Introduction
AI coding assistants are the latest buzz in tech, built to help us code faster and with fewer errors.
Today, we’re comparing four top contenders: the leaders, Cursor and GitHub Copilot, along with two free alternatives, Tabnine and Qodo Gen. Each aims to streamline workflows and make coding smoother.
Note: Cursor has a free version with usage limits, which stops once the limit is reached unless upgraded.
To find out which model is best for coding, check out our articles where we compare them:
Coding GPT-o1 mini vs Claude 3.5
Although Cursor can only be used in a separate editor, it offers a wide selection of models and the ability to connect your own custom models via API for added flexibility.
For other assistants, the situation is the opposite—they integrate with many popular editors, but their model selection is limited to 4 or 5 options.
Practical tests
We'll walk through some common strengths and weaknesses of AI coding assistants, focusing on areas like code autocomplete, help features, code generation, and console integration. At the end, we'll provide a summary rating to give a clear view of each tool’s performance, helping you decide which assistant fits best for your needs.
1. Autocomplete code:
Tab completion enhances the coding experience by predicting and suggesting code as you type, much like having an intuitive assistant at your side.
Cursor
Cursor's autocomplete is impressively advanced. It suggests multiple lines of code, drawing context from your entire project to make accurate predictions. It can even anticipate your next editing move and proactively catch and fix errors as you code, making the development process smoother and more efficient.
Copilot
Copilot specializes in single-line predictions, streamlining your coding process and helping you move quickly through tasks. This focus on concise suggestions keeps your workflow fast and efficient.
Tabnine
Tabnine’s autocompletion is quite similar to Copilot's, but with one key difference: it only activates once you start typing. While it still enhances coding speed with predictive suggestions, it relies on your initial input to kick off the completion process.
Qodo Gen
There is no code completion in the free version of Qodo Gen
2. Help and Context Awareness
Sometimes you just need to ask a question. But does chatting with an AI really make a difference?
Cursor
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Cursor offers a user-friendly interface for interacting with its AI assistant. You can easily select files to provide contextual information, and even pull in context from web sources, Git, and more. To apply changes, simply click a button, and any modified code will be clearly highlighted in the editor, allowing you to review updates seamlessly.
Copilot
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Copilot provides a similar experience to Cursor in this regard. It also allows you to integrate contextual information and apply changes with ease, making it straightforward to review highlighted modifications directly within the editor.
Tabnine
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Tabnine lacks the capability to select multiple files or integrate internet search for additional context. However, it does allow you to select specific code snippets and send them to the assistant for suggestions, offering some flexibility within a single file.
Qodo Gen
Qodo Gen allows you to select files or images as contextual input, but that’s the extent of its contextual options. It also lacks an automatic change application feature, requiring you to manually implement any suggested edits.
3. Code generation
This is where things get interesting. You can describe what you want your code to do, and it’s generated instantly, ready to implement without additional steps.
Cursor
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Cursor doesn't just write code for files—it also creates them with a single click.
Copilot
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Copilot writes the necessary code, but to transfer it to the project, you need to click on each file individually.
Tabnine
Tabnine is very similar to Copilot in code generation, where you still need to create each file separately after receiving the code suggestions.
Qodo Gen
Qodo Gen is also similar to Tabnine and Copilot.
3. Working with the console
Working with the terminal can be a hassle, especially when dealing with complex commands
Cursor
Cursor makes working with the console easy and straightforward. Simply write what you need, and it will be executed automatically.
Copilot
You can describe what you want to do in the console, but Copilot won't execute the command for you. You'll need to run it manually yourself.
Tabnine
Tabnine is very similar to Copilot when working with the console, providing code suggestions and completions, but it doesn't execute commands for you either. You'll still need to run them manually.
Qodo Gen
Qodo Gen does not interact with the console directly; it focuses on generating code but does not execute commands or handle console operations.
Rating
Here are my ratings for each aspect of the comparison:
Try for yourself
Currently, AIML isn’t supported with Cursor, but we’re actively working on adding compatibility. In the meantime, feel free to explore and integrate with our API.
import openai
import requests
def main():
client = OpenAI(
api_key='<YOUR_API_KEY>',
base_url="https://api.aimlapi.com",
)
system_prompt = 'You are an AI assistant that only responds with jokes.'
user_prompt = 'Why is the sky blue?'
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="your-model",
messages=[
{'role': 'system', 'content': "be strong"},
{'role': 'user', 'content': "who is strong?"}
],
)
response = chat_completion.choices[0].message.content
print("Response:\n", response)
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()
Conclusion
In the world of AI coding assistants, each tool brings unique strengths to the table. Cursor stands out with its advanced autocomplete, extensive model selection, and console integration, making it a powerful tool for developers looking for flexibility and depth.
GitHub Copilot, as an industry leader, excels in simplicity and editor compatibility, supporting a wide range of environments.
For those seeking free options, Tabnine offers reliable autocomplete and code generation with editor flexibility, while Qode Gen provides basic code generation but is more limited in console functionality and model diversity.
After comparing these options, my choice ultimately fell on Cursor. Its advanced model integration, powerful autocomplete, and seamless console support made it the ideal tool to boost my productivity and streamline my coding workflow.
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Testimonials
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