AI assistants for everyday programming: The practical overview

The landscape of artificial intelligence in software development is exploding. Whether you need real-time code completions or a full-fledged agent that autonomously builds your application – finding the right solution has become a challenge. This guide introduces the leading AI solutions for programming and helps you select the most suitable one.

What type of AI support suits you?

Before looking at specific tools, you should understand that there are two basic categories: simple assistants (inline help, suggestions, chat interface) and autonomous agents (perform operations independently, edit multiple files, run tests).

Assistants for everyday programming tasks

These tools integrate directly into your development environment and offer context-dependent support.

GitHub Copilot & Copilot CLI utilize OpenAI technology and function as plugins for VS Code, Visual Studio, and JetBrains. Their strength lies in quick code prediction, boilerplate generation, and explaining function blocks. Copilot Chat allows natural language queries. The free tier offers about 2,000 code completions per month; pro versions start at $10/month.

Google Gemini Code Assist relies on Google’s Gemini models and is characterized by its ability to work across larger code segments. The Gemini CLI acts as a terminal agent, can execute shell commands, and search your codebase. Individual users get approximately 6,000 free code requests daily; premium versions are tied to Google Cloud subscriptions.

JetBrains AI Assistant is deeply integrated into IntelliJ-based IDEs and offers, besides classic completions, intelligent renaming, language conversions, and documentation-based refactorings. You can switch between OpenAI, Anthropic, and Gemini models or use local models via Ollama. The AI Pro version costs $100 annually.

Agents: AI working independently

For more ambitious projects, you need a real agent.

Replit AI & Agent runs a cloud IDE with an integrated AI assistant. The agent generates functional full-stack applications from natural language descriptions and refines them using self-tests. The system targets beginners and hobby developers who want to work without a local environment. The free plan is limited to public projects; the core plan costs $20/month.

OpenAI Codex & Codex CLI operate as conversational agents within ChatGPT. The newly introduced GPT-5 models (mid-2025) showed dramatic improvements in frontend generation and achieved 74.9% accuracy on the SWE-Bench test. The tool can handle complete applications, responsive websites, or complex refactorings. ChatGPT Plus costs $20/month; the pro version $200.

Anthropic Claude Code & Claude CLI run as terminal-based agents and are especially strong in debugging and multi-file orchestration. The CLI can be run locally or self-hosted – ideal for companies needing control over their data. Claude Pro costs $20/month; Claude Max around $100–200.

Cursor AI is an AI-infused fork of VS Code and feels familiar to VS Code users. The agent mode accepts high-level goals, performs multi-line edits, and orchestrates complex refactorings across multiple files. You can choose models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Gemini. The pro plan costs $20/month; the ultra plan $200.

AI-native IDEs: The new generation

These development environments are designed from the ground up for AI-driven programming.

Windsurf IDE uses a cascade system for context management across the entire codebase and offers live previews of code changes, automatic linter fixes, and deep code search via Model Context Protocol. Natural language command input enables function implementation, testing, and refactoring in one go. The free plan offers 25 credits per month; pro version 15 US$ (500 Credits).

Mistral Vibe CLI is an open-source agent powered by Devstral 2, with project-specific context scanning and multi-file orchestration. Free during the preview phase; afterward billed per token (about $0.40–2.00 US$ per million tokens).

Google Antigravity IDE is an experimental system positioned as Google’s answer to Cursor and Windsurf. The special feature: you can take screenshots of bugs, and the IDE visually repairs the code. You can click buttons and test websites within the editor. Currently completely free.

Decision aid: Which tool for whom?

For students and small budgets:

• GitHub Copilot (free for verified students) or
• Google Gemini Code Assist (free tier with daily quota)

For absolute programming beginners:

• Replit Agent generates the entire application without complex setup processes

For experienced developers working on high-level tasks:

• Cursor or Windsurf feel like the future of programming
• Claude Code or Codex CLI for terminal-oriented professionals

Especially for web development:

• Google Antigravity due to visual debugging and testing features

For enterprise and data privacy:

• Claude CLI (self-hosted) or locally hosted solutions via Ollama

Final notes

Remember: these AI tools are powerful but still require human oversight. Verify generated code, write tests, and maintain your own understanding of the system architecture.

The best choice depends on your experience level, budget, and specific programming needs. Try multiple options – many offer generous free trials. The right combination of tool and workflow will significantly boost your productivity.