OpenAI Codex
Getting strong agentic coding for the lowest cost per task, starting free with a ChatGPT account.
verified 2026-11-02
Coding agents & AI IDEs
Claude Code
Anthropic's agentic coding tool. It runs in your terminal (and other surfaces), works across a whole codebase, and shares one usage pool with your Claude plan.
Best for: Hard, multi-step coding work in the terminal when you want the highest benchmark scores.
Pricing
| Free tier | No. Claude Code is not on the Free plan. |
|---|---|
| Paid plans | Included in Claude Pro ($20/mo, or $17/mo billed annually), Max ($100/mo, 5x Pro usage) and Ultra ($200/mo). Heavy users can switch to pay-as-you-go API credits. |
| Maker | Anthropic |
| Source | https://claude.com/pricing |
| Last verified |
Pros
- Top entries on the Terminal-Bench 4.0 board (Oct 26, 2026 snapshot) run in Claude Code
- Highest Artificial Analysis Coding Agent Index score listed (61.7 with Opus 5.5)
- One subscription covers Claude chat and Claude Code
Cons
- No free plan
- Usage limits reset every 5 hours and weekly
- Highest listed API cost per task on that index (~$11.42 with Opus 5.5)
Notable facts
- Coding Agent Index 61.7, $11.42/task, Opus 5.5 (max) per aicharts.io's Artificial Analysis table — source
Comparisons
Alternatives
Cursor
An AI-first code editor for everyday work, with local and cloud agents.
verified 2026-11-02
GitHub Copilot
Teams already on GitHub who want agent mode, cloud agents and code review in their existing IDE.
verified 2026-11-02
Devin (Desktop & Cloud)
Managing several local and cloud coding agents from one IDE, including third-party agents.
verified 2026-11-02
Google Antigravity
Developers on Google's stack who want a free agent-first IDE and CLI powered by Gemini.
verified 2026-11-02
FAQ
Is Claude Code free?
No. Claude Code is not on the Free plan.
How much does Claude Code cost?
Included in Claude Pro ($20/mo, or $17/mo billed annually), Max ($100/mo, 5x Pro usage) and Ultra ($200/mo). Heavy users can switch to pay-as-you-go API credits.
What is Claude Code best for?
Hard, multi-step coding work in the terminal when you want the highest benchmark scores.
Who makes Claude Code?
Claude Code is made by Anthropic.
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll re-verify. Facts on this page come only from the linked sources.