Claude Code vs GitHub Copilot vs Cursor vs Aider
| Feature | Claude Code | GitHub Copilot | Cursor | Aider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Execution Model | Terminal agent (headless) | IDE extension | IDE fork | Terminal + browser |
| Next-Edit Prediction | Via skills | Basic inline suggestions | Native Cursor Tab ⭐ | Aider Tab (basic) |
| Plan Mode | Native /plan command | Plan agent | Native Plan Mode | Not available |
| Configuration | CLAUDE.md + Skills | Custom instructions | .cursor/rules/ | .aider.conf.json |
| MCP Support | Full (.mcp.json) | Full | Full | Limited |
| Skills/Agents | 36+ agents, 142+ skills | Custom agents | Cursor skills | Aider personas |
| Model Options | Claude 3.5 Sonnet/Opus | Claude, GPT, Gemini | Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok | 50+ LLM APIs |
| Privacy Mode | Via settings | GitHub cloud | Native toggle | Local only |
| Background Agents | Yes (PRs) | Yes | Yes | No |
| CI/CD Integration | Native headless ⭐ | Limited | Limited | Good |
| Voice Coding | No | No | No | Yes ⭐ |
| Price Model | $20/month (Team) | Free/Pro ($20/mo) | $20/month | Free + paid services |