Our verdict: Cursor is still the most polished, Zed is the best value, and Antigravity is the best free pick. If you live in the terminal, Claude Code or Codex CLI may replace all three.
The interesting coding work has moved into the editor: agents that read your repo, write across files and run tests on their own. Three editors are fighting for that job in 2026, and their prices and model deals changed a lot this month.
Cursor
Zed
Antigravity
What each editor costs
The 3 editors at a glance
Cursor- VS Code fork, at home in five minutes
- Deepest MCP and plugin ecosystem
- Mature multi-file agent mode
The catch: only Grok is included; Claude and GPT cost extra.
Zed- Native Rust app, GPU rendering
- Bring any model key, or local models
- Runs Claude Agent and Codex CLI
The catch: smaller extension ecosystem.
Antigravity- Built around hand-off agent tasks
- Unlimited tab completions
- Claude 5.5 models on paid Google AI plans
The catch: weekly agent limits with no published numbers.
Cursor vs Zed vs Antigravity prices
Prices checked October 15, 2026, on each company's own pricing page.
| Editor | Free plan | Paid plan | Included models | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cursor | Limited agent and chat requests | Premium $30/mo; Teams from $30/user | Grok; Claude and GPT billed at API list price | Most polished VS Code-style editor |
| Zed | Unlimited with your own API keys | Pro $10/mo ($5 of tokens included); Business $30/seat | Any model with your key, plus external agents | Speed and the lowest AI bill |
| Antigravity | $0, unlimited tab completions, weekly agent limits | Google AI Pro or Ultra; business from $30/seat | Gemini, plus Claude Sonnet 5.5 and Opus 5.5 on paid plans | Long-running agent tasks |
Cursor also sells an $8 Plus tier (Grok only), $100 Super and $200 Ultra. Since October 12, 2026, its plans are part of xAI's X Subscription, and the old $20 Pro plan is closed to new signups. Zed Pro usage beyond the included $5 is billed at API list price plus 10%.
What each one can do
| Feature | Cursor | Zed | Antigravity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Limited | ✓ | ✓ |
| Claude models included | ✗ | Your key | Paid plans |
| Local models | – | ✓ | – |
| Agent mode | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Native app speed | ✗ | ✓ | – |
– means the company hasn't said. Cursor runs on Electron; Zed is written in Rust.
Cursor: the mature default
Cursor is a VS Code fork with AI in every interaction: tab completion that understands your file, an agent that edits across files, native MCP support and Grok, Claude and GPT in one chat. It has the deepest ecosystem and works for almost any language.
The costs add up. Memory use climbs with dozens of tabs open, and since the October change only Grok usage is included. Claude and GPT draw on prepaid credit at API list prices.
Zed: the speed and value pick
Zed is written in Rust with GPU-accelerated rendering, so it opens huge files and searches large repos without the pauses Electron editors show. You'll notice the difference within the first hour.
Its AI side is flexible: bring your own key for Claude, GPT or a local model through Ollama or LM Studio, or run Claude Agent and Codex CLI inside it. The tradeoff is a smaller extension ecosystem, and Cursor is still ahead on multi-file edits and MCP depth.
Antigravity: the free wildcard
Antigravity is Google's agent-first IDE. It launched in late 2025, is now generally available, and is built around giving an agent a task and walking away rather than pair programming line by line. On multi-file refactors, the long-context Gemini models push through aggressively, and the try, test, fix loop is tight.
The limits are real. Free weekly agent caps aren't published as hard numbers, Claude Sonnet 5.5 and Opus 5.5 need a paid (non-trial) Google AI Pro plan or higher, and the only GPT model, the open-weight GPT-OSS 120B, leaves on November 2, 2026.
What about Claude Code and Codex CLI?
Claude Code comes with Claude Pro, and Codex CLI with ChatGPT. They're terminal agents you point at a folder, not editors, so you lose the tab-to-accept flow. If you're comfortable in a terminal, they're the cheapest way to get serious AI coding help.
Which one should you use?
The verdict
Cursor is still the most polished AI IDE, but Zed is the best value after Cursor's October price change. Start with Antigravity if you want free, and skip all three for Claude Code if you already pay for Claude.
FAQ
Which AI IDE is best in 2026: Cursor, Zed, or Antigravity?
Cursor is still the most polished AI IDE in 2026, with the deepest MCP ecosystem and a mature agent mode. Since October 12, 2026, new Cursor plans start at $30/month and bundle Grok models, while Claude and GPT cost extra at API rates. Zed wins on speed and value at $10/month or free with your own key. Antigravity is the best free option and now offers Claude models on paid Google AI plans. If you live in the terminal, Claude Code or Codex CLI may eliminate the need for any of these entirely.
Is Cursor worth paying for if I already pay for Claude or ChatGPT?
It depends on whether you want a polished IDE shell or a CLI agent. The old $20 Cursor Pro plan is closed to new signups. The new Premium plan is $30/month and its included usage covers Grok models, so Claude or GPT in Cursor is billed at API list prices on top. If you already have Claude Pro or ChatGPT Plus, Claude Code and Codex CLI come included and run in the terminal with no extra subscription. Cursor is worth it if you want the VS Code-style IDE and you're happy with Grok as the included model.
Is Antigravity actually free?
Yes, with limits. Antigravity is now generally available and the Individual plan is $0, with unlimited tab completions and basic weekly rate limits on the agent models. Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers get higher limits and an AI credit pool. Teams can buy it through Google Cloud from $30 per seat per month, or pay as they go.
Why is Zed faster than Cursor?
Zed is written in Rust and uses GPU-accelerated rendering. Cursor is a fork of VS Code, which is built on Electron, a Chromium browser running JavaScript. The difference is most noticeable on file open, large project search, and scrolling long files. On a fresh M-series Mac you'll feel the gap; on a fast desktop CPU it's less obvious.
Can I use Claude or GPT in Zed and Antigravity?
Yes in both, with conditions. Zed lets you bring your own API key for Claude, GPT, or other models, or run external agents like Claude Agent and Codex CLI. Antigravity now lists Claude Sonnet 5.5 and Claude Opus 5.5 next to Gemini, but the Claude 5.5 models need a paid (non-trial) Google AI Pro plan, Ultra, or Enterprise. Cursor still offers Claude and GPT, but on the new plans they're billed at API list prices from the first request.