Codex CLI vs Cursor: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Codex CLI and Cursor side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Codex CLI
OpenAI official terminal coding agent
Best for you if:
- • You want official OpenAI product
Cursor
AI code editor with advanced models and flexible pricing
Best for you if:
- • Developers who want an AI IDE with an official picker that already lists Fable 5, Opus 5, GPT-5.6, and Grok 4.6
| At a Glance | Codex CLI | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan | Free plan, paid from $20/mo, billed monthly Pro plan |
Category | AI Coding Terminal Tools | IDE & Code Editors AI Coding |
Rating | n/a | 3.3/5 Trustpilot 1.8 · G2 4.8 634 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Teams requires per-user billing with no monthly minimum |
Choose Codex CLI or Cursor?
Choose Codex CLI if
- You want official OpenAI product
- You want fast Rust implementation
- You work in AI coding, not IDE & code editors
Choose Cursor if
- Developers who want an AI IDE with an official picker that already lists Fable 5, Opus 5, GPT-5.6, and Grok 4.6
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want powerful AI features
- You want VS Code based
- You work in IDE & code editors, not AI coding
In-Depth Analysis
Codex CLI
OpenAI official terminal coding agent
The pricing for Codex CLI is exceptionally fair and generous, as it is entirely free under an open-source license.
Strengths
- Pro: Official OpenAI product
- Pro: Fast Rust implementation
- Pro: Multi-modal input support
- Pro: Integrated code review
- Pro: Included with ChatGPT Plus
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires ChatGPT subscription
- Con: No free tier
- Con: OpenAI ecosystem lock-in
- Con: Newer than competitors
- Con: Less community content
Key features
Cursor
AI code editor with advanced models and flexible pricing
The Teams tier at $40/user is reasonable for shared controls, though Enterprise pricing is opaque.
Watch out
Teams requires per-user billing with no monthly minimum
Strengths
- Pro: Powerful AI features
- Pro: VS Code based
- Pro: Fast iterations
Weaknesses
- Con: Subscription needed for full AI
- Con: Resource intensive
Key features
Plans and prices: Codex CLI vs Cursor
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Codex CLI |
| openai.com/chatgpt/pricingread Sep 30, 2026 |
| Cursor |
| cursor.com/pricingread Oct 10, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Codex CLI pricing and Cursor pricing.
Key Takeaways
Codex CLI
- Choose if you want OpenAI official terminal coding agent
Cursor
- Choose if you want AI code editor with advanced models and flexible pricing
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Only Cursor has a published user rating (3.3/5 from 634 reviews); Codex CLI has none we can show.
- Cursor starts at $20/mo, billed monthly; Codex CLI has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Codex CLI and Cursor compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Only Cursor has a published user rating (3.3/5 from 634 reviews); Codex CLI has none we can show. Cursor starts at $20/mo, billed monthly; Codex CLI has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Codex CLI and Cursor used for?
Codex CLI: OpenAI official terminal coding agent. Cursor: AI code editor with advanced models and flexible pricing.
What does Codex CLI cost vs Cursor?
Codex CLI has no public paid-plan price on file. Cursor's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $20/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 10, 2026.
What's the main difference between Codex CLI and Cursor?
Codex CLI's main strength: official OpenAI product. Cursor's main strength: powerful AI features.