Plan Modes Compared: Claude Code • Cursor • Cline • Codex CLI
Complete comparison of plan modes and safe planning flows across all major AI coding tools—with setup steps and best practices.
🎯 Plan Mode Quick Reference
Plan modes let you review and approve AI-generated implementation steps before code execution. This comprehensive guide compares how each major AI coding tool handles planning workflows.
Claude Code
Built-in plan mode
--permission-mode plan
Cursor
Ask/Agent modes; no official Plan Mode
Community convention
Cline
Step-by-step approval
Interactive prompts
Codex CLI
Multiple approval modes
/approvals command
Planning before coding is essential for complex AI-assisted development. Each major AI coding tool offers different approaches to safe, reviewable code generation. This guide compares their plan modes, helping you choose the right tool and approach for your workflow.
Complete Feature Comparison
| Tool | Plan Mode Name | Edits in Plan? | How to Enable | Notable Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Claude Code Terminal | Plan Mode Built-in planning | No Shows plans only | claude --permission-mode planShift+Tab to toggle | • MCP integration • Permission modes • Shift+Tab toggle |
Cursor IDE | Ask/Agent modes No official Plan Mode | Ask: No Agent: Yes with approval | Switch Ask/Agent in UI Community conventions | • Ask/Agent modes • Visual diffs • Community plan patterns |
Cline VS Code | Step Approval Interactive mode | Partial Step-by-step | Default on Extension setting | • Tool use approval • Command execution • File operation control |
Codex CLI Terminal | Approval Modes suggest/auto-edit/full-auto | Varies Depends on mode | /approvalsREPL command | • Three approval modes • Multimodal input • Open source (Apache-2.0) |
Individual Tool Deep Dives
Claude Code Plan Mode
Claude Code's built-in plan mode provides comprehensive task breakdown without making any edits. Perfect for understanding complex implementation strategies before committing to code changes.
Key Features:
- • Complete task breakdown
- • Multi-file context analysis
- • MCP tool integration
- • No accidental edits
Best For:
- • Complex refactoring projects
- • Architecture planning
- • Learning implementation approaches
- • High-stakes production code
Cursor Ask/Agent Approach
Cursor provides Ask (read-only) and Agent (execution) modes. Teams commonly create Custom 'Plan' modes to show proposed changes as inline diffs before application. The visual approach makes it easy to understand and approve specific code modifications.
Key Features:
- • Visual diff previews
- • Inline code suggestions
- • Tab-to-apply workflow
- • Multiple model options
Best For:
- • Feature development
- • Code completion
- • Visual learners
- • Incremental changes
Cline Step-by-Step Approval
Cline (formerly Claude Dev) offers granular control with step-by-step approval for every action. Each tool use, file operation, and command execution requires explicit user consent.
Key Features:
- • Interactive approval prompts
- • Tool use transparency
- • Command execution control
- • VS Code integration
Best For:
- • Security-conscious development
- • Learning AI workflows
- • Controlled automation
- • Team environments
Codex CLI Suggest Mode
OpenAI Codex CLI's suggest mode provides detailed recommendations without making changes. Powered by o3 and GPT-5, it offers sophisticated analysis and multimodal understanding.
Key Features:
- • o3/GPT-5 powered analysis
- • Multimodal input support
- • MCP server integration
- • Detailed recommendations
Best For:
- • Complex problem solving
- • Code review assistance
- • Architecture analysis
- • Performance optimization
Terminology & Vendor Labels
Planning (Read-Only) Modes Across Tools
Different AI coding tools use different terminology for their planning and read-only modes. Here's how they map across vendors:
Claude Code
- • Plan Mode: Read-only planning
- • Uses --permission-mode plan
- • Shift+Tab to toggle
Cursor
- • Ask: Read-only mode
- • Agent: Execution mode
- • No official Plan Mode (community convention)
Codex CLI
- • Three modes: suggest/auto-edit/full-auto
- • Use /approvals command
- • Set via --approval-mode flag
Why Plan Mode Matters
Plan modes are essential for professional AI-assisted development. They provide safety, understanding, and control over complex code generation tasks.
🛡️ Safety & Control
- • Review before execution
- • Prevent unintended changes
- • Understand AI decisions
- • Maintain code quality
📚 Learning & Growth
- • Study AI implementation strategies
- • Learn new patterns and approaches
- • Understand complex refactoring
- • Build architectural knowledge
🎯 Strategic Planning
- • Break down complex tasks
- • Identify potential issues early
- • Plan multi-step implementations
- • Coordinate team efforts
Using Vibe Manager with Plan Modes
Vibe Manager enhances every plan mode by providing superior context preparation and multi-model planning capabilities. Generate comprehensive plans before executing in your preferred tool.
Enhanced Planning Workflow
Capture Requirements in Vibe Manager
Use voice dictation or screen recording to describe complex tasks quickly and accurately.
Generate Multi-Model Plans
Create implementation strategies using multiple AI models and merge the best approaches.
Discover Relevant Context
AI-powered file discovery finds all relevant code, dependencies, and related files automatically.
Execute in Your Preferred Tool
Copy the comprehensive plan to Claude Code, Cursor, Cline, or Codex CLI for precise execution.
Ready to enhance your planning workflow across all AI coding tools?
Choosing the Right Plan Mode
For Complex Refactoring
For Visual Development
Technical Details
This section provides accurate technical information about what Vibe Manager actually does.
Core Architecture
- Desktop application built with Tauri (Rust backend + TypeScript frontend)
- Local SQLite database for session persistence and job management
- Background job system with streaming support for long-running tasks
- Secure token storage using macOS Keychain
Workflows & Features
- File Finder: Multi-stage processor pipeline (regex generation → relevance assessment → path finding → validation)
- Web Search: Prompt generation and aggregated search execution
- Implementation Planning: Generate and merge plans from multiple models
- Video Analysis: Process and analyze video content
- All workflows run as queued background jobs with progress tracking
Models & Providers
- Server-configured model selection across multiple providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, xAI)
- No local model configuration - all models validated and managed server-side
- Per-task model selection with configurable parameters
- Usage-based credits system via Stripe for billing
Integration & Compatibility
- Works alongside CLI tools like Claude CLI - complements, not replaces
- No MCP (Model Context Protocol) or router configuration required
- Not an IDE plugin - standalone desktop application
- Auth0 authentication for secure access to LLM features
Platform Support
- macOS: Currently available with full feature support
- Windows: Support planned and in development
- Linux: Under consideration for future releases
Important Limitations
- Does not execute models simultaneously - processes sequentially with optional plan merging
- Requires internet connection for LLM features
- Local file operations are explicit and user-controlled
- Not a replacement for IDE extensions or code editors
Enhance Any Plan Mode with Vibe Manager
No matter which AI coding tool you prefer, Vibe Manager supercharges your planning workflow with multi-model strategy generation, intelligent context discovery, and comprehensive requirement capture.