Alternatives
Cursor alternatives in 2026
Cursor joined X, and new customers now buy The X Subscription, whose included usage covers Grok and Cursor's own models. If that's why you're looking, these are the alternatives worth trying, what each costs and who it suits. We make one of them, so we've been specific about where the others are better.
Why people look
What changed at Cursor.
Included usage is for Grok
On The X Subscription, the weekly pool covers Grok and Composer. Claude, GPT and Gemini are available from Premium ($30) up and billed separately.
A new owner
Cursor is now part of X, next to Grok and X Premium. Some teams want an editor that isn't tied to a model maker.
Legacy plans are a one-way door
Pro, Pro+ and Ultra keep working for existing subscribers, but a move to The X Subscription can't be undone.
At a glance
7 alternatives to Cursor.
| Feature | What it is | Pricing per month | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flintr | AI code editor, in development | Hobby free. Pro $20, Pro+ $60, Ultra $200 | Cursor users who want the same workflow with every model included |
| Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) | Agent board with a full editor | Free. Pro $20, Max $200, Teams $40 per seat | Running agents locally and in the cloud |
| GitHub Copilot | AI assistant for your IDE | Free. Pro $10, Pro+ $39, Max $100 | The lowest price, in the IDE you already use |
| Claude Code | Coding agent for the terminal and IDE | With Claude Pro $20 or Max $100 and $200 | Handing whole tasks to Claude |
| Zed | Native code editor | Free with your own keys. Pro $10 | Speed and a native editor |
| OpenAI Codex | Coding agent for the terminal, IDE and cloud | With ChatGPT Plus $20 or Pro from $100 | People who already pay for ChatGPT |
| Cline | Open-source agent for VS Code | Free. Pay for model usage, or ClinePass $9.99 | Your own API keys, without leaving VS Code |
Swipe sideways to see every column.
Prices are in US dollars per month from each product's public pricing, checked in October 2026. Flintr is in development and its prices are planned prices. We make Flintr; the order puts it first, and the trade-offs say where the others are better.
- 1
Flintr
AI code editor, in development · Independent · Hobby free. Pro $20, Pro+ $60, Ultra $200
Best for: Cursor users who want the same workflow with every model included
Built on Code OSS like Cursor, with Tab, Agent, rules and MCP, and a one-command import of your Cursor setup and chat history. Plans mirror Cursor's legacy Pro, Pro+ and Ultra, and their included usage covers every model at list price.
Trade-off: Still in development. Backers get the private beta first.
- 2
Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)
Agent board with a full editor · Cognition · Free. Pro $20, Max $200, Teams $40 per seat
Best for: Running agents locally and in the cloud
Cognition's renamed Windsurf. It's also built on Code OSS, so your extensions carry over, and its Agent Command Center manages local agents and Devin Cloud on one board.
Trade-off: Usage comes as daily and weekly quotas, and the agent board, not the editor, is the default view.
- 3
GitHub Copilot
AI assistant for your IDE · GitHub · Free. Pro $10, Pro+ $39, Max $100
Best for: The lowest price, in the IDE you already use
Works in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs and more. Pro is $10 with $15 of AI credits a month, and Pro+ is $39 with $70.
Trade-off: An assistant inside your editor rather than an editor of its own, and part of each credit allowance can change.
- 4
Claude Code
Coding agent for the terminal and IDE · Anthropic · With Claude Pro $20 or Max $100 and $200
Best for: Handing whole tasks to Claude
Anthropic's agent for the terminal and IDE. It comes with Claude Pro and Max, so it may cost you nothing extra.
Trade-off: Claude models only, with usage limited per five-hour session and per week.
- 5
Zed
Native code editor · Zed Industries · Free with your own keys. Pro $10
Best for: Speed and a native editor
Written in Rust and drawn on the GPU, with built-in collaboration and external agents like Claude Agent and Codex. Free with your own API keys, and Pro is $10.
Trade-off: It doesn't run VS Code extensions, and Pro bills usage beyond $5 at list price plus 10%.
- 6
OpenAI Codex
Coding agent for the terminal, IDE and cloud · OpenAI · With ChatGPT Plus $20 or Pro from $100
Best for: People who already pay for ChatGPT
OpenAI's coding agent, in the terminal, in an IDE extension that works in most VS Code forks, in the desktop app and on the web. It comes with ChatGPT Plus ($20) and Pro (from $100).
Trade-off: OpenAI models only, within your plan's usage limits.
- 7
Cline
Open-source agent for VS Code · Cline · Free. Pay for model usage, or ClinePass $9.99
Best for: Your own API keys, without leaving VS Code
A free, open-source agent for VS Code and its forks, with a CLI and a desktop app. Use your own keys, a local model, or pay Cline for usage.
Trade-off: An agent rather than an editor, and you manage model costs yourself.
How to choose
Questions to ask before you switch.
Editor or agent
Cursor, Flintr, Devin Desktop and Zed are editors. Claude Code, Codex and Cline are agents you add to an editor. Copilot sits in between.
Which models your plan covers
Check what included usage pays for. Some plans cover any model, some only the maker's own, and some charge for other models on top.
How usage is counted
Dollars, credits, quotas or session limits. Dollars at list price are the easiest to predict, while quotas vary with the model and the task.
Whether your setup comes along
Editors built on Code OSS, like Flintr and Devin Desktop, run the extensions, keybindings and themes you use in Cursor.
Sources, checked October 2026
- Cursor: Pricing
- Cursor Docs: Legacy Cursor plans
- Cognition: Windsurf is now Devin Desktop
- Devin Docs: Devin Desktop FAQ
- GitHub Docs: Plans for GitHub Copilot
- GitHub Docs: Usage-based billing for individuals
- Anthropic: Claude plans and pricing
- Claude Help Center: Use Claude Code with your Pro or Max plan
- Zed: Pricing
- Zed Docs: Edit Prediction
- OpenAI: Codex pricing
- Cline: Pricing
FAQ
Cursor alternatives, answered.
What is the closest alternative to Cursor?
An editor built on Code OSS, because your extensions, keybindings and themes keep working. Flintr is designed as a like-for-like replacement, with Pro, Pro+ and Ultra plans and an importer for Cursor rules and chat history. Devin Desktop is the closest option you can use today.
Is there a free Cursor alternative?
Yes. Zed and Cline are free with your own API keys, GitHub Copilot Free includes 2,000 completions a month, and Flintr will have a free Hobby plan.
Can I keep my Cursor rules?
In Flintr, yes: the importer copies .cursor/rules to .flintr/rules and converts .cursorrules files. In most other tools you copy them into that tool's own rules format.
Do I have to leave Cursor if I'm on a legacy plan?
No. Legacy Pro, Pro+ and Ultra plans keep working until you change or cancel them. Only the move to The X Subscription is permanent.
Also see Windsurf alternatives, GitHub Copilot alternatives and every comparison.
Your editor. Your models. Your bill.
Flintr is in development and funded by the people who'll use it. Back the launch from €5, or from €25 to get into the private beta.
Coming to macOS 12+ · Windows 10+ · Linux (deb, rpm, AppImage)