Glossary
Claude Code vs Codex vs Cursor: how do they compare?
Claude Code (Anthropic), Codex (OpenAI) and Cursor are coding agents that read projects, edit files and run commands. Claude Code and Codex start from the terminal with IDE and cloud options; Cursor is an AI code editor with an agent built in. All three can follow project instructions and use tools, including for non-coding tasks.
Side by side
| Claude Code | Codex | Cursor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maker | Anthropic | OpenAI | Anysphere |
| Main interface | Terminal (plus IDE, desktop, web) | CLI (plus IDE, cloud) | Editor |
| Project instructions | CLAUDE.md, skills | AGENTS.md | Rules files |
| Tools | MCP, plugins | MCP, tools | MCP |
| Cloud tasks | Yes | Yes | Background agents |
Features change quickly; check each tool's current docs.
Choosing
- Prefer working in an editor and watching changes: Cursor.
- Prefer the terminal and scripts, or running tasks in the background: Claude Code or Codex.
- Your team's model preference often decides it.
For launch kits
A launch kit written as repository instructions and data works in all three: the agent reads the playbook and directory list and works through submissions in your browser. AgentLaunch is built to run in any of them.
Example
A founder uses Cursor for product work and Claude Code for operations like launches and data cleanup, keeping both pointed at the same repositories.
FAQ
Which is best?
It depends on your workflow and preferred model; many developers use more than one.
Do they all support MCP?
All three support MCP in current versions.
Can they do non-coding tasks?
Yes, with tools like browsers and scripts.