Best free AI tool for writing code
The best free AI tool for writing code is Cursor. These are the 6 highest-ranked tools for this job that you can start without paying, out of 20 with a free plan in our catalog.
Built to edit a real codebase, which is the job.
What the free plan includes
Cursor's Free plan ($0/month) includes the Cursor agent with limited agent and chat requests. Cloud agents, automations and code hosting start on the $30/month Premium plan.
Source: Cursor pricing, checked .
Free for individual developers; you pay only for the model usage you bring.
What the free plan includes
Cline is free and open source for individual developers (VS Code extension and CLI), with MCP Marketplace access and community support. You pay only for AI inference, at cost through Cline or with your own API key.
Source: Cline pricing, checked .
Inline help in the editor you already use.
What the free plan includes
Copilot Free ($0) includes 2,000 inline code suggestions a month and limited chat and agent usage, and it supports agent mode and the Copilot CLI. Paid plans start at Pro, $10/month, with unlimited suggestions.
Source: GitHub Copilot pricing, checked .
Clear at explaining and editing code you paste in.
What the free plan includes
Claude's Free plan ($0) covers chat on web, desktop and mobile, web search, file creation, code execution, memory, app connectors and Artifacts. Usage is lower than Pro ($17/month billed yearly, $20 monthly).
Source: Claude pricing, checked .
A natural pick if you already pay for ChatGPT and want an agent that can take coding tasks.
What the free plan includes
Codex comes with ChatGPT Free ($0) for quick coding tasks, using GPT-6 Luna at Standard speed in the desktop app (subject to rollout). Codex on the web, CLI, IDE extension and iOS, plus automatic code review, starts with Plus at $20/month.
Source: OpenAI Codex pricing, checked .
An agent-style editor for multi-file changes.
What the free plan includes
Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) Free ($0) gives a light agent quota with limited model availability, plus unlimited inline edits and Tab completions. Pro ($20/month) adds full model access and higher quotas.
Source: Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) pricing, checked .
When to pay
Cursor is also the top pick without the free-only filter (Free tier, then $8 and up). Pay when the free plan’s limits get in the way of the job. Best AI tool for writing code.
Questions
- What is the best free AI tool for writing code?
- Cursor is the top free pick in this catalog. Cursor's Free plan ($0/month) includes the Cursor agent with limited agent and chat requests. Cloud agents, automations and code hosting start on the $30/month Premium plan.
- Are these tools completely free?
- Each one has a free plan or is free to use, but free plans have limits. The note under each tool says what the vendor’s own page lists, and when we checked it.
Want this personalized? Answer 3 questions and choose Free only. How to choose an AI tool.
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