AI Coding Tools Compared: Claude Code vs Cursor vs DeepSeek vs OpenRouter (Nov 2026)
Short answer: hand off whole tasks with Claude Code (Pro $20/mo), edit interactively in Cursor (Plus $8 Grok-only, Premium $30), use the DeepSeek API for low-cost pay-as-you-go access that works directly in mainland China, and OpenRouter free models for zero-budget experiments. Mainland China and Hong Kong are not Anthropic-supported regions.
| Tool | Type | Entry price | Billing | Mainland China | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | Terminal agent | Pro $20/mo ($17/mo annual); Max $100; Ultra $200 | Subscription, 5-hour + weekly limits shared with chat | Not a supported region | Long multi-file tasks |
| Cursor | AI editor | Free; Plus $8 (Grok only); Premium $30; Super $100 | Weekly pool; third-party models at API list price | TBD by author | Interactive editing |
| DeepSeek API | Model API (Anthropic-compatible, works with Claude Code client) | No monthly fee | flash output CNY 4 (off-peak) – 8 (peak) per 1M tokens | Direct access | Low-cost daily driver |
| OpenRouter free models | API aggregator | $0 | 50 req/day (1,000 after $10 lifetime top-up) | TBD by author | Zero-budget batch jobs |
Prices exclude tax, checked against official pages on 2026-11-03. "TBD by author" marks first-hand data we have not measured yet; we do not make numbers up. Chinese version: 中文对比总表.
Sources
- Claude pricing (checked 2026-11-03)
- Cursor pricing (checked 2026-11-03)
- DeepSeek API pricing (checked 2026-11-03)
- OpenRouter free models (checked 2026-11-03)
- Anthropic Supported Regions Policy (checked 2026-11-03)