Which is more popular, Codex or Cursor?

Codex has more GitHub stars (127,691 vs 33,257).

Which is more actively developed, Codex or Cursor?

Codex had more commits in the last 90 days (3,879 vs 0).

Compare their capabilities, limitations and "best for" notes above. Trying each on a small task is the fastest way to decide.

Side-by-side comparison of two AI agent tools

Codex is growing faster: +9,427 GitHub stars in the last 30 days vs +116 for Cursor.
Pick Codex for: lightweight coding agent that runs in your terminal. Pick Cursor for: the AI Code Editor.

From GitHub data refreshed daily.

Codexopen-source

Lightweight coding agent that runs in your terminal

The AI Code Editor

+Runs locally on your machine, providing better privacy and control over your code
+Seamless integration with existing ChatGPT subscriptions without requiring separate API setup
+Multiple deployment options including CLI, IDE extensions, desktop app, and web access

+High community adoption with 32,000+ GitHub stars indicating strong developer interest
+Combines traditional code editing with AI coding agent capabilities in a single tool
+Active community support through dedicated forum for user feedback and feature requests

-Requires ChatGPT Plus/Pro subscription or separate API key setup for full functionality
-Limited documentation suggests the tool may still be in early development stages

-Limited public documentation available about specific features and capabilities
-Requires download and installation rather than being browser-based for immediate access

•Terminal-based coding assistance for developers who prefer command-line workflows
•Local AI code generation and debugging while maintaining code privacy
•Integrated development workflow across multiple environments (terminal, IDE, desktop)

•Developers looking to integrate AI assistance directly into their code editing workflow
•Teams wanting to combine traditional IDE functionality with modern AI coding capabilities
•Programmers seeking an AI-enhanced alternative to conventional code editors

Which is more popular, Codex or Cursor?: Codex has more GitHub stars (127,691 vs 33,257).
Which is more actively developed, Codex or Cursor?: Codex had more commits in the last 90 days (3,879 vs 0).
Should I use Codex or Cursor?: Compare their capabilities, limitations and "best for" notes above. Trying each on a small task is the fastest way to decide.