Cursor alternatives: coding agents with their own apps
Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Kimi Code and DeepSeek Harness as Cursor alternatives: which have desktop apps or editor extensions, and how to run several in Mirasim.
The short answer
Cursor is an AI editor with its own coding agent. If what you use most is the agent, the coding agents from the model companies now come with their own apps: Claude Code and Codex each have a desktop app and editor extensions, and OpenCode has desktop, terminal and phone apps. Mirasim runs these agents side by side in one window.
- Claude Code or Codex extension
- You want to keep VS Code and an agent inside it
- OpenCode
- You want open source and any model provider
- Codex
- You already pay for ChatGPT
- Mirasim
- You want several agents, and teammates, in one place
The alternatives, and where each runs
| Where it runs | Sign in | |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Code (Anthropic) | Terminal, VS Code, JetBrains, desktop app, browser | Claude subscription or Anthropic Console |
| Codex (OpenAI) | Terminal, IDE extension (VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf), desktop app, chatgpt.com/codex | ChatGPT plan or API key |
| OpenCode | Desktop app (macOS, Windows, Linux), terminal, phone, SDK | Free models, or 200+ providers |
| Kimi Code (Moonshot AI) | Terminal; Zed and JetBrains through ACP | Kimi Code OAuth or a Kimi API key |
| DeepSeek Harness (DeepSeek) | Desktop app (Apple-silicon Mac, 64-bit Windows), dsh web in a browser | DeepSeek API key |
| Mirasim | Desktop app (macOS, Windows, Linux), phone apps, browser; runs the five above and five more | Each agent's own sign-in, your keys, or Mirasim credit |
Each row comes from that product's own documentation on November 8, 2026. For prices, see each product's pricing page; for Mirasim, mirasim.ai/pricing.
Moving over from Cursor
- Rules: Cursor reads AGENTS.md as well as .cursor/rules. Codex, Grok Build and Pi read AGENTS.md, and Claude Code can read it in place of a CLAUDE.md, so plain AGENTS.md rules carry over.
- Editor: Claude Code's and Codex's extensions install in VS Code, and Codex lists Cursor and Windsurf too, so you can try them without changing editors.
- Cloud work: if you used Cursor Cloud Agents, a Mirasim team space keeps sessions running after you close your laptop.
Article · Cursor vs Claude Code: an editor with an agent, or an agent for any editor → Cursor and Claude Code compared in detail.
Questions
- Is there a free Cursor alternative?
- OpenCode is open source and comes with free models that need no sign-in. Mirasim is free with your own accounts and keys.
- Is there an open-source Cursor alternative?
- OpenCode, Kimi Code (MIT), DeepSeek Harness (MIT) and Codex's CLI (Apache-2.0) are open source.
- Can Mirasim run Cursor's agent?
- No. It runs Claude Code, Codex, Kimi Code, DeepSeek Harness, OpenCode, Qwen Code, Pi, Antigravity, ZCode and Grok Build.
Article · Claude Code alternatives: nine coding agents, and why you might not have to choose → Alternatives to Claude Code, grouped by why you'd switch.
Sources
Checked on November 8, 2026 against each product's own pages: cursor.com/docs, code.claude.com/docs/en/overview, github.com/openai/codex, opencode.ai, github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code and deepseek.com/en/harness. All of them change quickly, so check the sources for the latest.
Keep reading
Claude Code alternatives: nine coding agents, and why you might not have to choose
Codex, OpenCode, Kimi Code, DeepSeek Harness, Qwen Code and four more coding agents, grouped by why you'd switch, and how to run them next to Claude Code.
Claude Code vs Codex: how they differ, and using both
Claude Code is Anthropic's coding agent; Codex is OpenAI's. How sign-in, apps and instruction files differ, and how to run both side by side.
A Conductor alternative for Mac, Windows and Linux
Conductor is joining Meta and its cloud shuts down Nov 20. Mirasim runs on Mac, Windows and Linux and imports your Conductor worktrees and chats in one click.