Every AI coding tool advertises a low headline price, then your real bill depends on seats, usage, and which tier you actually need. This free calculator shows what Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Codex, Windsurf (now Devin Desktop), and open-source agents will actually cost your team per month, side by side, with the cheapest option for your usage highlighted.
| Tool | Recommended plan | Per seat / mo | Total / mo | Total / yr |
|---|
How the AI Coding Cost Calculator Works
The usage mapping follows each vendor's published limit structure: light users stay within entry-plan allowances, daily users need mid tiers like Cursor Pro Plus or Claude Max 5x, and all-day users need top tiers like Cursor Ultra, Copilot Max, or Claude Max 20x to avoid throttling. For the underlying limits, see our Claude usage limits guide and ChatGPT usage limits guide.
The Pricing Behind the Calculator
All prices are each vendor's published monthly rates, checked on October 7, 2026. Annual billing is cheaper for most of these tools.
| Tool | Individual plans | Team plans | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cursor | Pro $20, Pro Plus $60, Ultra $200 | Teams $40/seat, Teams Premium $120/seat | Cursor pricing |
| Claude Code | Claude Pro $20, Max 5x $100, Max 20x $200 | Team Standard $25/seat, Team Premium $125/seat | Claude pricing |
| GitHub Copilot | Pro $10, Pro+ $39, Max $100 | Business $19/seat, Enterprise $39/seat | GitHub Copilot plans |
| Codex (OpenAI) | ChatGPT Plus $20, ChatGPT Pro $200 | ChatGPT Business $25/user | Codex pricing |
| Windsurf (Devin Desktop) | Pro $20, Max $200 | Teams $80/mo base + $40/seat | Devin pricing |
| Aider, Cline | Free software; you pay model API rates. The calculator shows our estimate of $5, $30, or $100 per developer per month for light, daily, or all-day use. | Aider | |
Usage beyond a plan's allowance costs extra on most tools. Copilot bills overage at $0.01 per AI Credit, Cursor bills on-demand usage at model API rates, and Devin Desktop bills extra Pro usage at API prices. The calculator shows plan prices only, so heavy users should budget for some overage. For full breakdowns, read our Claude Code pricing guide and our best AI coding tools roundup.
What Changed Since the Last Update
We also changed how the calculator works: it now uses each vendor's team plan from two seats instead of multiplying individual prices, which is how most companies actually buy these tools. The Claude limit change is explained in detail in our Claude usage limits guide.
Which AI Coding Tool Is Cheapest?
There is no single cheapest tool, because the ranking flips with usage and team size. That is the point of the calculator: enter your real numbers and let it rank the options for your situation rather than relying on a headline price.
How We Built and Source This Calculator
We built this calculator from each vendor's published pricing page and documented usage limits, last checked on October 7, 2026, and we link every source in the pricing table above. We did not run hands-on usage tests. The plan we recommend for each usage level is our judgment based on each tool's published limits, and the open-source figures are estimates. Prices change often, so confirm current rates on the vendor's page before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest AI coding tool?
For one developer, GitHub Copilot Pro at $10 per month is the cheapest paid plan among the major tools, and open-source agents like Aider or Cline can cost less if you bring your own API key. For teams, Copilot Business at $19 per seat is the cheapest team plan. For all-day heavy use, the cheapest option depends on team size, which the calculator above works out.
How much do AI coding tools cost per developer?
Entry plans run from $10 per month for Copilot Pro to $20 for Cursor Pro, Claude Pro, ChatGPT Plus, or Devin Desktop Pro. Mid tiers cost $39 to $100, and top tiers such as Cursor Ultra, Claude Max 20x, ChatGPT Pro, and Devin Desktop Max cost $200. Team seats range from $19 for Copilot Business to $125 for Claude Team Premium.
Is Claude Code or Cursor cheaper for a team?
At entry level, Claude Code is cheaper for teams: Claude Team Standard is $25 per seat versus $40 for Cursor Teams. For heavy users, Cursor Teams Premium at $120 per seat is slightly cheaper than Claude Team Premium at $125. For solo developers, both start at $20 per month. Use the calculator with your seat count to see the exact difference.
Have AI coding tool prices changed recently?
Yes. GitHub Copilot switched to token-based AI Credits on June 1, 2026 and added a $100 Max plan, Cursor added Pro Plus and Teams Premium tiers, and Windsurf became Devin Desktop with a new Teams base fee. Claude Code weekly limits were also reset on September 14, 2026. This calculator reflects pricing checked on October 7, 2026.
Can I use this calculator on my own website?
Yes. Copy the embed code in the calculator to add it to your site for free. The embed includes a link back to DeployHyre, and because it loads from our page, your embedded version updates whenever we update the pricing.
Are open-source AI coding tools really cheaper?
Often, yes. Open-source agents like Aider and Cline are free software where you bring your own API key and pay only for model usage, which can be a few dollars a month for light use. They need more setup and cost monitoring than subscription tools, and heavy agentic use can cost more than a flat plan.
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David Austin is a technology writer and software analyst at DeployHyre, where he covers AI tools, SaaS platforms, cloud hosting, and business automation. He focuses on hands-on comparisons of pricing, features, and real-world performance so teams can pick the right software with confidence.