How to Choose Between Cursor, Copilot, and Claude Code in 2025

Choosing an AI coding tool in 2025 means weighing several factors: your preferred editor, model flexibility, budget, and whether you need agent-style multi-file workflows. Three of the most discussed options are Cursor, GitHub Copilot, and Claude Code. Each serves a different niche.

Quick summary

Cursor: Full AI-first IDE

Cursor is a VS Code fork built around AI. You get Tab (autocomplete), Composer (multi-file editing), and Agent (autonomous tasks with approvals). It supports multiple models: GPT-4o/4.1, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Gemini 2.5 Pro, and o1-mini. You can bring your own API keys for some models.

Choose Cursor if:

• You want agent-style workflows (describe a change, see diffs, approve per hunk).
• You're okay switching from standard VS Code to a fork.
• You value model choice and are willing to pay for Pro ($20/month) or higher.
• You work across many files and want strong context awareness.

Limitations: It's a separate app, not an extension. Some teams prefer to avoid forks for compliance or consistency reasons. Privacy mode exists but is not the default.

See our Cursor review for more detail.

GitHub Copilot: Extension-first

GitHub Copilot adds inline completions and chat to VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Neovim, and GitHub.com. It uses OpenAI models (GPT-4o family) managed by GitHub. You stay in your existing editor; Copilot augments it.

Choose Copilot if:

• You want the lowest friction: install an extension, sign in, and go.
• You live in VS Code, JetBrains, or Neovim and don't want to switch.
• You want predictable pricing ($10/mo Individual, $19/user Business, $39/user Enterprise).
• You're a student, teacher, or verified OSS maintainer (Copilot is free for you).

Limitations: No agent-style multi-file workflows. No model choice (GitHub selects the model). Chat and completions are strong, but you won't get Cursor-style Composer/Agent.

See our GitHub Copilot review for more.

Claude Code: Terminal-first for Claude users

Claude Code runs in the terminal, Claude desktop, or web. It uses Claude Opus 4.5 and Sonnet 4.5 for code search, multi-file edits, and permissioned command execution. It's included with Claude Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise—no separate subscription.

Choose Claude Code if:

• You already pay for a Claude plan and want a coding-focused experience.
• You prefer terminal-first workflows.
• You like Anthropic's models and don't need to switch providers.
• You work with larger codebases (200K context, CLAUDE.md for project context).

Limitations: Anthropic-only; no GPT, Gemini, or other providers. Less GUI than Cursor. You need a Claude subscription; there's no standalone free tier for Claude Code.

See our Claude Code review for more.

Decision flow

1. Do you want to stay in your current editor?

   • Yes → Copilot or Continue (if you want open source and BYO keys).
   • No → Consider Cursor or Windsurf.

2. Do you need agent-style multi-file workflows?

   • Yes → Cursor, Windsurf, or Claude Code (if you have Claude).
   • No → Copilot or Codeium may be enough.

3. Do you need model flexibility or local/self-hosted?

   • Yes → Continue or Aider with your own keys or local models.
   • No → Copilot, Cursor, or Claude Code depending on your preferences.

4. What's your budget?

   • Free → Continue, Codeium free tier, or Copilot for students/OSS.
   • ~$10/mo → Copilot Individual.
   • ~$20/mo → Cursor Pro or Claude Pro (which includes Claude Code).

Summary

• Cursor is the best fit if you want a purpose-built AI IDE with agent workflows and model choice.
• GitHub Copilot is the best fit if you want to stay in your editor with minimal setup.
• Claude Code is the best fit if you already use Claude and prefer terminal-first coding.

For more options, browse our full directory and use the comparison tool to compare tools side by side.