TL;DR — AI Coding Tools Cheat Sheet
- Claude Code — a terminal agent that takes tasks end-to-end: multi-file edits, running commands, writing tests. Best when you want to hand something off.
- Cursor — a VS Code fork with AI woven in. Inline completions, chat, and multi-file edits via Composer. Best when you’re actively writing.
- GitHub Copilot — a plugin for VS Code, JetBrains, and others. Subtle autocomplete with org-wide management. Best for standardised teams or JetBrains users.
- The short rule — hand off a whole task to Claude Code, write code alongside Cursor, keep Copilot where the organisation mandates it.
In this series
- Claude Code vs Cursor — which AI coding tool is right for you?
- Getting Started with Cursor — setup and the three features that matter
- GitHub Copilot vs Claude Code — an honest comparison
- 10 Things Each Tool Does That the Other Can’t
- Using Claude Code and Cursor Together — the parallel workflow
- Is GitHub Copilot Still Worth It? — an honest reassessment in 2026
- The AI Coding Tools Cheat Sheet — all three tools at a glance
You’ve already read the comparisons. This post is the reference you keep open when you can’t remember which tool runs commands, which one works in JetBrains, or what each one costs. No introductory fluff — just the facts, a decision guide, and links to the deeper dives.
At a Glance
| Feature | Claude Code | Cursor | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Terminal agent | IDE integration | IDE plugin |
| Where it runs | Terminal (any OS) | VS Code fork | VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, others |
| Multi-file edits | Yes | Yes (Composer) | Limited |
| Runs commands | Yes | No | No |
| Context window | Whole repo | Open files + indexed context | Open file (+ limited workspace) |
| Price | API usage (pay-as-you-go) | $20/mo (Pro) | $10–19/mo |
| Best for | Autonomous tasks, refactors, test suites | In-editor AI while actively coding | Inline completions, org standardisation |
When to Use Each One
Claude Code
You have a task to hand off. A refactor across a dozen files, a new test suite for a module, a debugging session on a regression you can’t pin down. You describe the task in plain language, Claude Code reads the relevant code, makes the changes, and runs whatever commands it needs to verify the result. You review the diff. That’s the workflow. It doesn’t live inside your editor — it runs in a terminal alongside it, which means it can do things no editor plugin can: execute scripts, install packages, run your test runner, read build output, and iterate.
Cursor
You’re actively writing code and want AI assistance as you go. Cursor is a drop-in replacement for VS Code — your extensions, keybindings, and settings transfer over. On top of that you get inline completions that understand the surrounding context, a chat panel for questions about the current file, and Composer for multi-file edits when a change ripples across the codebase. The key difference from Claude Code is that Cursor is an in-editor experience. The AI assists what you’re doing; it doesn’t operate independently.
GitHub Copilot
You want subtle autocomplete with minimal disruption to your existing setup, or your organisation has standardised on it through a GitHub Enterprise agreement. Copilot is the least opinionated of the three — it plugs into whichever editor you already use, including JetBrains IDEs and Neovim. It doesn’t restructure your workflow. For teams that need centralised billing, usage policies, and audit logs, Copilot’s enterprise tier is the practical default. If you’re on the fence and already use a JetBrains IDE, Copilot is currently your only option here.
Quick Decision Guide
Work through these in order and stop at the first match.
- Want to hand off a whole task — a refactor, a test suite, a debugging session? → Claude Code. Describe it, let it run, review the result.
- Want AI inside your editor while you’re actively writing code? → Cursor. Inline completions, chat, and Composer for multi-file changes.
- Need JetBrains support, Neovim support, or org-wide standardisation? → GitHub Copilot. It fits into what you already have.
- Already using Cursor and hitting its limits on large tasks? → Add Claude Code for the bigger jobs. The two complement each other well — Cursor for the editing flow, Claude Code for autonomous work.
- Already using Copilot and wondering if there’s more? → Try Cursor on your next project. It’s a meaningful step up in AI capability inside the editor.
Key Links
Deeper dives on each tool and the comparisons between them:
- What is Claude Code? — A plain-language introduction to what Claude Code is, how it works, and who it’s for.
- Is Claude Code Safe to Use? — What permissions it requests, what it can access, and how to run it responsibly.
- 7 Claude Code Skills That Will Transform Your Workflow — Practical techniques for getting more out of Claude Code on real projects.
- Claude Code vs Cursor — A full head-to-head comparison of both tools, with worked examples.
- Getting Started with Cursor (2026) — Setup, key features, and how to get productive with Cursor quickly.
- 10 Things Each Tool Does That the Other Can’t — A specific capability breakdown of where each one wins.
- Using Claude Code and Cursor Together — How to run both tools in parallel without conflict.
- Is GitHub Copilot Still Worth It? — An honest reassessment for 2026.
This landscape is moving fast — pricing changes, new features ship weekly, and the gap between tools narrows or widens depending on the month. Bookmark this page. It will be updated as things change, so it stays useful as a reference rather than becoming a snapshot of a moment that’s already passed.