Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
There is no proven universal speed winner among Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor. The strongest direct comparison found measures whether reviewed agent-authored pull requests were accepted—not how long a developer took to produce a correct, maintainable change. Its results vary by task, so your best choice depends on your work and workflow. To find out which makes you faster, compare them on the same kinds of tasks and count review, correction, and testing time as well as the initial coding.
What the direct comparison can—and cannot—tell you
A 2026 study by Giovanni Pinna, Jingzhi Gong, David Williams, and Federica Sarro analyzed 7,156 reviewed pull requests from five agents in the AIDev dataset. It found that acceptance varied by task category and that no agent led in every category. The authors’ outcome was pull-request acceptance, not elapsed time or developer-hours saved. Read the study.
That distinction matters: an accepted pull request is evidence about an observed code outcome, not a stopwatch result. It does not establish which tool will get you to a correct, maintainable change sooner. The study is observational, its sample sizes are uneven, and it does not control for developer expertise or repository characteristics. You should not treat its acceptance rates—or a model benchmark score—as a personal speed ranking.
Recommended Free Tools
Observed strengths differ by task
The study reports an 82.1% acceptance rate for documentation tasks versus 66.1% for new features in its abstract. Those figures compare task types; they do not compare tools or show that documentation work is faster. The study also reports a range of 59.6% to 88.6% for Codex across nine task categories, with 83.0% for fixes and 74.3% for refactors. For Claude Code, it reports 92.3% for documentation and 72.6% for feature tasks; the authors flag the documentation result as based on few samples. Cursor’s detailed results report 77.8% acceptance on test tasks, also with a small sample.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
The paper’s abstract describes Cursor’s strength as fixes at 80.4%, while its detailed results report 77.8% for test tasks and Codex at 83.0% for fixes. These are different summaries and task results, so they should not be collapsed into a claim that Cursor wins fixes. The sound takeaway is that observed results depend on the task mix.
A historical overall result is not a speed leaderboard
In a sensitivity analysis using a common 11-week observation window from May 19 through July 30, 2025, the study reports overall acceptance rates of 79.9% for Codex, 74.4% for Cursor, and 72.6% for Claude Code. These are acceptance rates in that selected historical sample—not time saved, a controlled same-user comparison, or a guarantee about current versions.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
What the post-merge evidence adds
A separate 2026 preprint by Obada Kraishan analyzes 37,623 provenance-labeled pull requests across 2,807 public repositories, with activity from December 2024 through July 2025, and follows merged changes for 90 days. It reports a 6.1% revert rate for Codex-authored pull requests versus 11.5% for its matched human baseline in that sample. That is a repository-outcome measure, not a speed measure, and it does not prove Codex is better for an individual developer. The paper notes limits involving repository and language coverage and the small representation of Claude Code. Read the study.
How to choose based on your real workflow
Start with how you work, rather than assuming a product label predicts speed. The useful comparison is whether a tool fits your preferred working surface and task style, then how much time it takes to reach a change you can accept.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- Working surface: Decide whether you prefer an editor, a terminal, or a delegated or remote task flow. Check each product’s current documentation for the workflow it supports: Claude Code documentation, Codex documentation, and Cursor documentation.
- Task style: Include both inline completion and broader changes made at an agent’s direction if you use both. A tool that helps with one kind of work may not help equally with another.
- Repository fit: Measure the setup and context you need, whether project instructions are followed, and whether the tool runs the checks your project relies on.
- Whole-task time: Count prompting, waiting, review, corrections, and tests—not just the time until code first appears.
- Practical constraints: Check current prices and usage limits against your actual workload. They can change, and no current price or limit figures are established here.
Run a matched trial to find your speed winner
Use the same repository state and project instructions for each tool. Choose a small set of representative tasks—at minimum, a bug fix, a feature change, and a refactor or documentation task if those reflect your work. This is a practical way to answer the personal-speed question; it is not a published experiment or a result established by the cited studies.
- Choose comparable tasks. Use real work that is small enough to repeat and has a clear definition of done. Avoid comparing an easy documentation edit in one tool with a difficult feature in another.
- Keep the starting point consistent. Start each attempt from the same repository state and provide the same project instructions and task requirements.
- Record the conditions. Note the date, tool and model version, configuration, and any setup needed. Product versions and workflows change, so results are most useful when you know what you tested.
- Track the complete effort. Record active time, agent waiting time, review and correction time, test results, whether the final change is accepted by your reviewer, and any usage or cost constraints.
- Repeat noisy comparisons. If one run is unusually smooth or difficult, repeat the task before deciding. Compare results by task type as well as overall; a single blended score can hide where a tool helps or slows you down.
Choose the tool that produces acceptable changes with the least total effort on the work you actually do. If the result is close, workflow preference and practical constraints can decide the matter; the available comparative evidence does not settle a universal winner.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
