Free Cursor alternatives

Top AI Coding Assistants like Cursor

Updated Oct 12, 2026

The most popular alternative to Cursor is Windsurf, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to Cursor are GitHub Copilot, Visual Studio Code, IntelliJ IDEA, and WebStorm.

Most alternatives to Cursor are in the AI Coding Assistants category, compared here by price, platform and features.

Cursor alternatives

All Free Open source

9 apps

Windsurf
Windsurf is an AI code editor based on VS Code, created by the team behind Codeium and now owned by Cognition, the company behind Devin. Its Cascade agent understands the codebase, edits multiple files, runs terminal commands and remembers project context, while Tab suggests next edits as you type. Plugins also bring its features to JetBrains IDEs and other editors. A free plan is available.
12 Windsurf alternatives
Pros
Cascade agent edits multiple files and runs commands
Remembers project context across sessions
Plugins bring its features to JetBrains and other editors
Cons
Ownership changes have made its roadmap less predictable
Credit-based limits can run out with heavy use
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI Coding Assistants Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Code completion Extensions marketplace Terminal integration
Visit website More about Windsurf
GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot is GitHub's AI coding assistant. It suggests code as you type and offers chat in editors such as VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, Xcode and Neovim, with a choice of models from several providers. Its coding agent can take a GitHub issue, work in the background and open a pull request, and Copilot also reviews pull requests and works in the terminal. A limited free plan is available.
10 GitHub Copilot alternatives
Pros
Works in many editors, from VS Code to Xcode and Neovim
Coding agent turns GitHub issues into pull requests
Choice of models from several providers
Cons
The free plan has tight monthly limits
Premium requests can add extra costs on paid plans
Agent features assume your code is hosted on GitHub
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI Coding Assistants
Platforms
Web Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Code completion Integrations Terminal integration
Visit website More about GitHub Copilot
Visual Studio Code
193.6Kstars
Visual Studio Code is a free source code editor from Microsoft that runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and in the browser. It combines IntelliSense completion, a built-in debugger, Git tools and an integrated terminal with a large extensions marketplace. It is built on the MIT-licensed Code - OSS project and integrates GitHub Copilot for AI chat and agent workflows.
12 Visual Studio Code alternatives
Pros
Huge extensions marketplace for almost any language or tool
Integrated terminal, debugger and Git tools
Remote development over SSH, in containers and with WSL
Cons
Official builds include Microsoft telemetry and proprietary components
As an Electron app it uses more memory than native editors
Large extension setups can slow it down
Cost / License
FreeOpen source
Categories
Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Web Windows Mac Linux
Features
AI assistant Code completion Debugger Extensions marketplace Git integration Remote development
Visit website More about Visual Studio Code
IntelliJ IDEA
IntelliJ IDEA is the JetBrains development environment for Java, Kotlin, Groovy and Scala, with deep code analysis, refactoring, a debugger and Maven and Gradle support. Since 2025 it ships as a single download: the core IDE is free, including for commercial work, and a subscription unlocks advanced Ultimate features for enterprise frameworks and web development. JetBrains AI tools are built in.
10 IntelliJ IDEA alternatives
Pros
Deep code analysis and safe refactoring for Java and Kotlin
The core IDE is free, including for commercial work
Excellent Maven, Gradle and debugger integration
Cons
Resource-hungry, with slow indexing on large projects
Enterprise framework and web features require a subscription
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
AI assistant Code completion Debugger Extensions marketplace Git integration Remote development
Visit website More about IntelliJ IDEA
WebStorm
WebStorm is a JetBrains IDE dedicated to JavaScript and TypeScript, with built-in support for React, Angular, Vue, Node.js and common test runners. It provides smart completion, safe refactorings, a debugger for browser and Node code, and Git tools without extra plugins. WebStorm is free for non-commercial use, and a paid license is required for commercial work.
8 WebStorm alternatives
Pros
Built-in support for React, Angular, Vue and Node.js
Smart completion and safe refactoring for JavaScript and TypeScript
Free for non-commercial use
Cons
Commercial use requires a paid license
Heavier than VS Code for quick edits
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
AI assistant Code completion Debugger Extensions marketplace Git integration Terminal integration
Visit website More about WebStorm
PyCharm
PyCharm is the JetBrains IDE for Python, with code completion, inspections, refactoring, a graphical debugger, test runners and virtual environment management. A single distribution provides a free core for everyday Python work, while a Pro subscription unlocks advanced features for web frameworks such as Django, databases and remote development. JetBrains AI features are available in the IDE.
8 PyCharm alternatives
Pros
Excellent Python completion, inspections and refactoring
Graphical debugger, test runners and virtual environment management
The free core covers everyday Python work
Cons
Heavy on memory and slower to start than lighter editors
Django, database and remote development tools require Pro
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
AI assistant Code completion Debugger Extensions marketplace Git integration Remote development
Visit website More about PyCharm
Zed
91.6Kstars
Zed is a code editor written in Rust by the creators of Atom and Tree-sitter, with a GPU-rendered interface that stays fast on large projects. It includes multiplayer editing, an agent panel that works with several AI models, edit predictions, Git tools, remote development over SSH and an extensions registry. Zed is open source under the GPL and runs on macOS, Linux and Windows; paid plans cover hosted AI usage.
12 Zed alternatives
Pros
GPU-rendered interface that stays fast on large projects
Built-in multiplayer editing and an agent panel for several AI models
Open source under the GPL
Cons
Smaller extension ecosystem than VS Code
Some IDE features are less mature than in established editors
Hosted AI usage requires a paid plan
Cost / License
FreemiumOpen source
Categories
Code Editors & IDEs AI Coding Assistants
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
AI assistant Code completion Extensions marketplace Git integration Real-time collaboration Remote development
Visit website More about Zed
Amazon Q Developer
Amazon Q Developer is the generative AI assistant from AWS for software development. It offers inline code suggestions, chat and agents that implement features, write tests and documentation, review code and upgrade Java applications, in VS Code, JetBrains and Visual Studio and on the command line. It also answers questions about AWS resources in the console, with a free tier alongside the Pro plan.
8 Amazon Q Developer alternatives
Pros
In-depth knowledge of AWS services and console resources
Agents help upgrade Java applications
Free tier, with VS Code, JetBrains and command-line support
Cons
Most useful for teams already invested in AWS
The free tier caps agent requests and code transformations
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI Coding Assistants
Platforms
Web Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Code completion Integrations Terminal integration
Visit website More about Amazon Q Developer
Gemini Code Assist
Gemini Code Assist brings Google's Gemini models into VS Code and JetBrains IDEs for code completion, generation and chat that takes your local codebase into account. Agent mode can plan and carry out multi-step changes, and a GitHub app reviews pull requests. The individual edition is free, while Standard and Enterprise add Google Cloud integrations, private repository customization and admin controls.
10 Gemini Code Assist alternatives
Pros
Free edition for individual developers
GitHub app reviews pull requests automatically
Agent mode carries out multi-step changes
Cons
Enterprise features are tied to Google Cloud
Supports fewer editors than some competing assistants
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI Coding Assistants
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Code completion Integrations
Visit website More about Gemini Code Assist

Cursor vs its alternatives at a glance

Pricing, platforms and the key features of Cursor, compared with its most popular alternatives.

Cursor vs its alternatives at a glance
App	Pricing	Platforms
Cursor	Freemium	Windows, Mac, Linux
Windsurf	Freemium	Windows, Mac, Linux
GitHub Copilot	Freemium	Web, Windows, Mac, Linux
Visual Studio Code	FreeOpen source	Web, Windows, Mac, Linux
IntelliJ IDEA	Freemium	Windows, Mac, Linux
WebStorm	Freemium	Windows, Mac, Linux

Cursor alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Cursor?

The most popular alternative to Cursor is Windsurf: Agentic AI code editor, formerly Codeium, built around the Cascade agent. Other great alternatives are GitHub Copilot, Visual Studio Code, IntelliJ IDEA, and WebStorm.