Best AI Code Editors in 2025: Top Tools for Smarter Coding ??

?? AI-Powered Code Editors That Elevate Your Development Workflow ?

Artificial intelligence code editors have come a long way since they were originally conceived. What were experimental tools for programming are now part of the day-to-day routine of most developers. With these editors now matured, the conversation isn’t about using it but about selecting the best suited for your need.

In this feature, we’re going to look at the top AI code editors of 2025, from conventional IDEs with robust AI extensions to AI-specific editors built from the ground up. We’ll examine what they offer for your development pipeline.

???Cursor

Imagine Visual Studio Code embarking on a retreat, experiencing a spiritual transformation, and returning with a newfound fixation on AI. That’s essentially the essence of Cursor. Constructed on the foundation of VS Code, it maintains a sense of familiarity, yet it is infused with AI capabilities that leave you questioning whether you’re actively coding or have inadvertently entered a futuristic realm.

?Key Features

• ??Advanced code completion with auto-imports for TypeScript and Python
• ??Composer (? + I) for creating entire applications
• ??Agent mode (? + .) for context gathering and terminal operations
• ??Context-aware chat (? + L) with folder drag & drop support
• ???Terminal integration with natural language command processing
• ??Built-in bug finder with fix suggestions

??Models GPT-4o, o1, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and more

??Pricing Free hobby tier, $20/month for Pro, $40/user/month for Business

???VS Code

Visual Studio Code has been the preferred editor for numerous developers for years. It is free, open-source, and accommodates nearly every programming language imaginable. By 2025, thanks to AI innovators like GitHub Copilot and Cline, it has transformed into a fully AI-driven development environment while retaining its user-friendly nature and extensibility.

??GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot, the tool that introduced many developers to AI pair programming, has transformed from a simple code completion tool into a sophisticated pair programmer.

?Key Features:

• ?Real-time code completions
• ??Context-aware and smart code suggestions based on your current code and comments
• ??Support for multiple programming languages and frameworks
• ??Seamless IDE integration
• ??Built-in chat capabilities through Copilot Chat for natural language requests
• ???Copilot Agents for extending functionality with custom AI-powered tools for documentation, data retrieval, and specialized coding tasks

??Models Supports multiple models including Claude 3.5 Sonnet from Anthropic, o1, and GPT-4o from OpenAI

??Pricing: Free tier with 12,000 completions per month, $10/month for individuals, $19/user/month for businesses, free for students and open source contributors

???Cline

Meet VS Code’s other AI powerhouse. Cline bridges the gap between editor and terminal, turning routine development tasks into streamlined workflows with its unique approach to AI assistance.

?Key Features:

• ??Autonomous file creation and editing with diff views and Timeline tracking
• ???Terminal command execution with real-time output monitoring
• ??Browser automation for testing, debugging, and UI interactions
• ??Flexible API integration with support for OpenRouter, Anthropic, OpenAI, Google Gemini, and local models
• ??Comprehensive context management with file structure analysis and AST parsing
• ??Workspace checkpoints for comparing and restoring different versions
• ???Extensible through Model Context Protocol for custom tools and capabilities
• ??Cost tracking for API usage and token consumption

??Models: Supports a wide range of models from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google Gemini, DeepSeek, and local models via LM Studio and Ollama

?? Pricing: API costs vary based on chosen providers

???Windsurf

Built on VS Code (sensing a theme here?), Windsurf offers a sophisticated AI-powered development environment with its Supercomplete and Cascade features. Developed by Codeium, it focuses on real-time workspace understanding and intelligent code assistance.

?Key Features

• ?Supercomplete for predicting and offering intelligent code suggestions with diff box previews
• ??Cascade with real-time workspace sync and iterative problem-solving
• ??Comprehensive project understanding with automatic context updates
• ??Flow technology for workspace synchronization

??Models Base Model (Llama 3.1 70B), Premier Model (Llama 3.1 405B), plus GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet with image support

??Pricing Free tier with base model access, $15/month for Pro, $60/month for Pro Ultimate

???Trae

ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, decided to throw its hat into the AI code editor ring with Trae (The Real AI Engineer). And surprise, surprise — it’s built on VS Code. Trae might be the new kid on the block, but it’s coming in hot with a polished UI and some fresh ideas.

?Key Features

• ??Unique “think-before-doing” approach to project-wide operations
• ???Builder mode with systematic task breakdown
• ??Dual chat interfaces: Side Chat (? + U) and Inline Chat (? + I)
• ??Comprehensive context system with automatic indexing
• ??Support for multimodal input including images

??Models Claude 3.5 Sonnet and GPT-4o only

??Pricing: Currently free with all features included (future pricing to be introduced)

??The Figma-to-IDE workflow

A workflow diagram illustrates how Figma designs can be transformed into code using the Builder.io plugin powered by AI, linking designers with development resources.

Although we’ve discussed the top AI code editors, it’s important to note that the evolution of development goes beyond merely coding. A workflow that I particularly enjoy integrates these AI tools with Visual Copilot, a plugin that converts Figma designs into code.

• ???Design in Figma: Everything starts with the design team creating pixel-perfect designs in Figma.
• ??Visual Copilot: Next, Visual Copilot handles the code generation process, converting these Figma designs into clean, production-ready code.
• ???Fine-tuning in IDE: While Visual Copilot handles the heavy lifting of translating design to functional code, I iterate on the generated code using the IDE’s AI capabilities to add interactivity, optimize performance, and implement complex features across multiple files.

?The Bottom Line

It’s now 2025, and AI code editors have transitioned from being mere novelties to essential tools. These tools have matured significantly — what matters now is selecting the one that aligns best with your coding habits and enhances your software development workflow.

Keep in mind: with significant power comes substantial responsibility. By responsibility, I refer to “the capability to introduce bugs at an extraordinary pace.”

Although AI coding tools excel at creating functional code and managing repetitive tasks, their true effectiveness emerges when paired with comprehensive code review procedures.

A Note From the Author

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Made with ?? by Gajanan Rajput??