Background Agents Explained: Cursor, Codex & Beyond

Background agents are AI coding features that run tasks asynchronously -- editing files, running tests, or exploring the codebase -- without blocking your IDE while you continue working. Cursor offers background agents on Pro+ ($60/month) and Ultra ($200/month) tiers, and OpenAI Codex supports parallel sandboxes. This guide explains how they work and when they matter.

TL;DR

• Background agents run coding tasks asynchronously; you start a task and review results when ready, unlike foreground agents where you approve each step.
• Cursor Pro+ ($60/month) and Ultra ($200/month) include background agents; Hobby and Pro use foreground Agent mode only.
• OpenAI Codex supports parallel sandboxes where multiple agents can work on different parts of a project simultaneously.
• Background agents are best for large refactors, multi-step debugging, and tasks that take 10+ minutes.
• The tradeoff is less per-step control: you must review output carefully since you did not approve each intermediate step.

Quick Answer

Background agents run coding tasks asynchronously—editing files, running tests, or exploring the codebase—without blocking your IDE. Cursor offers them on Pro+ and Ultra; OpenAI Codex supports parallel sandboxes. You start a task and review results when ready. See our Background Agents collection.

How Background Agents Work

Unlike foreground Agent mode, you do not approve each step in real time. The agent runs until it finishes or needs your input.

Where Background Agents Appear

Cursor

• Pro+ ($60/month) and Ultra ($200/month) include background agents.
• Hobby and Pro use foreground Agent mode only.
• Cursor

OpenAI Codex

• Parallel sandboxes; agents can work on multiple tasks.
• Desktop app and integration workflows.
• OpenAI Codex

Enterprise Tools

• Some enterprise agents (e.g. Claude Cowork, Devin) support async or ticket-driven workflows. Check vendor docs.

When Background Agents Matter

Tradeoffs

• Pro: Frees you to do other work while the agent runs.
• Con: Less control per step; you must review output carefully.
• Con: Higher-tier pricing; background agents are often premium.

Related Concepts

• Foreground Agent: Cursor Agent, Claude Code—you approve each change.
• Ticket-driven: Devin, Claude Cowork—tasks come from Jira, Linear, Slack.
• Headless: Agents that run without a visible IDE; often API- or CI-driven.

Next Steps

• AI coding agents explained — Agent vs completion vs chat.
• Cursor pricing guide — Tier breakdown.
• Background Agents collection — Tools with async agents.