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Feature Comparison Report

Last Updated: 2026-02-04 (Research Session)

Overview

A comprehensive comparison of features across the four major AI coding assistants: Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, and Cursor.

Legend

  • ✅ Full Support
  • ⚠️ Partial/Limited Support
  • ❌ Not Available

Hooks

Shell commands triggered by events during AI operation.

Tool Status Details
Claude Code ✅ Full 12 event types, 3 hook types (command, prompt, agent), async support
Codex CLI ⚠️ Limited Only notification hook officially supported; comprehensive hooks proposed but not accepted
Gemini CLI ✅ Full Enabled by default since v0.26.0+, scripts at lifecycle events
Cursor ✅ Full Enterprise-grade with partner integrations, 10-20x performance improvement

Claude Code Hooks

Claude Code provides the most comprehensive hooks system with 12 event types:

Event Trigger
SessionStart When session begins/resumes
UserPromptSubmit Before Claude processes user prompt
PreToolUse Before tool execution (can block)
PermissionRequest When permission dialog appears
PostToolUse After successful tool execution
PostToolUseFailure After tool execution fails
Notification When Claude Code sends notifications
SubagentStart When subagent spawns
SubagentStop When subagent finishes
Stop When Claude finishes responding
PreCompact Before context compaction
SessionEnd When session terminates

Hook Types:

  • Command hooks (type: "command") - Execute shell scripts
  • Prompt hooks (type: "prompt") - Single-turn LLM evaluation
  • Agent hooks (type: "agent") - Multi-turn subagent with tool access
  • Async hooks support with "async": true for non-blocking execution

Codex CLI Hooks

Limited official support:

  • Notification hook: Built-in, triggers when Codex completes a task
  • Comprehensive hooks system proposed (PR #9796) but not yet accepted

Gemini CLI Hooks

Full support (enabled by default since v0.26.0+):

  • Scripts execute at specific points in the agentic loop
  • Extensions can bundle hooks directly
  • Supports variable substitution in hooks/hooks.json
  • Controls and customizes the agent loop at lifecycle events

Cursor Hooks

Enterprise-grade hooks system (January 2026):

  • Observe, block, and extend agent loop operations
  • Auto-formatting after edits, gating dangerous commands
  • Performance: 10-20x faster following January 8, 2026 CLI update
  • Enterprise Partners: MintMCP, Oasis Security, Runlayer, Semgrep

Plugins/MCP

Extension system via Model Context Protocol and plugin architecture.

Tool Status Details
Claude Code ✅ Full Full MCP support with dynamic tool loading, OAuth support
Codex CLI ✅ Full MCP + Agent Skills system (production-ready)
Gemini CLI ✅ Full Robust extension ecosystem, browse at geminicli.com/extensions
Cursor ✅ Full MCP + VS Code extensions (some Microsoft restrictions)

Claude Code MCP

  • Full Model Context Protocol implementation
  • Dynamic tool loading at runtime
  • OAuth support for authenticated services
  • Configure in ~/.claude/mcp_servers.json
  • Auto-enable threshold with auto:N syntax

Codex CLI MCP + Agent Skills

  • MCP servers officially supported for third-party tools
  • Agent Skills (production-ready): Reusable bundles of instructions
    • Invoke with $skill-name (e.g., $skill-installer)
    • Auto-selected by Codex based on prompt context
    • Install in ~/.codex/skills (user) or .codex/skills (project)

Gemini CLI Extensions

  • Robust extension ecosystem at geminicli.com/extensions
  • Package prompts, MCP servers, Agent Skills, and custom commands
  • Easy one-command installation
  • Configure via /extensions command

Cursor MCP + Extensions

  • Full MCP support with /mcp enable and /mcp disable commands
  • Dynamic context discovery (46.9% token reduction)
  • VS Code extension compatibility (some Microsoft-specific restrictions)
  • MCP governance via partner integrations

Sub-agents

Ability to spawn parallel worker processes for complex tasks.

Tool Status Details
Claude Code ✅ Full Task tool (7 parallel) + custom persistent subagents
Codex CLI ✅ Via MCP codex-as-mcp, codex-subagents-mcp, manual orchestration
Gemini CLI ⚠️ Limited No native support; shell spawning workarounds
Cursor ✅ Full Up to 8 parallel agents via git worktrees, background agents

Claude Code Sub-agents

  • Task Tool: Up to 7 parallel agents
  • Custom Subagents: Define in .claude/agents/ directory
  • Agent Types: Explore, Plan, Bash, general-purpose, and custom

Codex CLI Sub-agents

  • Via MCP packages:
    • codex-as-mcp: Use Codex as an MCP server
    • codex-subagents-mcp: Full multi-agent orchestration
  • Manual orchestration also possible

Gemini CLI Sub-agents

  • No native sub-agent support
  • Workarounds via shell spawning multiple instances

Cursor Sub-agents

  • Up to 8 parallel agents via git worktrees
  • Background agents for long-running tasks
  • Isolated Ubuntu VMs for background execution

Slash Commands

Built-in commands for common operations.

Tool Status Details
Claude Code ✅ Full /help, /clear, /context, /init, /commit, /pr-comments, /model, /cost, /stats
Codex CLI ✅ Full /quit, /mention, /new, /resume, /fork, /review, /model, /approvals, /compact
Gemini CLI ✅ Full /help, /model, /chat, /memory, /extensions, /settings, /stats
Cursor ✅ Full /summarize, custom commands via .cursor/commands/

Claude Code Commands

Command Description
/help Show help information
/clear Clear conversation
/context Show context usage
/init Initialize CLAUDE.md
/commit Create git commit
/pr-comments Review PR comments
/model Switch model
/cost Show cost information
/stats Show session statistics

Codex CLI Commands

Command Description
/quit Exit the CLI
/mention Mention files/context
/new Start new session
/resume Resume previous session
/fork Fork current session
/review Review code
/model Switch model
/approvals Manage approval settings
/compact Compact context

Gemini CLI Commands

Command Description
/help Show help
/model Switch model
/chat Manage chat sessions
/memory Memory commands
/extensions Manage extensions
/settings View/edit settings
/stats Show usage statistics

Cursor Commands

Command Description
/summarize Summarize content
Custom Via .cursor/commands/ directory

Custom Commands

User-defined commands and prompts.

Tool Status Details
Claude Code ✅ Full Skills in ~/.claude/skills/, commands in ~/.claude/commands/
Codex CLI ✅ Full Custom prompts in ~/.codex/, invoked as /prompts:name
Gemini CLI ✅ Full TOML files in ~/.gemini/commands/, supports {{args}} placeholders
Cursor ✅ Full .cursorrules, Project Rules in .cursor/rules/, Global Rules

Claude Code Custom Commands

  • Skills: ~/.claude/skills/ - Full skill definitions
  • Commands: ~/.claude/commands/ - Markdown command templates
  • Invoked with /command-name

Codex CLI Custom Commands

  • Location: ~/.codex/prompts/
  • Invoked as /prompts:name
  • Supports variable substitution

Gemini CLI Custom Commands

  • Location: ~/.gemini/commands/
  • Format: TOML configuration files
  • Supports {{args}} placeholders for arguments

Cursor Custom Commands

  • Project Rules: .cursor/rules/ directory
  • Global Rules: In Cursor settings
  • .cursorrules: Project-level AI behavior customization

IDE Integration

Editor and development environment support.

Tool Status Details
Claude Code ✅ Full VS Code extension + JetBrains plugin
Codex CLI ✅ Full VS Code extension + native JetBrains (Jan 2026)
Gemini CLI ✅ Full VS Code (official) + JetBrains (3rd party plugin)
Cursor ✅ Standalone VS Code fork - standalone IDE, not a plugin

Claude Code IDE Support

  • VS Code: Official extension
  • JetBrains: Official plugin for IntelliJ, PyCharm, etc.

Codex CLI IDE Support

  • VS Code: Official extension
  • JetBrains: Native integration (January 2026)

Gemini CLI IDE Support

  • VS Code: Official extension
  • JetBrains: Third-party plugin available

Cursor IDE

  • Standalone IDE based on VS Code fork
  • Not available as a plugin for other editors
  • Full VS Code extension compatibility

Git Integration

Version control features and automation.

Tool Status Details
Claude Code ✅ Full GitHub + GitLab, PR/MR creation, commit generation
Codex CLI ✅ Full Deep git integration, GitHub Actions, review workflows
Gemini CLI ⚠️ Partial Git-aware filtering only; native git operations requested
Cursor ✅ Full Native git + PR creation via GitHub MCP

Claude Code Git Features

  • GitHub and GitLab support
  • PR/MR creation and management
  • Automatic commit message generation
  • /commit and /pr-comments commands
  • GitHub Actions integration with @claude mentions
  • GitLab CI/CD event-driven automation

Codex CLI Git Features

  • Deep git integration
  • Built-in /diff command for reviewing changes
  • GitHub Actions support
  • Code review workflows with /review command
  • Session-based change tracking

Gemini CLI Git Features

Currently Available:

  • Git-aware filtering: @ commands exclude git-ignored files by default
  • Automatic exclusion of .git/, node_modules/, dist/, .env
  • Can execute git operations through shell commands

Requested Features (Not Yet Available):

  • Native git operations (create commits, branches, PRs)
  • Direct git integration tools

Cursor Git Features

  • Git history indexing with commit SHAs and parent info
  • Automatic PR indexing for all merged PRs
  • Merkle tree-based efficient updates (10-minute intervals)
  • GitButler integration for auto-commits

Web Search

Internet search capability for real-time information.

Tool Status Details
Claude Code ✅ Full WebSearch + WebFetch tools (API only, not Bedrock/Vertex)
Codex CLI ✅ Full Built-in, --search flag for live results
Gemini CLI ✅ Full Google Search grounding via google_web_search tool
Cursor ✅ Full @Web command powered by Exa/SerpApi

Claude Code Web Search

  • WebSearch: Search the web for information
  • WebFetch: Fetch and analyze web pages
  • Availability: API only (not on Bedrock/Vertex)

Codex CLI Web Search

  • Built-in web search capability
  • --search flag for live results
  • Integrated into conversation flow

Gemini CLI Web Search

  • Google Search grounding via google_web_search tool
  • Native Google integration
  • Real-time search results

Cursor Web Search

  • @Web command
  • Powered by Exa/SerpApi
  • Context-aware search results

Image Support

Visual input analysis and multimodal capabilities.

Tool Status Details
Claude Code ⚠️ Limited JPEG/PNG/GIF/WebP; some CLI limitations
Codex CLI ✅ Full --image flag, paste in TUI, multiple images
Gemini CLI ✅ Full Multimodal input, Windows clipboard paste (Alt+V)
Cursor ⚠️ Partial Multimodal AI yes; terminal image output limited

Claude Code Image Support

  • Formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP
  • Some CLI limitations for image display
  • Read tool can analyze images

Codex CLI Image Support

  • --image flag for image input
  • Paste directly in TUI
  • Multiple images supported per prompt

Gemini CLI Image Support

  • Full multimodal input support
  • Windows clipboard paste with Alt+V
  • Image analysis and generation (with appropriate model)

Cursor Image Support

  • Multimodal AI capabilities
  • Terminal image output limited
  • Works well in IDE context

Memory/Persistence

Cross-session context retention.

Tool Status Details
Claude Code ⚠️ Partial CLAUDE.md files; no native cross-session memory
Codex CLI ✅ Full JSONL sessions, resume/fork, excellent persistence
Gemini CLI ✅ Full GEMINI.md files, /memory commands, chat save/resume
Cursor ⚠️ MCP Only No native memory; requires MCP solutions (knowledge-graph, etc.)

Claude Code Memory

  • CLAUDE.md: Project-level context files
  • No native cross-session memory
  • Context automatically summarized at compaction

Codex CLI Memory

  • JSONL session files
  • /resume to continue sessions
  • /fork to branch sessions
  • Excellent persistence support

Gemini CLI Memory

  • GEMINI.md: Project-level context
  • /memory commands for explicit memory management
  • Chat save and resume functionality

Cursor Memory

  • No native memory system
  • Requires MCP solutions:
    • knowledge-graph MCP
    • Custom memory MCP servers

Multi-file Editing

Coordinated changes across multiple files.

Tool Status Details
Claude Code ✅ Full Coordinated edits, git worktrees for parallel sessions
Codex CLI ✅ Full Batch operations, parallel tool calling
Gemini CLI ✅ Full Edit multiple files in one session
Cursor ✅ Full Composer handles 22,000+ lines, 151+ files

Claude Code Multi-file

  • Coordinated edits across files
  • Git worktrees for parallel editing sessions
  • Edit tool with file path specification

Codex CLI Multi-file

  • Batch file operations
  • Parallel tool calling
  • Atomic multi-file changes

Gemini CLI Multi-file

  • Edit multiple files in single session
  • Coordinated changes

Cursor Multi-file (Composer)

  • Industry-leading: 22,000+ lines across 151+ files
  • Composer mode for large-scale changes
  • Agent mode for autonomous refactoring

Auto-commit

Automatic git commit creation.

Tool Status Details
Claude Code ⚠️ Partial Via custom /commit command and third-party tools
Codex CLI ⚠️ Partial Can commit but requires approval (by design)
Gemini CLI ✅ Full Built-in tool + geminicommit CLI
Cursor ✅ Full Via hooks system and GitButler integration

Claude Code Auto-commit

  • Custom /commit command
  • Third-party tools available
  • Not fully automatic (by design for safety)

Codex CLI Auto-commit

  • Can create commits
  • Requires approval (safety by design)
  • Part of approval tier system

Gemini CLI Auto-commit

  • Built-in commit tool
  • geminicommit CLI for standalone use
  • Automatic commit message generation

Cursor Auto-commit

  • Via hooks system (afterFileEdit)
  • GitButler integration
  • Can be fully automated

Custom System Prompts

Customizing AI behavior with system-level instructions.

Tool Status Details
Claude Code ✅ Full CLAUDE.md, --append-system-prompt, Agent SDK, subagents
Codex CLI ⚠️ Experimental experimental_instructions_file; may break between versions
Gemini CLI ✅ Full GEMINI_SYSTEM_MD env var for complete override
Cursor ✅ Full .cursorrules, project rules, global rules

Claude Code System Prompts

  • CLAUDE.md: Project-level instructions
  • --append-system-prompt: CLI flag for additional instructions
  • Agent SDK: Full system prompt control
  • Subagents: Custom system prompts per agent

Codex CLI System Prompts

  • experimental_instructions_file option
  • May break between versions (experimental)
  • Limited official support

Gemini CLI System Prompts

  • GEMINI_SYSTEM_MD environment variable
  • Complete system prompt override
  • GEMINI.md for project context

Cursor System Prompts

  • .cursorrules: Project-level AI behavior
  • Project Rules: .cursor/rules/ directory
  • Global Rules: Application-wide settings

Cost Tracking

Token usage and cost monitoring.

Tool Status Details
Claude Code ✅ Full /cost, /stats, workspace-based centralized tracking
Codex CLI ❌ None No built-in cost tracking; community-requested feature
Gemini CLI ✅ Full /stats, OpenTelemetry, Google Cloud Monitoring dashboards
Cursor ⚠️ Limited Basic usage display; no detailed cost breakdown

Claude Code Cost Tracking

  • /cost: Detailed token usage statistics per session
  • /stats: Usage patterns (subscribers)
  • Workspace-based centralized cost tracking via Claude Console
  • Auto-created "Claude Code" workspace for organization cost management
  • Context awareness feature tracks remaining context window

Codex CLI Cost Tracking

Current State: No built-in cost tracking or usage analytics

  • GitHub Issue #5085 proposes cost/usage analytics module
  • Users face unpredictable bills without visibility into session costs
  • Workaround: Manual tracking based on API pricing

Gemini CLI Cost Tracking

  • /stats: Token usage, cached token savings, session duration
  • Summary presented on exit
  • OpenTelemetry integration
  • Google Cloud Monitoring dashboards

Cursor Cost Tracking

  • Basic usage display in UI
  • No detailed cost breakdown
  • Limited compared to CLI tools

Sandbox Mode

Isolated execution environment for safety.

Tool Status Details
Claude Code ❌ None No built-in sandbox
Codex CLI ✅ Full Landlock (Linux), Seatbelt (macOS), 3 modes (read-only, workspace-write, full-access)
Gemini CLI ✅ Full Docker/Podman containers, macOS Seatbelt
Cursor ⚠️ Limited Background agents run in isolated Ubuntu VMs

Claude Code Sandbox

  • No built-in sandbox
  • Relies on user environment isolation

Codex CLI Sandbox

Three-tier sandbox system:

  • Read-only: Cannot modify files
  • Workspace-write: Write only to workspace
  • Full-access: No restrictions

Technologies:

  • Linux: Landlock LSM
  • macOS: Seatbelt sandbox

Gemini CLI Sandbox

  • Docker/Podman container isolation
  • macOS Seatbelt for native sandboxing
  • Configure via settings

Cursor Sandbox

  • Background agents run in isolated Ubuntu VMs
  • Limited sandbox for regular operations

Key Differentiators

Tool Strongest Features
Claude Code Best hooks system, powerful sub-agents (Task tool), comprehensive MCP support, strong IDE integrations
Codex CLI Excellent sandbox security, best session persistence, strong CI/CD support, three-tier approval system
Gemini CLI Best extension ecosystem, native Google Cloud integration, 1M token context on all models, built-in cost tracking
Cursor Best multi-file editing (Composer), parallel background agents, seamless VS Code experience, codebase indexing

Research Sources

Claude Code

Codex CLI

Gemini CLI

Cursor
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