Codex CLI vs Cursor
Codex CLI (CLI / terminal agent, Included with ChatGPT plans) vs Cursor (AI IDE, $20/mo (Pro)): pricing, models, open-source status, benchmarks, and best use cases. See which AI coding agent is right for your workflow.
Codex CLI
Cursor
| Comparison | Codex CLI | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Category | CLI / terminal agent | AI IDE |
| Type | Terminal agent | AI IDE |
| Vendor | OpenAI | Anysphere |
| Pricing | Included with ChatGPT plans | $20/mo (Pro) |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Models | GPT-5.5, GPT-5.3 Codex, o-series reasoning | Claude Opus 4.8, Claude Sonnet 4.6, GPT-5.5, Gemini 3.1 Pro, Grok Build, Composer 2.5 |
| Benchmarks | Terminal-Bench: 82.7% | Not published |
| Best for | OpenAI ecosystem users, parallel task execution, open-source terminal workflows | Full-stack developers wanting the most capable AI-native IDE |
Codex CLI is open source and best for openai ecosystem users, parallel task execution, open-source terminal workflows. OpenAI's open-source terminal coding agent. Supports parallel tasks and routes to GPT-5.5 and Codex models. Included with ChatGPT subscriptions; can also run on API keys.
Cursor is proprietary and best for full-stack developers wanting the most capable ai-native ide. The leading AI-native IDE. VS Code fork with codebase-aware context, multi-file Agent mode, background agents, Cloud Agents, and inline Tab completions. Widely adopted among professional developers in 2026.
Both tools are part of the 2026 AI coding agent landscape. The right choice depends on whether you need a CLI / terminal agent or a AI IDE, your budget, and which models you prefer. See the full list of coding agents on our coding agents page to compare more options.