What are the best alternatives to Cursor?

The top alternatives to Cursor include Windsurf, Zed, Amazon Kiro. All are ide tools that support desktop workflows.

Is there a free alternative to Cursor?

Yes. Windsurf is available for free. Agentic IDE where developers and AI flow together (formerly Codeium)

Is Windsurf better than Cursor?

Windsurf and Cursor serve similar purposes as ide tools. Windsurf: Agentic IDE where developers and AI flow together (formerly Codeium) Cursor: AI-powered IDE designed to replace VS Code with predictive editing and project context The best choice depends on your workflow and requirements.

How many alternatives to Cursor are there?

We track 12 alternatives to Cursor across categories including IDE, AI Assistant, Workflow Tool.

Best Cursor Alternatives (2026)

Cursor is a free ide tool (desktop). AI-powered IDE designed to replace VS Code with predictive editing and project context. We found 12 alternatives worth considering.

Quick verdict

Most similar: Windsurf
Best free option: Windsurf

Why look for Cursor alternatives?

Feature gaps — while Cursor is free, paid alternatives may offer more polish or support.
Workflow fit — every team is different; the best tool depends on your stack and preferences.

Top 12 Alternatives to Cursor

Windsurffree

Agentic IDE where developers and AI flow together (formerly Codeium)

Editorially selectedBoth Desktop ide toolsShared: ide, desktop

Compare side-by-side Visit site

Zedfree

High-performance code editor designed for collaboration with humans and AI

Editorially selectedBoth Desktop ide toolsShared: ide, desktop

Compare side-by-side Visit site

Amazon Kiropaid

AI IDE from AWS for prototype to production

Editorially selectedBoth Desktop ide toolsShared: ide, desktop

Compare side-by-side Visit site

GitHub Copilotpaid

AI pair programmer with code completion chat and agent mode for agentic coding

Editorially selected

Compare side-by-side Visit site

Google Antigravityfree

Google's agent-first IDE with mission control and multi-agent workflows

Both Desktop ide toolsShared: ide, desktop

Compare side-by-side Visit site

Visual Studio Codefree

Free source-code editor with rich extension ecosystem

Both Desktop ide toolsShared: ide, desktop

Compare side-by-side Visit site

Orchidsunknown

The Vibe Coding IDE

Both Desktop ide toolsShared: ide, desktop

Compare side-by-side Visit site

Firebase Studiofree

Google's agentic cloud-based dev environment for full-stack AI apps

Both in IDEShared: ide

Compare side-by-side Visit site

Repo Promptpaid

Repository-wide code generation and editing via AI prompts

Both DesktopShared: desktop, ide

Compare side-by-side Visit site

OpenClawfree

Free personal AI assistant running locally

Both DesktopShared: desktop

Compare side-by-side Visit site

Wispr Flowfree

AI dictation app for speech-to-text coding

Both DesktopShared: desktop

Compare side-by-side Visit site

Piecespaid

AI-powered code snippet storage with search and long-term memory

Both DesktopShared: desktop

Compare side-by-side Visit site

Alternatives by type

IDE Plugin alternatives

GitHub Copilot

Web-Based alternatives

Firebase Studio

Frequently asked questions

What are the best alternatives to Cursor?: The top alternatives to Cursor include Windsurf, Zed, Amazon Kiro. All are ide tools that support desktop workflows.
Is there a free alternative to Cursor?: Yes. Windsurf is available for free. Agentic IDE where developers and AI flow together (formerly Codeium)
Is Windsurf better than Cursor?: Windsurf and Cursor serve similar purposes as ide tools. Windsurf: Agentic IDE where developers and AI flow together (formerly Codeium) Cursor: AI-powered IDE designed to replace VS Code with predictive editing and project context The best choice depends on your workflow and requirements.
How many alternatives to Cursor are there?: We track 12 alternatives to Cursor across categories including IDE, AI Assistant, Workflow Tool.

Related alternatives pages

Alternatives to Windsurf Alternatives to Firebase Studio Alternatives to Zed Alternatives to Google Antigravity Alternatives to Visual Studio Code Alternatives to Amazon Kiro Alternatives to Orchids

Not sure which to pick?

Describe what you want to build and get a recommended tool stack.

Generate build plan