Detailed Feature Matrix - Complete Capability Comparison

Complete Feature Comparison

This comprehensive matrix compares every significant feature across major AI coding assistants to help you make an informed decision.

Tip

Features marked with ⭐ are unique differentiators that significantly impact productivity.

Core Capabilities

Feature	Cursor	Claude Code	GitHub Copilot	ChatGPT	Cody
Inline Completions	✅ Excellent	❌ No	✅ Excellent	❌ No	✅ Good
Chat Interface	✅ Yes	✅ Terminal	❌ Limited	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Multi-file Editing ⭐	✅ Yes	✅ Superior	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Limited
Autonomous Coding ⭐	✅ Agent Mode	✅ Core Feature	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No
Context Window	120K tokens	200K tokens ⭐	2K tokens	8-32K tokens	10K tokens
Codebase Understanding	✅ Indexed	✅ Deep Analysis	❌ File-level	❌ None	✅ Indexed

Language & Framework Support

Feature	Cursor	Claude Code	GitHub Copilot	ChatGPT	Cody
JavaScript/TypeScript	✅ Excellent	✅ Excellent	✅ Excellent	✅ Good	✅ Good
Python	✅ Excellent	✅ Excellent	✅ Excellent	✅ Good	✅ Good
Java/Kotlin	✅ Very Good	✅ Very Good	✅ Good	✅ Good	✅ Good
Go	✅ Very Good	✅ Very Good	✅ Good	✅ Good	✅ Good
Rust	✅ Good	✅ Very Good	✅ Good	✅ Fair	✅ Fair
PHP	✅ Very Good	✅ Very Good	✅ Good	✅ Good	✅ Good
Elixir	✅ Good	✅ Very Good	✅ Fair	✅ Fair	✅ Fair
Ruby	✅ Very Good	✅ Very Good	✅ Good	✅ Good	✅ Good
C/C++	✅ Good	✅ Good	✅ Good	✅ Fair	✅ Fair
Swift/Objective-C	✅ Good	✅ Good	✅ Good	✅ Fair	✅ Fair

Development Features

Feature	Cursor	Claude Code	GitHub Copilot	ChatGPT	Cody
Test Generation ⭐	✅ Comprehensive	✅ Superior	⚡ Basic	⚡ Manual	✅ Good
Debugging Assistance	✅ Interactive	✅ Deep Analysis	⚡ Limited	⚡ Q&A Only	✅ Good
Refactoring ⭐	✅ Multi-file	✅ Codebase-wide	❌ Single file	❌ Manual	⚡ Limited
Code Review	✅ Good	✅ Excellent	❌ No	⚡ Manual	✅ Good
Documentation Gen	✅ Automated	✅ Comprehensive	⚡ Basic	⚡ Manual	✅ Good
Git Integration	✅ Built-in	✅ CLI Native	⚡ Basic	❌ None	✅ Good

AI Model Capabilities

Feature	Cursor	Claude Code	GitHub Copilot	ChatGPT	Cody
Primary Model	Claude/GPT-4	Claude Opus 4 ⭐	GPT-3.5/4	GPT-4	Claude/GPT
Model Selection	✅ Multiple	⚡ Fixed	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Multiple
Deep Reasoning ⭐	✅ Yes	✅ Superior	❌ No	✅ Yes	⚡ Limited
Code Understanding	✅ Excellent	✅ Superior	✅ Good	⚡ Generic	✅ Good
Architecture Advice	✅ Good	✅ Excellent	❌ No	✅ Good	⚡ Limited

Workflow Integration

Feature	Cursor	Claude Code	GitHub Copilot	ChatGPT	Cody
IDE Integration	✅ Native (VS Code)	⚡ Extension	✅ Multiple IDEs	❌ None	✅ Multiple
CLI Support	⚡ Limited	✅ Native ⭐	❌ No	❌ None	⚡ Limited
CI/CD Integration	⚡ Possible	✅ Native	❌ No	❌ None	✅ Good
Terminal Commands	⚡ Limited	✅ Full Access	❌ No	❌ None	⚡ Limited
File Operations	✅ Full	✅ Full	❌ Read Only	❌ None	✅ Full

Team & Enterprise Features

Feature	Cursor	Claude Code	GitHub Copilot	ChatGPT	Cody
Team Management	✅ Admin Dashboard	⚡ API Only	✅ Basic	✅ Basic	✅ Good
SSO/SAML	✅ Yes	✅ Enterprise	✅ Enterprise	✅ Enterprise	✅ Yes
Usage Analytics	✅ Detailed	⚡ Basic	⚡ Basic	⚡ Basic	✅ Good
Privacy Mode	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	⚡ Limited	✅ Yes
On-Premise	❌ No	⚡ Via Cloud	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes

Performance & Limits

Feature	Cursor	Claude Code	GitHub Copilot	ChatGPT	Cody
Context Window	120,000 tokens	200,000 tokens ⭐	8,000 tokens	128,000 tokens	120,000 tokens
Response Speed	under 100ms inline	1-3s	under 100ms	2-5s	200-500ms
Monthly Limits	500-4,500 requests	10-800 prompts/5hr	Unlimited*	40 msgs/3hr	Varies
File Size Limit	100KB	No practical limit ⭐	10KB	N/A	50KB
Concurrent Operations	Sequential	Parallel ⭐	Single	Single	Sequential
Codebase Understanding	Multi-file editing	Agentic search ⭐	Limited	None	Good

Cost Analysis (July 2025)

Plan Type	Cursor	Claude Code	GitHub Copilot	ChatGPT	Windsurf
Free Tier	2,000 completions/mo	Included in Claude	30-day trial	Limited GPT-3.5	Generous free tier
Basic	$20/mo ($16/yr)	$20/mo Pro	$10/mo ($100/yr)	$20/mo	$12/mo
Mid-Tier	$60/mo Pro+	$100/mo Max 5x ⭐	N/A	N/A	N/A
Power User	$200/mo Ultra	$200/mo Max 20x	N/A	N/A	Custom
Team	$40/user ($32/yr)	$25-30/user*	$19/user	$25/user	$12/seat
Enterprise	Custom	~$60/user (min 70)	$39/user	Custom	Custom

*Team plans do not include Claude Code access

Unique Features

Cursor Exclusive

• 🎯 Codebase Indexing with semantic search
• 🎯 @ Symbol References for instant context
• 🎯 Background Agents for async tasks
• 🎯 Checkpoint System for safe experimentation
• 🎯 Multi-cursor Editing with AI

Claude Code Exclusive

• 🚀 200K Token Context - Largest available
• 🚀 Autonomous File Discovery and editing
• 🚀 Deep Reasoning Mode (/think commands)
• 🚀 Native Terminal Integration
• 🚀 Parallel Operations across files

Copilot Exclusive

• 💡 Widest IDE Support
• 💡 GitHub Integration
• 💡 Workspace Suggestions

Use Case Recommendations

Best Tool by Scenario

Use Case	Recommended Tool	Why
Quick Edits	Cursor	Instant inline completions
Large Refactoring	Claude Code	Superior multi-file handling
Learning to Code	ChatGPT + Cursor	Best explanations + practice
Enterprise Team	Cursor Business	Team features + compliance
CLI Workflows	Claude Code	Native terminal integration
Budget Conscious	GitHub Copilot	Lowest cost at $10/mo
Maximum Context	Claude Code	200K token window
Polyglot Development	Cursor or Claude	Best language support

Feature Adoption Timeline

Day 1 Features

• Inline completions (Cursor/Copilot)
• Basic chat assistance
• Single file edits
• Simple debugging help

Week 1 Features

• Multi-file context
• Test generation
• Refactoring assistance
• Git integration

Month 1 Features

• Autonomous coding
• Architecture planning
• Complex debugging
• Team workflows

Decision Framework

1. Identify Primary Needs

   • Solo coding? → Start with Cursor
   • Complex systems? → Claude Code
   • Budget limited? → Copilot
   • Learning focus? → ChatGPT

2. Consider Context Size

   • Small scripts → Any tool works
   • Medium projects → Cursor ideal
   • Large codebases → Claude Code essential

3. Evaluate Workflow

   • IDE-centric → Cursor
   • Terminal-heavy → Claude Code
   • Multi-IDE → Copilot

4. Calculate ROI

   • Light use → Copilot ($10)
   • Regular use → Cursor/Claude ($20)
   • Heavy use → Premium tiers

The Bottom Line

Note

No single tool dominates every category. The best choice depends on your specific workflow, budget, and project complexity.

Quick Recommendations

• Best Overall: Cursor (balance of features and usability)
• Most Powerful: Claude Code (maximum capability)
• Best Value: GitHub Copilot (lowest cost)
• Most Flexible: Cody (on-premise option)
• Best for Learning: ChatGPT + any coding tool

Power User Setup

Many developers use multiple tools:

1. Cursor for daily development ($20)
2. Claude Code for complex tasks ($100)
3. ChatGPT for learning/research ($20)

Total: $140/month for maximum productivity

Ready to Choose?

Start with Cursor Best balance for most developers

Start with Claude Code Maximum power for complex projects

Compare Pricing Detailed cost analysis