Best agent-first IDEs and agent managers
Desktop apps built around running and reviewing many coding agents, not just autocomplete. Updated 2026-10-26.
Quick verdict: #1 Cursor, #2 Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf), #3 Google Antigravity.
#1 Cursor
AI-first code editor (VS Code fork) with agent mode, codebase chat and tab completion.
AI code editor · Pricing: Free tier + paid plans (see site)
Pros: Strong multi-file agent edits · Familiar VS Code UX and extensions · Supports MCP servers · CLI and Cloud Agents for terminal and background work
Cons: Requires coding comfort · Usage limits on heavy agent use
Official site →#2 Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)
Cognition's agentic IDE, renamed from Windsurf on June 2, 2026. Adds an Agent Command Center for managing local and cloud agents; Devin Local replaces the Cascade agent.
AI code editor · Pricing: Free tier + paid plans (see site)
Pros: Full IDE, backwards-compatible with Windsurf and VS Code extensions · Manage local and cloud Devin agents in one Kanban view · Runs other ACP-compatible agents (e.g. Codex, Claude Agent, OpenCode)
Cons: Rebrand and agent swap mean older Windsurf/Cascade guides are out of date · Overlaps heavily with Cursor
Official site →#3 Google Antigravity
Google's agent-first development platform: Antigravity 2.0 is a standalone desktop app (macOS, Windows, Linux) for running Gemini-powered agents, alongside the Antigravity IDE, CLI and SDK.
Agent-first coding app · Pricing: See site
Pros: Dynamic subagents, async tasks and scheduled (cron) agent runs · Projects can span multiple folders with their own permissions · Antigravity CLI is Google's recommended terminal agent for Gemini (replacing Gemini CLI for unpaid users)
Cons: 2.0 desktop app has no code editor; pair it with an IDE · Tied to Google's Gemini ecosystem
Official site →#4 Kiro
AWS-built agentic IDE, CLI and web app that turns prompts into requirements, designs and tasks (specs) before implementing them with parallel agents.
Spec-driven coding agent · Pricing: Credit-based plans (see site)
Pros: Spec-driven workflow documents decisions before code is written · Property-based tests to catch edge cases unit tests miss · Choice of Claude, GPT and open-weight models; supports MCP, AGENTS.md and ACP
Cons: Spec workflow is heavier than quick vibe-coding prompts · Credit multipliers vary by model, so costs take some tracking
Official site →#5 GitHub Copilot
GitHub's AI pair programmer for VS Code, JetBrains and more, with chat and coding agent.
AI coding assistant · Pricing: Free tier + paid plans (see site)
Pros: Works in many editors · Deep GitHub integration · Enterprise-ready
Cons: Less "build an app from a prompt" than app builders
Official site →Head-to-head
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FAQ
What is the best tool for agent-first ides in 2026?
BuildJury's current #1 for agent-first ides is Cursor: AI-first code editor (VS Code fork) with agent mode, codebase chat and tab completion. Runners-up: Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf), Google Antigravity, Kiro.
What are the main alternatives to Cursor for agent-first ides?
The other ranked options are #2 Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) (AI code editor); #3 Google Antigravity (Agent-first coding app); #4 Kiro (Spec-driven coding agent); #5 GitHub Copilot (AI coding assistant).
How current is this ranking?
This ranking was last reviewed on 2026-10-26. Pricing is only stated when confirmed on the vendor's official pricing page; otherwise we link to the official site.
Are BuildJury rankings paid placements?
No. BuildJury verdicts are independent and rankings are never for sale. Any sponsored placement is always labeled "Sponsored" and does not affect rank.