Cortex AI IDE
What Cortex AI IDE is
Cortex AI IDE is a coding workspace that plans changes, edits across files, runs terminal commands, and checks results through reviewable diffs. Its agent tools include search, Git, LSP features, and task tracking, while more than 250 included skills cover work such as debugging, refactoring, documentation, SEO, and design reviews. Developers can use eight built-in AI provider integrations, connect OpenAI-compatible endpoints, or extend the IDE with MCP servers. Project memory and chat history are stored locally in each project. API keys are kept in the operating system’s secure credential store, and BYOK requests go directly to the selected provider over TLS. The free plan costs nothing and requires users to bring their own API keys, with model usage paid to providers. Pro Monthly is $10 a month; Pro Yearly is $80 a year. AI features require an internet connection and a supported API key. Native Windows and Linux builds are listed; macOS users are provided a source-build guide rather than a prebuilt installer.
Who it suits
Cortex is aimed at developers and small teams building SaaS, e-commerce, fintech, internal tools, and open-source projects. It suits people who want an agentic coding workspace and can supply a supported API key.
What it does well
- Can edit multiple files and verify changes with reviewable diffs.
- Includes more than 250 workflow skills.
- Offers eight built-in AI provider integrations.
- Project memory and chat history are stored locally.
- API keys use the operating system’s secure credential store.
What to know first
- AI features require internet access and a supported API key.
- Model usage is paid directly to providers on the free plan.
- There is no prebuilt macOS installer.
- Pro Monthly costs $10 a month.
Limits
The Free (BYOK) plan requires users to bring their own API keys, with model usage paid directly to providers. AI features require an internet connection and at least one supported API key.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free (BYOK) | Free · whole IDE · agent loop · codebase context/indexing · terminal/Git/file tools · OpenAI-compatible providers · local semantic-search fallback · community support | Free |
| Pro Yearly | $120 $40 /seat/year · everything in Pro Monthly · priority support · early-access features · stated $80 annual saving | $40 a year |
| Pro Monthly | $10 $5 /seat/month · web search · voice prompts · semantic code search · MCP connections · all LLM models via BYOK · full IDE | $5 a month |
As cortex-ide.app lists them, read 15 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit https://cortex-ide.app/ and choose a platform download or the macOS source-build guide.
- Install the Windows build through the Microsoft Store, or use the Linux .deb or .rpm package.
- For macOS, follow the official source-build guide for Apple silicon or Intel Macs.
- Choose the Free (BYOK), Pro Monthly, or Pro Yearly plan.
- Connect a supported API key and use an internet connection for AI features.
Verdict
Cortex combines agentic coding tools, provider choice, and locally stored project history. Check the API-key requirement and macOS installation approach before choosing it.
Questions
Is there a free plan?
Yes. Free (BYOK) costs nothing and includes core coding features, an AI agent, codebase search, multiple-file editing, and eight built-in providers.
How much do the paid plans cost?
Pro Monthly is $10 a month. Pro Yearly is $80 a year.
Are AI model calls included in the plan price?
No. The included AI usage is bring your own API keys, and model usage is paid directly to providers.
Which platforms does Cortex support?
Cortex lists Linux, macOS, and Windows. Native Windows and Linux builds are offered; macOS installation uses a source-build guide.
Which AI providers can I connect?
Built-in integrations include Xiaomi MiMo, DeepSeek, Anthropic, OpenAI, OpenRouter, Alibaba Qwen, Google Gemini, and InferenceHub. Cortex Connect also supports OpenAI-compatible endpoints, and MCP servers can extend the IDE with external tools and services.
What does Pro add?
Pro Monthly includes OCR, semantic code search, web search, voice prompts, BYOK models, the full IDE, community support, and MCP connections. Pro Yearly adds priority support and early access features to the Pro Monthly offering.
Facts from Cortex AI IDE's own pages
- Agent modes
- The documentation provides Agent mode for edits, Ask mode for read-only investigation, and Plan mode for implementation plans without file changes. · cortex-ide.app, 15 Oct 2026
- Agent tools
- The documented core tool set includes file read/write/edit, Bash, Glob, Grep, semantic search, LSP, web search/fetch, Git-related work, task tracking, and Loop review. · cortex-ide.app, 15 Oct 2026
- AI providers
- The site lists eight built-in provider integrations: Xiaomi MiMo, DeepSeek, Anthropic, OpenAI, OpenRouter, Alibaba Qwen, Google Gemini, and InferenceHub. · cortex-ide.app, 4 Oct 2026
- Audience
- The site describes it as intended for developers and small teams building SaaS, e-commerce, fintech, internal tools, and open source projects. · cortex-ide.app, 4 Oct 2026
- BYOK billing
- Users supply provider keys and pay the selected model provider directly; Cortex says it adds no token markup or usage meter. · cortex-ide.app, 15 Oct 2026
- Company
- Cortex is described as a technology venture of Pasons Group, a Dubai-headquartered UAE business group established in 2003 with more than 70 outlets. · cortex-ide.app, 15 Oct 2026
- Credential security
- The site says API keys are stored in the operating system's secure credential store and BYOK model requests go directly to the selected provider over TLS. · cortex-ide.app, 4 Oct 2026
- Custom endpoints
- Cortex Connect accepts OpenAI-compatible endpoints, including hosted services and local or self-managed Ollama, vLLM, and LM Studio servers. · cortex-ide.app, 15 Oct 2026
- Custom providers
- Cortex Connect supports OpenAI-compatible endpoints, including local services such as Ollama and vLLM and hosted services such as Groq and NVIDIA NIM. · cortex-ide.app, 4 Oct 2026
- Data routing
- Cortex states that code, prompts, chats, project memory, and API keys are not sent to Cortex servers; account email and plan information are retained for account operation. · cortex-ide.app, 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The documentation covers installation, workspace use, chat modes, every agent tool, providers and keys, memory, permissions, updates, and troubleshooting, with a stated October 5, 2026 update. · cortex-ide.app, 15 Oct 2026
- Download status
- Windows builds are distributed through Microsoft Store, Linux through x64 .deb and .rpm packages, and macOS requires a source build because no .dmg is published. · cortex-ide.app, 15 Oct 2026
- Editor
- Cortex uses the Monaco editor with syntax support for mainstream languages and an integrated project file explorer. · cortex-ide.app, 15 Oct 2026
- Extensions
- The documentation describes a plugin system managed through Settings → Extensions. · cortex-ide.app, 15 Oct 2026
- Licence
- The desktop source is released under Apache License 2.0, while hosted account, billing, update, and distribution services are separate components. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: administration
- The independent AI IDE List says mature enterprise administration, SSO, policy controls, and procurement features are not documented. · aiidelist.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: early stability
- The changelog records early fixes for long-chat freezes, terminal behavior, blank panels, crashes, provider errors, and update-notification failures. · cortex-ide.app, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: ecosystem
- The independent AI IDE List identifies a smaller VS Code and JetBrains extension ecosystem as a trade-off. · aiidelist.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: liability
- The EULA disclaims responsibility for AI-generated code errors, security or data loss, provider outages, and provider rate limits, with liability capped at the greater of $100 or fees paid in the prior 12 months. · cortex-ide.app, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: macOS
- The independent AI IDE List flags the absence of a prebuilt, notarized macOS installer and the need to build from source. · aiidelist.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: provider responsibility
- The independent AI IDE List notes that users must manage their own provider API keys and separate model billing. · aiidelist.com, 15 Oct 2026
- macOS
- The download page says there is no prebuilt macOS installer and provides an official source-build guide for Apple silicon and Intel Macs. · cortex-ide.app, 4 Oct 2026
- MCP
- MCP servers can add external tools and data, and Cortex can read existing Cursor and Claude MCP configurations. · cortex-ide.app, 15 Oct 2026
- No free trial
- The pricing page says there is no time-limited free trial because the complete core IDE remains available in the free BYOK tier. · cortex-ide.app, 15 Oct 2026
Where Cortex AI IDE stands on Freedom251
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