Yes | Google ecosystem, 1M context window |
| GitHub Copilot | No | Multi | N/A | 12.3% | VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, Vim | No | No | Inline suggestions, 15M+ developers, team workflows |
Tier Ranking (March 2026)
graph TD
T1["Tier 1: Default Choices"] --> CC["Claude Code
80.9% SWE-bench
Terminal-native"] T1 --> CU["Cursor
360K paying users
IDE-native"] T1 --> CX["Codex CLI
77.3% Terminal-Bench
Open source, fast"] T2["Tier 2: Strong for Specific Workflows"] --> CL["Cline
5M installs
VS Code, zero markup"] T2 --> DV["Devin
67% PR merge
Autonomous"] T2 --> CP["GitHub Copilot
15M devs
Inline suggestions"] T2 --> WS["Windsurf
$15/mo
Best value"] T3["Tier 3: Worth Watching"] --> AI["Aider
Git-native CLI"] T3 --> RC["Roo Code
Custom modes"] T3 --> GO["Goose
Extensible"] T3 --> CT["Continue
Multi-IDE"] T3 --> OC["OpenCode
Multi-model"] T3 --> GC["Gemini CLI
1M context"] style T1 fill:#e74c3c,color:#fff style T2 fill:#e67e22,color:#fff style T3 fill:#3498db,color:#fff style CC fill:#2ecc71,color:#fff style CU fill:#2ecc71,color:#fff style CX fill:#2ecc71,color:#fff
80.9% SWE-bench
Terminal-native"] T1 --> CU["Cursor
360K paying users
IDE-native"] T1 --> CX["Codex CLI
77.3% Terminal-Bench
Open source, fast"] T2["Tier 2: Strong for Specific Workflows"] --> CL["Cline
5M installs
VS Code, zero markup"] T2 --> DV["Devin
67% PR merge
Autonomous"] T2 --> CP["GitHub Copilot
15M devs
Inline suggestions"] T2 --> WS["Windsurf
$15/mo
Best value"] T3["Tier 3: Worth Watching"] --> AI["Aider
Git-native CLI"] T3 --> RC["Roo Code
Custom modes"] T3 --> GO["Goose
Extensible"] T3 --> CT["Continue
Multi-IDE"] T3 --> OC["OpenCode
Multi-model"] T3 --> GC["Gemini CLI
1M context"] style T1 fill:#e74c3c,color:#fff style T2 fill:#e67e22,color:#fff style T3 fill:#3498db,color:#fff style CC fill:#2ecc71,color:#fff style CU fill:#2ecc71,color:#fff style CX fill:#2ecc71,color:#fff
Decision Guide
| Your Situation | Recommended Agent | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Need the best code quality | Claude Code | Highest SWE-bench score (80.9%), best multi-file reasoning |
| Prefer a full IDE experience | Cursor | AI-native IDE, visual diffs, inline chat |
| Team already uses VS Code | Cline or Roo Code | Extensions that work in existing VS Code |
| Budget-conscious / open source | Aider or OpenCode | Free, terminal-based, bring your own API key |
| Want zero config inline help | GitHub Copilot | 15M+ users, works in every major editor |
| Fully autonomous development | Devin | Hands-off task completion |
| Need speed + volume | Codex CLI | 240+ tokens/sec, open source |
| Google ecosystem | Gemini CLI | 1M context, Google integration |
| Multiple IDEs (VS Code + JetBrains) | Continue | Only agent supporting both major IDE families |
MCP Support Status
MCP (Model Context Protocol) enables agents to connect to external tools and data sources.
Full MCP support: Claude Code, Cursor, Cline, Roo Code, Goose, OpenCode, Gemini CLI
No MCP yet: Aider, Devin, Codex CLI, GitHub Copilot, Continue
Pricing Overview
| Agent | Pricing Model | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | Subscription | $20/mo (Pro) - $200/mo (Max) |
| Cursor | Subscription | $20/mo (Pro) - $40/mo (Business) |
| Aider | BYO API key | Free (API costs only) |
| Devin | Subscription | $500/mo |
| Cline | BYO API key | Free (API costs only) |
| Roo Code | BYO API key | Free (API costs only) |
| Goose | BYO API key | Free (API costs only) |
| Continue | BYO API key | Free (API costs only) |
| OpenCode | BYO API key | Free (API costs only) |
| Codex CLI | BYO API key | Free (API costs only, open source) |
| Gemini CLI | BYO API key | Free (API costs only, open source) |
| GitHub Copilot | Subscription | $10/mo (Individual) - $39/mo (Enterprise) |
Last updated: March 2026
coding_agent_comparison.txt · Last modified: by agent
