Codex vs Cursor vs Antigravity: Which AI Coding Assistant is Best in 2026?

1/7/2026 · 7 min read

#ai#coding#development#tools#productivity

AI coding assistants have revolutionized software development. But with so many options, which one should you choose? I've spent months testing Codex, Cursor, and Antigravity. Here's my honest comparison.

Quick Comparison Table

| Feature | OpenAI Codex | Cursor | Antigravity | |:---|:---:|:---:|:---:| | Price | $20/month | $20/month | Free (Gemini) | | IDE Integration | VS Code only | Standalone IDE | VS Code, IntelliJ, Web | | Code Completion | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | Context Awareness | Limited | Excellent | Outstanding | | Multi-file Editing | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | | Debugging | Basic | Good | Excellent | | Learning Curve | Easy | Easy | Moderate | | Best For | Beginners | Full-stack devs | Complex projects |

OpenAI Codex: The Pioneer

What it is: The AI model that powers GitHub Copilot, available via API.

Strengths

✅ Excellent autocomplete - Suggests code as you type
✅ Natural language to code - Describe what you want, get working code
✅ Wide language support - Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Ruby, Go, and 30+ more
✅ Well-documented - Extensive examples and tutorials

Weaknesses

❌ Limited context - Only sees current file
❌ No multi-file refactoring - Can't update multiple files at once
❌ Requires VS Code - No standalone option
❌ Subscription required - $20/month for Copilot

Best Use Cases

  • Quick prototyping
  • Learning new languages
  • Writing boilerplate code
  • Single-file scripts

Real-World Example

Prompt: "Create a Python function to validate email addresses"

Codex Output:

import re

def validate_email(email):
    pattern = r'^[a-zA-Z0-9._%+-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9.-]+\.[a-zA-Z]{2,}$'
    return re.match(pattern, email) is not None

Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) - Great for beginners and quick tasks, but limited for complex projects.

Cursor: The Developer's IDE

What it is: A fork of VS Code with built-in AI, designed specifically for AI-assisted coding.

Strengths

✅ Multi-file awareness - Understands your entire codebase
✅ Chat interface - Ask questions about your code
✅ Cmd+K shortcuts - Edit code inline with AI
✅ Privacy mode - Option to keep code local
✅ Fast - Optimized for speed

Weaknesses

❌ Another IDE - Have to switch from your current setup
❌ Limited customization - Fewer extensions than VS Code
❌ Subscription cost - $20/month (free tier limited)
❌ Occasional hallucinations - Sometimes suggests incorrect code

Best Use Cases

  • Full-stack web development
  • Refactoring large codebases
  • Debugging complex issues
  • Team collaboration

Real-World Example

Prompt: "Refactor this React component to use hooks instead of class components"

Cursor Output:

// Before: Class component
class UserProfile extends React.Component {
  constructor(props) {
    super(props);
    this.state = { user: null };
  }
  // ...
}

// After: Functional component with hooks
function UserProfile({ userId }) {
  const [user, setUser] = useState(null);
  
  useEffect(() => {
    fetchUser(userId).then(setUser);
  }, [userId]);
  
  return <div>{user?.name}</div>;
}

Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) - Best all-around AI coding assistant for professional developers.

Antigravity: The Agentic Powerhouse

What it is: Google DeepMind's agentic AI coding assistant that can autonomously complete complex tasks.

Strengths

✅ Agentic workflow - Can plan, execute, and verify tasks autonomously
✅ Multi-tool integration - Browser, terminal, file system access
✅ Context mastery - Understands entire projects, not just code
✅ Task artifacts - Creates implementation plans and walkthroughs
✅ Free tier - Powered by Gemini (Google's AI)
✅ Multiple IDE support - VS Code, IntelliJ, and web interface

Weaknesses

❌ Steeper learning curve - More complex than autocomplete tools
❌ Requires trust - Autonomous actions need oversight
❌ Token limits - Free tier has usage caps
❌ Newer - Smaller community than Copilot

Best Use Cases

  • Complex refactoring across multiple files
  • Debugging production issues
  • Building features from scratch
  • Learning new frameworks
  • Code migration projects

Real-World Example

Prompt: "Migrate this Express.js API to Next.js API routes"

Antigravity Workflow:

  1. Analyzes existing Express routes
  2. Creates implementation plan
  3. Generates Next.js API route files
  4. Updates imports and dependencies
  5. Creates test cases
  6. Generates walkthrough document

Result: Complete migration with documentation in 10 minutes.

Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) - Revolutionary for complex tasks, but overkill for simple autocomplete.

Head-to-Head: Real-World Scenarios

Scenario 1: "Add authentication to my app"

Codex:

  • Suggests auth middleware code
  • You manually integrate it
  • Time: 2 hours

Cursor:

  • Generates auth routes and middleware
  • Updates multiple files
  • Time: 45 minutes

Antigravity:

  • Creates implementation plan
  • Generates auth system
  • Updates database schema
  • Adds tests
  • Creates documentation
  • Time: 20 minutes

Winner: Antigravity

Scenario 2: "Fix this bug in my code"

Codex:

  • Suggests potential fixes
  • You test and iterate
  • Time: 30 minutes

Cursor:

  • Analyzes code context
  • Suggests fix with explanation
  • Time: 10 minutes

Antigravity:

  • Debugs with terminal access
  • Identifies root cause
  • Implements fix
  • Verifies with tests
  • Time: 5 minutes

Winner: Antigravity

Scenario 3: "Write a simple function"

Codex:

  • Instant autocomplete
  • Time: 10 seconds

Cursor:

  • Inline suggestion
  • Time: 10 seconds

Antigravity:

  • Overkill for simple tasks
  • Time: 30 seconds (overhead)

Winner: Codex/Cursor (tie)

Pricing Breakdown

OpenAI Codex (via GitHub Copilot)

  • Free: 60-day trial
  • Individual: $10/month or $100/year
  • Business: $19/user/month

Cursor

  • Free: 2,000 completions/month
  • Pro: $20/month (unlimited)
  • Business: $40/user/month

Antigravity

  • Free: Gemini-powered (usage limits)
  • Pro: $20/month (higher limits)
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Codex if:

  • You're a beginner learning to code
  • You want simple autocomplete
  • You're happy with VS Code
  • You write mostly single-file scripts

Choose Cursor if:

  • You're a professional developer
  • You work on full-stack projects
  • You want the best all-around tool
  • You're willing to switch IDEs

Choose Antigravity if:

  • You work on complex, multi-file projects
  • You need autonomous task completion
  • You want planning and documentation
  • You're comfortable with agentic AI

My Personal Recommendation

After 6 months of daily use:

For beginners: Start with Codex (GitHub Copilot). It's the easiest to learn and integrates seamlessly.

For professionals: Use Cursor as your daily driver. It's the best balance of power and usability.

For complex projects: Add Antigravity for tasks that require multi-file changes, debugging, or migrations.

My setup: I use Cursor for 80% of my work and Antigravity for complex refactoring, debugging production issues, and learning new frameworks.

The Future of AI Coding

By late 2026, we'll likely see:

  • AI agents that can build entire features autonomously
  • Better context windows (100K+ tokens)
  • Real-time collaboration between human and AI
  • AI-powered code review and security scanning

The question isn't "Will AI replace developers?" but "How will developers who use AI replace those who don't?"

Conclusion

All three tools are excellent, but they serve different purposes:

  • Codex = Autocomplete on steroids
  • Cursor = AI-powered IDE
  • Antigravity = Autonomous coding agent

The best choice depends on your workflow, project complexity, and budget. For most developers, Cursor offers the best value. For complex projects, Antigravity is unmatched.

Pro Tip: Try all three with their free tiers before committing. Your ideal tool depends on your specific needs and coding style.

What's your experience with AI coding assistants? Which one do you prefer and why?

Category: Development