Both write code for you, but not at the same pace or with the same role for you. Cursor is an editor: you're in front of the screen, the AI suggests, you validate every change. Asynchronous agents (Devin, Codex cloud, Jules) work in the background: you assign a ticket, they come back with a pull request to review.
The comparison below is based on the two profiles in the directory: on one side, learning and live control; on the other, full delegation on well-scoped tasks.
Our verdict never depends on a commission: affiliate links are disclosed, and they change neither the order of this comparison nor its conclusion. (Our Method)
| Criterion | Cursor | Asynchronous agents (Devin, Codex, Jules) |
|---|---|---|
| The principle | A code editor with built-in AI: you describe what you want in plain language, the AI writes the code, you validate every change; it understands your whole project, not just one file. | You assign a task or a ticket: the agent explores the code on its own in the cloud, writes the change, runs the tests and opens a documented pull request. Devin is the archetype; Codex cloud is included in paid ChatGPT plans, Jules in Google AI Pro. |
| Your role | Live site manager: you formulate, read, accept or correct, and test right away. | Requester, then reviewer: you describe the task and its acceptance criteria, then you review the result — for example, the next morning. |
| Price | $0 to $20/month to get started (Pro $20, $16/month billed annually; Pro+ $60 and Ultra $200 for heavy use). | From $20/month (Devin on an individual plan; Codex cloud included in ChatGPT from $20/month), up to several hundred dollars a month for intensive team use. |
| Free plan | Yes: permanent free plan, with limited use. | No lasting free plan at Devin; Codex cloud and Jules can be tried via existing subscriptions (paid ChatGPT, Google AI Pro). |
| Difficulty | Medium. | Medium. |
| Best for | Curious people who want to get their hands into the code and understand what they publish: motivated beginners, technical project managers, creators. | Developers and small teams with a backlog of well-scoped tasks: simple bug fixes, version upgrades, tests to write, small refactorings. |
| Guardrails to know | Never paste API keys, passwords or sensitive data into the chat. Review every change before accepting it: the AI is fast, but you're the site manager. | Pricing for these tools changed profoundly in 2026: check the current rates before committing and cap consumption from the start. Don't delegate secrets or critical code without review: a confident pull request can contain a well-disguised flaw. |
See the Devin, Codex cloud and Jules profile in the directory →
No, they're two complementary modes: Cursor works with you, synchronously, in the editor; asynchronous agents work without you, on an assigned task. Many users keep the editor for day-to-day work and delegate background tasks.
From $20/month — Devin on an individual plan, or Codex cloud included in ChatGPT from $20/month — up to several hundred dollars a month for intensive team use. Note: pricing for these tools changed profoundly in 2026, check the current rates and cap consumption from the start.
These profiles target developers and small teams first: delegating requires being able to describe the task precisely, then review the pull request like one from a junior developer. Nothing gets merged without review.
Comparison updated on October 31, 2026 — see what's new in the directory.