AI Coding Tools Pricing Comparison (2026)
A practical comparison of AI coding tool pricing: free tiers, Pro plans, and value by workflow so you can choose the right plan.
Editorial Team
The AI Coding Tools Directory editorial team researches and reviews AI-powered development tools to help developers find the best solutions for their workflows.
Pricing for AI coding tools varies by plan, usage model, and features. This guide gives a clear comparison so you can pick what fits your budget.
Quick Answer
Free or low-cost: Continue (OSS + Ollama), Aider (OSS), GitHub Copilot Free, Windsurf Free. ~$10–20/month: Copilot Pro ($10), Cursor Pro ($20), Windsurf Pro ($15). Teams: Copilot Business ($19/user), Cursor Teams ($40/user). See Cursor pricing guide for details on Cursor tiers.
Pricing at a Glance
| Tool | Free Tier | Pro/Individual | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cursor | Hobby (trial + caps) | $20/month | $40/user/month |
| GitHub Copilot | 2K completions, 50 premium | $10 (Pro), $39 (Pro+) | $19/user |
| Windsurf | Unlimited inline, 25 credits | $15/user | $30/user |
| Claude Code | With Claude plan | Claude Pro $20/month | Team/Enterprise |
| Continue | Yes (OSS) | You pay APIs only | Self-hosted |
| Aider | Yes (OSS) | You pay APIs only | Self-hosted |
| JetBrains AI | No | Add-on to IDE license | Per seat |
Free Tiers Compared
| Tool | What you get | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Copilot Free | Inline + chat | 2,000 completions, 50 premium requests/month |
| Windsurf Free | Unlimited inline, 25 prompts | 25 prompt credits/month |
| Cursor Hobby | Pro trial 2 weeks | Then 2,000 completions + 50 premium |
| Continue | Full features | Local (Ollama) or your API keys |
| Aider | Full features | Your API keys or local models |
Value by Workflow
| If you need... | Best value |
|---|---|
| Stay in VS Code, low cost | Copilot Pro ($10) |
| AI-first IDE, agent workflows | Cursor Pro ($20) or Windsurf Pro ($15) |
| Terminal-first, Claude | Claude Pro includes Claude Code ($20) |
| Fully local, no cloud | Continue + Ollama (free) |
| Team with compliance | Copilot Business, Cursor Teams |
Hidden Costs to Watch
- API overages: Some tools charge beyond limits; check fine print.
- BYO keys: Cursor, Continue, Aider can use your keys—model costs apply.
- Enterprise add-ons: SSO, VPC, custom SLAs often cost extra.
Next Steps
- Cursor pricing guide — Cursor tiers in depth.
- Is AI coding worth it? — ROI perspective.
- Directory — Full tool list with current pricing.
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Tools Mentioned in This Article
Aider
Open-source terminal pair programmer with git-native workflows
Open SourceClaude Code
Anthropic's terminal-based AI coding agent with 80.9% SWE-bench, Agent Teams, and GitHub Actions
SubscriptionContinue
Open-source, model-agnostic AI coding assistant for VS Code and JetBrains
Open SourceCursor
The AI-native code editor with $1B+ ARR, 25+ models, and background agents on dedicated VMs
FreemiumGitHub Copilot
AI pair programmer built into GitHub and popular IDEs
FreemiumOllama
Run AI models locally with Docker-like simplicity, 200+ model families, and full API compatibility
Open SourceAnd 1 more tools mentioned...
Workflow Resources
Cookbook
AI-Powered Code Review & Quality
Automate code review and enforce quality standards using AI-powered tools and agentic workflows.
Cookbook
Building AI-Powered Applications
Build applications powered by LLMs, RAG, and AI agents using Claude Code, Cursor, and modern AI frameworks.
Cookbook
Building APIs & Backends with AI Agents
Design and build robust APIs and backend services with AI coding agents, from REST to GraphQL.
Cookbook
Debugging with AI Agents
Systematically debug complex issues using AI coding agents with structured workflows and MCP integrations.
Skill
Change risk triage
A systematic method for categorizing AI-generated code changes by blast radius and required verification depth, preventing high-risk changes from shipping without adequate review.
Skill
Configuring MCP servers
A cross-tool guide to setting up Model Context Protocol servers in Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, and VS Code, including server types, authentication, and common patterns.
Skill
Local model quality loop
Improve code output quality when using local AI models by combining rules files, iterative retries with error feedback, and test-backed validation gates.
Skill
Plan-implement-verify loop
A structured execution pattern for safe AI-assisted coding changes that prevents scope creep and ensures every edit is backed by test evidence.
MCP Server
AWS MCP Server
Open source MCP servers from AWS Labs that give AI coding agents access to AWS documentation, best practices, and contextual guidance for building on AWS.
MCP Server
Docker MCP Server
Docker MCP Gateway orchestrates MCP servers in isolated containers, providing secure discovery and execution of Model Context Protocol servers across AI coding tools.
MCP Server
Figma MCP Server
Official Figma MCP server that brings design context, variables, components, and Code Connect data into AI coding sessions for design-to-code workflows.
MCP Server
Firebase MCP Server
Experimental Firebase MCP server that gives AI coding agents access to Firestore, Auth, security rules, Cloud Messaging, and project management through the Firebase CLI.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest AI coding tool?
Is Cursor worth $20/month?
Can I use AI coding tools for free forever?
Which AI coding tool is best for teams?
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