Updated March 2026
AI Coding Plans
Compared
Side-by-side comparison of 8 AI coding subscriptions. Pricing, models, features, and IDE support — everything you need to choose.
Cursor
Most PopularCursor
Pro$20/month
Business$40/month (per seat)
✓ Free tier available
Models
Claude Opus 4.6Claude Sonnet 4.6GPT-5.4Gemini 3 Procursor-small
Key Features
- AI-first code editor (VS Code fork)
- Tab autocomplete + inline edits
- Composer: agentic multi-file coding
- Codebase-aware chat (indexes your project)
- 500 fast premium requests/month (Pro)
- Unlimited slow requests
IDE / Tools
Cursor IDE
Limitations
- ⚠️ Must use Cursor IDE
- ⚠️ Heavy usage may need Business tier
- ⚠️ Fast request quota resets monthly
GitHub Copilot
GitHub / Microsoft
Individual$10/month
Business$19/month (per seat)
Enterprise$39/month (per seat)
✓ Free tier available
Models
GPT-5.4GPT-5.4 miniClaude Sonnet 4.6Gemini 3 Flash
Key Features
- Code completion in any IDE
- Copilot Chat (GPT-5.4 powered)
- Copilot CLI for terminal
- Pull request summaries & reviews
- GitHub-native integration
- Copilot Workspace (agentic)
IDE / Tools
VS CodeJetBrains IDEsNeovimXcodeGitHub.com
Limitations
- ⚠️ Best with VS Code / JetBrains
- ⚠️ Enterprise features gated
- ⚠️ Limited model choice
Claude Pro / Max
Best for CodingAnthropic
Pro$20/month
Max$100/month
Max (5x)$200/month
✓ Free tier available
Models
Claude Opus 4.6Claude Sonnet 4.6Claude Haiku 3.5
Key Features
- Claude Code (terminal agent)
- Extended thinking mode
- Artifacts (live code previews)
- Projects with knowledge base
- Max: 20x Pro usage, higher limits
- Claude Code: autonomous multi-file coding
IDE / Tools
Claude.aiClaude Code (CLI)API
Limitations
- ⚠️ Claude models only
- ⚠️ Pro has rate limits on Opus
- ⚠️ Claude Code requires Max for heavy use
ChatGPT Plus / Pro
OpenAI
Plus$20/month
Pro$200/month
✓ Free tier available
Models
GPT-5.4GPT-5.4 ProGPT-5.2o3o4-mini
Key Features
- GPT-5.4 with extended thinking
- Codex CLI (autonomous coding agent)
- Canvas (collaborative code editor)
- DALL·E, Browse, Advanced Data Analysis
- Custom GPTs
- Pro: unlimited access to all models
IDE / Tools
ChatGPTCodex CLIAPI
Limitations
- ⚠️ OpenAI models only
- ⚠️ Plus has GPT-5.4 rate limits
- ⚠️ Codex CLI still in beta
OpenRouter
Most FlexibleOpenRouter
Pay-as-you-goFree/usage (per token pricing)
✓ Free tier available
Models
All: Claude, GPT, Gemini, Llama, DeepSeek, Mistral, Qwen, 300+
Key Features
- 300+ models from all providers
- Use any model with any tool (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.)
- Unified API — one key, all models
- Free models available (Llama, Gemma, etc.)
- Provider routing & fallbacks
- Usage-based, no subscription lock-in
IDE / Tools
Claude CodeCursorClineContinueRoo CodeAiderany OpenAI-compatible tool
Limitations
- ⚠️ No fixed monthly plan
- ⚠️ Costs depend on model choice
- ⚠️ Need to manage own spend
Windsurf (Codeium)
Codeium
Pro$15/month
Team$35/month (per seat)
✓ Free tier available
Models
Claude Sonnet 4.6GPT-5.4Cascade (proprietary)
Key Features
- AI-native code editor
- Cascade: agentic multi-step coding
- Supercomplete (multi-line autocomplete)
- Built-in terminal AI
- Codebase indexing
- Free tier with generous limits
IDE / Tools
Windsurf IDE
Limitations
- ⚠️ Must use Windsurf editor
- ⚠️ Newer product, smaller ecosystem
- ⚠️ Model selection limited
Grok (SuperGrok)
xAI
X Premium+$16/month
SuperGrok$30/month
Models
Grok 3Grok 3 miniGrok 2
Key Features
- Grok 3 with extended thinking
- DeepSearch (web research)
- Code generation & debugging
- Real-time X/Twitter data integration
- Image generation & analysis
- SuperGrok: higher limits + priority
IDE / Tools
grok.x.aiAPI
Limitations
- ⚠️ xAI models only
- ⚠️ No IDE integration
- ⚠️ Requires X account for Premium+
Gemini Advanced
Advanced (Google One AI Premium)$20/month
✓ Free tier available
Models
Gemini 3 ProGemini 3 FlashGemini 2.5 Pro
Key Features
- Gemini 3 Pro (latest)
- 1M token context window
- Code execution in sandbox
- Google Workspace integration
- Gemini in Android Studio
- 2TB Google One storage included
IDE / Tools
gemini.google.comAndroid StudioGoogle ColabAPI
Limitations
- ⚠️ Google models only
- ⚠️ Limited IDE integrations
- ⚠️ No standalone coding agent
Quick Comparison
| Plan | From | Free? | Best For | IDE Lock-in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cursor Pro | $20/mo | ✓ | Agentic coding in IDE | Cursor only |
| GitHub Copilot | $10/mo | ✓ | Code completion everywhere | Any IDE |
| Claude Max | $20/mo | ✓ | Terminal coding (Claude Code) | No lock-in |
| ChatGPT Plus | $20/mo | ✓ | General AI + Codex CLI | No lock-in |
| OpenRouter | Pay-as-go | ✓ | Max flexibility, 300+ models | No lock-in |
| Windsurf | $15/mo | ✓ | Budget AI IDE | Windsurf only |
| Grok | $16/mo | ✗ | X/Twitter integration | No IDE |
| Gemini Advanced | $20/mo | ✓ | Google ecosystem | Limited |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best AI coding subscription in 2026?
It depends on your workflow. Cursor Pro ($20/mo) is the most popular AI-first IDE with agentic coding. Claude Max ($100/mo) is best for heavy terminal-based coding with Claude Code. GitHub Copilot ($10/mo) offers the best value for basic code completion across all IDEs. OpenRouter is the most flexible with 300+ models and pay-as-you-go pricing.
Can I use Claude Code or Codex CLI with these plans?
Claude Code works with Claude Pro/Max subscriptions or via API through OpenRouter. OpenAI Codex CLI works with ChatGPT Plus/Pro or via API. For maximum flexibility, OpenRouter lets you use both through a single API key with any compatible tool.
Which plan offers the most models?
OpenRouter gives you access to 300+ models from all major providers (Claude, GPT, Gemini, Llama, DeepSeek, Mistral, Qwen, and more) through a single API. If you want a fixed subscription, Cursor Pro includes Claude Opus 4.6, GPT-5.4, and Gemini 3 Pro in one plan.
Is there a free AI coding assistant?
Yes! GitHub Copilot has a free tier, Cursor offers free usage with limited requests, Claude.ai has a free tier, ChatGPT has free GPT-5.4 mini access, and OpenRouter has free models like Llama and Gemma. Windsurf (Codeium) also has a generous free tier.
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot — which should I choose?
Cursor ($20/mo) is an AI-first IDE with deeper AI integration (Composer for agentic coding, better context understanding). GitHub Copilot ($10/mo) works across more IDEs and is cheaper. Choose Cursor if AI coding is central to your workflow; choose Copilot if you want broad IDE support at lower cost.