Most AI coding comparisons test "Hello World" apps and call it a day. I ran every major tool through the same three-stage gauntlet: a simple build, a complex full-stack application, and multiple rounds of revisions. The best AI for code should hold up under all three. Most do not.
Here is what I found, scored using a 100-point rubric across four equal categories: interface and experience, AI agent effectiveness, deployment, and pricing. No favorites going in. The scores reflect what actually happened on screen.
Table of Contents
How the Testing Actually Worked
Cursor: The Developer's Workhorse
