Shortlist by what you need
Start here if you know why you are leaving Claude Code.
Want the closest match?
Gemini CLIMost similar to Claude Code in what it does, its category and its price.
Visit (opens Gemini CLI in a new tab)Need a free plan?
CursorHas a free plan, rated 4.7 out of 5. Claude Code has none.
Visit (opens Cursor in a new tab)Want the best rated?
AiderRated 4.6 out of 5 in our review, against 4.6 for Claude Code.
Visit (opens Aider in a new tab)
At a glance
Green means better than Claude Code, red means worse. Prices are starting prices per month.
| Tool | Our rating | Starts at | Free plan | Best for | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Claude CodeBaseline | 4.6 | $20/mo | No | Anthropic's agentic CLI tool for real software development work | |
| Gemini CLI | 4.3−0.3 | Free | YesClaude Code has none | Google's free, open-source answer to terminal coding agents | vs Claude Code |
 OpenAI Codex | 4.4−0.2 | $20/moSame price | No | A 2025 relaunch of a 2021 name, now a fully autonomous agent | vs Claude Code |
 Warp | 4.4−0.2 | $20/moSame price | YesClaude Code has none | A rebuilt terminal with AI built in, not a code editor at all | vs Claude Code |
| Aider | 4.6Same | Free | YesClaude Code has none | A terminal-based pair programmer that commits its own changes | vs Claude Code |
 Sourcegraph Cody | 4.2−0.4 | Not listed | No | Sourcegraph's established chat-and-autocomplete assistant, not its newer agent | vs Claude Code |
 Google Antigravity | 4.2−0.4 | Free | YesClaude Code has none | Google's agent-first IDE that can act inside the browser too | vs Claude Code |
| Cursor | 4.7+0.1 | $20/moSame price | YesClaude Code has none | The AI-native editor most competitors now get compared against | vs Claude Code |
 Devin | 4.0−0.6 | $20/moSame price | No | Marketed as the first AI software engineer, with disputed early claims | vs Claude Code |
The alternatives in detail
In order of how closely each one matches Claude Code.
Gemini CLI
4.3Free
vs Claude Code−0.3Free plan
Google's free, open-source answer to terminal coding agents.
- Open-source, terminal-native coding agent
- Built on Google's Gemini models
- Direct codebase, file, and shell access
Free access with notably generous usage limits
Newer product with a shorter track record than established terminal agents
OpenAI Codex
4.4$20/mo
vs Claude CodeSame price−0.2
A 2025 relaunch of a 2021 name, now a fully autonomous agent.
- Cloud-based autonomous coding agent with sandboxed execution
- Codex CLI for local, terminal-based agent use
- Runs tests and returns a pull request for completed tasks
Genuinely autonomous, sandbox-based task execution
No free tier, requires a paid ChatGPT subscription or API access
Warp
4.4$20/mo
vs Claude CodeSame price−0.2Free plan
A rebuilt terminal with AI built in, not a code editor at all.
- Block-based terminal interface instead of continuous scroll
- AI-generated shell commands from plain-language descriptions
- Command explanation and error debugging
Addresses AI assistance specifically for terminal and shell work
Doesn't address in-editor code writing, a different tool for that remains necessary
Aider
4.6Free
vs Claude CodeSameFree plan
A terminal-based pair programmer that commits its own changes.
- Terminal-based, no IDE required
- Automatic git commits with generated messages
- Model-agnostic, works with many different LLM providers
Automatic git commits keep a clean, reviewable change history
No graphical interface, requires comfort with the command line
Sourcegraph Cody
4.2Not listed
vs Claude Code−0.4
Sourcegraph's established chat-and-autocomplete assistant, not its newer agent.
- Chat and code completion grounded in Sourcegraph's code search
- Distinct from Sourcegraph's newer, more autonomous Amp product
- Understanding spans an entire repository or organization's codebase
Grounded in genuinely mature, enterprise-tested code search technology
No free tier to test before committing
Google Antigravity
4.2Free
vs Claude Code−0.4Free plan
Google's agent-first IDE that can act inside the browser too.
- Agents that act across editor, terminal, and browser
- Built on a VS Code foundation
- Support for Gemini 3 Pro, Claude Sonnet 4.5, and GPT-OSS models
Cross-surface agent action, including the browser, is a genuine differentiator
Very new product still in public preview, features may change
Cursor
4.7$20/mo
vs Claude CodeSame price+0.1Free plan
The AI-native editor most competitors now get compared against.
- Multi-line Tab autocomplete predicting full edits
- Composer agent mode for multi-file changes
- Choice of multiple underlying AI models
Widely regarded as the category's leading AI-native editor by adoption
Higher usage requires a paid subscription fairly quickly
Devin
4.0$20/mo
vs Claude CodeSame price−0.6
Marketed as the first AI software engineer, with disputed early claims.
- Fully autonomous multi-step task planning and execution
- Plans, codes, tests, and debugs within one session
- Marketed as one of the earliest autonomous AI software engineers
Ambitious scope for autonomous, end-to-end task completion
Original launch benchmark claims were publicly disputed by independent researchers
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is Claude Code free?
Claude Code does not list a free plan. Paid plans start from $20/mo.
What is the best free alternative to Claude Code?
Cursor is the highest-rated alternative here with a free plan (4.7 out of 5). Other free options: Aider, Warp, Gemini CLI.
What is the cheapest alternative to Claude Code?
Among paid plans, OpenAI Codex has the lowest starting price (from $20/mo). If you need it free, start with Cursor.
How did you pick these alternatives?
We match tools on what they do, their category and their price, using the details in our directory. Ratings come from our reviews and reader reviews.