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Cursor vs Codex CLI
Cursor is an editor with an agent built in, and its plans now bundle Grok. Codex CLI is OpenAI's terminal agent, open source under Apache-2.0, and it shares your ChatGPT plan with the Codex app, IDE extension and cloud.
Side by Side
| Cursor | OpenAI Codex CLI | |
|---|---|---|
| What It Is | AI coding agent and VS Code-based editor with codebase-aware chat, autocomplete and agent mode. | OpenAI's open-source (Apache-2.0) coding agent that runs locally in your terminal: it reads your repo, edits files and runs commands, with codex exec for scripts and CI. Sign in with ChatGPT or use an API key. |
| Category | AI Editors & Agents | AI Editors & Agents |
| Where It Runs | Its own VS Code-based editor, plus a CLI. Cloud agents start on Premium. | Terminal on macOS, Linux and Windows. The same plan covers the Codex IDE extension, desktop app and Codex cloud. |
| Models | Plus runs Grok models only. Premium and up add third-party models, billed separately at API list price. | Sign in with ChatGPT, or use an API key, where model access follows your key. |
| Free Option | Free plan with limited agent and chat requests. | The CLI is free to install. Using it starts with ChatGPT Plus, or an API key billed at API rates. |
| Tags | ||
| Pricing | Plus $8/mo (Grok models only), Premium $30/mo with 4x the usage, Super $100/mo, Ultra $200/mo. Teams from $30 per user a month. Plans also include Grok and X features. | Included with ChatGPT Plus at $20/mo: CLI, IDE extension, web and iOS. Pro is $100, $200 or $500 a month. Business is $25 per user a month billed monthly. Or bring an API key and pay API rates. |
| Website | cursor.com | developers.openai.com |
| On Digidle |
Pricing and plan details checked October 29, 2026 on each vendor's official pages: Cursor pricing, Codex pricing, Codex CLI, openai/codex on GitHub. Plans change, so confirm before you buy.
Which One to Pick
Pick Cursor If
You want chat, autocomplete and an agent inside one editor, and you're fine with Grok models or paying API rates for others.
More on CursorPick Codex CLI If
You live in the terminal, already pay for ChatGPT, and want an open-source agent you can script with codex exec.
More on Codex CLIBuilt a tool in AI Editors & Agents? Get it featured at the top of its category for 30 days.
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