GitHub Copilot vs Cursor vs Claude Code: Which AI Coding Tool Wins? (2025)
GitHub Copilot vs Cursor vs Claude Code: The Definitive Comparison
These three AI coding tools dominate the developer landscape in 2025, but they serve different purposes. Here is a detailed comparison to help you choose.
TL;DR: Copilot for universal autocomplete in any editor. Cursor for the best AI IDE experience with inline editing. Claude Code for complex multi-file tasks from the terminal. Many developers use 2 of these together. Best combo: Cursor + Claude Code.
Detailed Comparison
| Feature | Copilot | Cursor | Claude Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | IDE extension | AI IDE | Terminal agent |
| Autocomplete | Best | Excellent | None |
| Inline editing | Basic | Cmd+K (best) | N/A |
| Multi-file changes | Limited | Composer | Best |
| Codebase awareness | Limited | Good | Full project |
| Terminal access | No | Partial | Full |
| Git integration | Basic | Good | Full (commits, PRs) |
| Test execution | No | Limited | Yes |
| IDE lock-in | Any editor | Cursor only | Any terminal |
| Price | $10/mo | $20/mo | $20/mo |
Best Combinations
- Cursor + Claude Code ($40/mo): Cursor for daily editing, Claude Code for complex tasks. The power user combo.
- Copilot + Claude Code ($30/mo): Keep your VS Code setup, add Claude Code for big tasks.
- Cursor alone ($20/mo): Best single-tool solution for most developers.
- Copilot alone ($10/mo): Best budget option. Works in any editor.
Reviews: Cursor review. Claude Code review. Editors: All AI editors compared.
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