TL;DR: GitHub Copilot is the cheapest paid option at $10 a month (Pro), with a free tier that includes agent mode and the CLI. Cursor now starts at $8 a month (Plus, Grok models only), but its main coding plan is Premium at $30 a month, with third-party models billed at API list price. Claude Code comes with Claude Pro at $20 a month ($17 a month billed annually), and heavy users step up to Max from $100. All three top out around $100–$200 a month for power users.
Last updated: October 23, 2026. Prices from each vendor’s official pricing page; USD, excluding tax.
Cursor, GitHub Copilot and Claude Code are the three AI coding tools most developers shortlist. Their pricing models have all changed in 2026, so this guide lines up the current plans side by side. It’s a pricing and features comparison based on the official pages, not a coding benchmark. For a head-to-head of terminal agents, see our Claude Code vs Codex comparison.
How much do Cursor, GitHub Copilot and Claude Code cost?
Entry paid plans cost $8 (Cursor Plus), $10 (Copilot Pro) and $20 (Claude Pro) a month. Here’s every individual plan.
| Tier | Cursor | GitHub Copilot | Claude Code (via Claude plans) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0, limited agent and chat requests | $0, limited chat and agent usage | Not included in Free |
| Entry | Plus $8/mo (Grok models only) | Pro $10/mo | Pro $20/mo ($17/mo billed annually) |
| Mid | Premium $30/mo (4x Plus usage) | Pro+ $39/mo | — |
| High | Super $100/mo (15x Plus usage) | Max $100/mo | Max 5x from $100/mo |
| Top | Ultra $200/mo (50x Plus usage) | — | Max 20x |
| Teams | From $30/user/mo | Business plans | Team standard seat $20/mo annual ($25 monthly) |
Sources: Cursor pricing, GitHub Copilot plans, Claude pricing, checked October 23, 2026.
UK buyers: all three bill in USD by default and show local tax at checkout, so expect VAT on top of these prices.
How does Cursor pricing work?
Cursor gives each plan a shared AI usage pool that refreshes weekly, and charges third-party models separately. Cursor’s pricing page says every tier “includes a pool of AI usage shared across Cursor and Grok,” and “your allowance refreshes weekly, so one heavy day never wipes out your whole month.”
Key details from the page:
- Plus ($8): “Only Grok models are available on this plan.”
- Premium ($30) and up: cloud agents and automations, AI code reviews via Bugbot, and “third-party models at API list price,” meaning Claude or GPT usage costs extra, by usage.
- Super ($100) and Ultra ($200): 15x and 50x Plus usage; Ultra adds “earliest access to all products & models.”
Cursor recommends “Premium for new AI users, Super for daily agent users, and Ultra for power users.” You can set spending caps for third-party model usage.
How does GitHub Copilot pricing work?
Copilot plans include a monthly allowance of GitHub AI Credits, and agent features draw them down. GitHub’s plans page says “agent mode, code review, Copilot in the cloud, Copilot CLI, and Copilot app consume GitHub AI Credits.”
| Plan | Price | Total monthly AI credits | Notable extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited chat and agent usage | Agent mode in IDEs, CLI, MCP |
| Pro | $10/mo | $15 ($10 base + $5 flex) | Cloud agent, PR code review |
| Pro+ | $39/mo | $70 ($39 base + $31 flex) | Delegate to Claude and Codex agents (preview) |
| Max | $100/mo | $200 ($100 base + $100 flex) | Highest allowance |
GitHub notes that “flex allotments may change over time.” Paid plans can buy extra credits. Copilot works in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, Eclipse and Xcode, plus github.com and the terminal.
How does Claude Code pricing work?
Claude Code isn’t sold on its own for individuals; it’s included in Claude Pro and Max. Anthropic’s pricing page lists Claude Code as “No” on Free and “Yes” on Pro, Max 5x and Max 20x.
- Pro: $17 a month billed annually ($200 up front) or $20 monthly.
- Max: “From $100” a month, with “5x or 20x more usage than Pro,” priority access at busy times, and $100–$200 a month in API credits.
- Team: standard seats are $20 per seat a month billed annually ($25 monthly); premium seats with 5x usage are $100 ($125 monthly).
Usage limits are shared across Claude chat and Claude Code. For how Claude’s consumer plans compare with ChatGPT and Gemini, see our ChatGPT Plus vs Claude Pro vs Google AI Pro guide.
What’s the difference between Cursor, Copilot and Claude Code?
Cursor is an AI-first code editor, Copilot is an assistant that plugs into the editor you already use, and Claude Code is a terminal-first coding agent.
| Cursor | GitHub Copilot | Claude Code | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form | Standalone editor (VS Code-based) plus cloud agents | Extension for many IDEs, github.com, CLI | Terminal/CLI agent, plus IDE and desktop integrations |
| Models | Grok included; third-party at API price (Premium+) | Multiple models via AI credits | Anthropic Claude models |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes | No |
| Best fit | Developers who want an editor built around agents | Teams already on GitHub, mixed IDEs | Developers who like working in the terminal |
Which AI coding tool is the best value?
For most people on a budget, Copilot Pro at $10 is the best value; Claude Pro at $20 is better if you also want a full chatbot; Cursor Premium at $30 suits editor-centric agent work.
| If you want… | Pick |
|---|---|
| The cheapest capable paid plan | GitHub Copilot Pro, $10/mo |
| A good free tier | GitHub Copilot Free or Cursor Free |
| Coding plus a general AI assistant | Claude Pro, $20/mo |
| An AI-native editor with cloud agents | Cursor Premium, $30/mo |
| Heavy daily agent use | Copilot Max, Cursor Super or Claude Max, ~$100/mo |
If you’re running agents with access to your code and terminal, review our AI agent security checklist before you grant broad permissions.
FAQ
Is GitHub Copilot cheaper than Cursor?
Yes, at the main tiers. Copilot Pro is $10 a month versus Cursor Premium at $30. Cursor Plus costs $8 but only includes Grok models.
Is Claude Code free?
No. Claude Code isn’t included in Claude’s Free plan. It comes with Claude Pro ($20 a month, or $17 a month billed annually) and Max (from $100 a month).
Can I use Claude models in Cursor?
Yes, on Premium and higher plans, but Cursor bills third-party models separately at API list price rather than from your plan’s usage pool.
Does GitHub Copilot have a free plan?
Yes. Copilot Free includes limited chat and agent usage, agent mode in supported IDEs, the Copilot CLI and MCP server support.
What is the best AI coding tool for beginners?
GitHub Copilot is the easiest low-cost start because it has a free tier and works inside editors you may already use. Cursor Free is a good option if you want an AI-first editor.
Which is better for teams?
Copilot suits teams already on GitHub. Cursor Teams starts at $30 per user a month and Claude Team standard seats cost $20 per seat a month billed annually.
Sources checked October 23, 2026: cursor.com/pricing, github.com/features/copilot/plans, claude.com/pricing. Prices change often; check each page before buying.
