AI Coding Tools Pricing Comparison (2026)

AI coding tool pricing in 2026 ranges from free and open-source (Continue, Aider with Ollama) to $200/month for heavy-usage tiers (Cursor Ultra). The most popular paid plans sit between $10 and $20/month for individuals and $19 to $40/user/month for teams. This guide compares free tiers, Pro plans, and value by workflow so you can pick what fits your budget.

TL;DR

• Fully free options: Continue + Ollama ($0 forever), Aider (OSS, BYO keys), GitHub Copilot Free (2,000 completions/month), Windsurf Free (unlimited inline).
• Individual Pro plans: Copilot Pro $10/month, Windsurf Pro $15/month, Cursor Pro $20/month, Claude Code included with Claude Pro $20/month.
• Team plans: Copilot Business $19/user, Windsurf Teams $30/user, Cursor Teams $40/user.
• Watch for hidden costs: API overages, BYO key model costs, and enterprise add-ons for SSO/VPC.
• If a tool saves even 1-2 hours per month, it typically pays for itself at standard developer rates.

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

Free Tiers Compared

Value by Workflow

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.