An AI coding agent takes a task, edits your code and runs checks on its own, rather than suggesting lines as you type. The useful way to choose one is by where it runs: in your terminal, inside your editor, or in the cloud, where some keep going after you close your laptop.
Coding agents and coding assistants get lumped together, but they do different jobs. An assistant helps while you type, and my guide to the best AI coding assistants for business covers those. An agent takes a whole task, works through it and hands back a result, often while you're doing something else.
The ten agents below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, each described from its own site or docs as of Oct 2026. They aren't ranked, because the right one depends far more on where you want it working than on any league table.
Ten coding agents and where they work
Only one of these agents says on its own page that free models are included, so that's the single Yes. Not stated means the page doesn't spell out a free plan either way, so check before you count on one.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aider | Terminal pair-programming agent | Terminal work that lints and tests after each change | Not stated |
| Amp | Coding agent and dev environment | Agents that keep running after you close the laptop | Not stated |
| Claude Code | Terminal, IDE and web agent | Long refactors and migrations that follow imports and run your tests | Not stated |
| Cline | Open-source editor and terminal agent | One open agent runtime for your editor, terminal or your own product | Not stated |
| Devin | Cloud and local autonomous engineer | Handing over a ticket and getting a pull request back | Not stated |
| Factory | Autonomous agent platform (Droids) | Teams who need control over where it runs and its models | Not stated |
| Gemini CLI | Open-source terminal agent | A ReAct loop with built-in tools and local or remote MCP servers | Not stated |
| Kilo Code | Open-source agent in IDE, CLI and cloud | Open agent for VS Code and the terminal with your keys | Not stated |
| OpenCode | Open-source terminal, IDE and desktop agent | Several agents in parallel on one project | Yes |
| OpenHands | Open-source agent platform | Teams who want an open platform with cloud access and an SDK | Not stated |
What each coding agent is built for
Aider
Best for: Pair programming in your terminal, where it lints and tests your code after every change and can fix what your test suites flag.
Amp
Best for: Sending a task off and closing your laptop, since its agents keep working after you've gone and you can build from anywhere.
Claude Code
Best for: Long refactors and migrations, where it follows imports across the repo, runs your tests and keeps going when something breaks.
Cline
Best for: One open-source agent runtime you can use in your editor, in your terminal or embedded in your own products.
Devin
Best for: Handing over a ticket and getting back a pull request, after it's tested the work in its own browser and got it ready to merge.
Factory
Best for: Teams who want autonomous agents across desktop, terminal, web and CLI, with control over where they run and which models they use.
Gemini CLI
Best for: Working in your local or Cloud Shell terminal, with a reason and act loop that uses built-in tools and local or remote MCP servers.
Kilo Code
Best for: Using one open-source agent in VS Code and the terminal, with frontier or open-weight models or your own keys.
OpenCode
Best for: Running several agents in parallel on the same project, in your terminal, IDE or desktop app, with free models included.
OpenHands
Best for: Teams who'd like an open platform for agentic software development, with cloud access and an SDK to build on.
Where the agent keeps working comes first
Most comparisons line these tools up feature by feature. The more useful split is where the agent keeps working, and how it checks itself. Amp's page is built around sending a prompt, closing the laptop and carrying on from your phone. The Gemini CLI docs describe a reason and act loop, ReAct for short, running in your local or Cloud Shell terminal with built-in tools and local or remote MCP servers. And the Aider site says it lints and tests your code every time it makes changes, and can fix problems your linters and test suites find.
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That's three different promises. One lets you walk away, one keeps you at the command line, and one checks its own work after every edit. Decide which of those you need before you look at anything else.
Terminal, editor or cloud
- In your terminal: alongside the two terminal agents above, OpenCode works in the terminal, an IDE or a desktop app and can start several agents in parallel on the same project.
- Inside your editor: Cline is one open-source agent runtime you can use in your editor, your terminal or your own products, and Kilo Code brings an open-source agent to VS Code and the terminal with your own keys.
- Terminal and IDE together: Claude Code starts in your terminal and meets you in your IDE, and its page talks about multi-hour refactors and migrations where it follows imports across the repo.
- In the cloud, for teams: OpenHands is an open platform with cloud access and an SDK, Factory runs autonomous agents across desktop, terminal, web and CLI, and Devin runs in the cloud or on your machine and won't stop until the pull request is ready to merge.
Handing a task over without losing control
However an agent runs, it's changing your code without you watching every line. A few habits keep that safe:
- Give it one clear task, such as a single bug or one migration, rather than a vague brief.
- Make sure your project has tests, because several of these agents run them to check their own work, and an agent can only check what your tests cover.
- Review the result as a pull request before it's merged, the same way you'd review a colleague's work.
- Start in a branch or a copy of the project, so nothing reaches your live code until you're happy with it.
If you'd like the wider set of tools beyond agents, my roundup of AI tools for developers covers more of the toolkit.
Do you make an AI coding agent? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing an AI coding agent
Pick where you want the work to happen first. If you live in the terminal, start with a terminal agent. If you'd rather stay in your editor, use one that runs there. If you want to hand over a ticket and get on with your day, look at the cloud agents, and accept that you'll be reviewing their pull requests rather than watching them work.
Whichever you choose, keep your tests in good shape. An agent that runs your tests is only as careful as the tests it's running. And if you don't write code yourself and want an app built from a description, vibe coding tools are the better match.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between an AI coding agent and a coding assistant?
An assistant suggests code while you type. An agent takes a task, makes the changes across your project and runs checks on its own, then hands back the result.
Can an AI coding agent work while my laptop is closed?
Some can. Agents that run in the cloud keep working after you close your laptop, while terminal and editor agents run where you started them.
Do AI coding agents run my tests?
Several do. Some lint and test after every change, and others run your tests as part of longer refactors. They can only check what your tests cover.
Can I use my own AI model with a coding agent?
Several open-source agents here let you bring your own keys or connect a model from another provider. Check the agent's docs for which models it supports.
Are AI coding agents free?
Only one here says on its own page that free models are included. For the rest, check each agent's own site, as of Oct 2026.
