PlanToCode vsAider
Plan-first terminal vs agent-first CLI
$5 free credits • Pay-as-you-go • Works with your existing tools
Why developers are switching
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | PlanToCode | Direct agent execution |
|---|---|---|
| Planning Approach | Generate & review plans before execution | Direct agent execution |
| File Discovery | AI-powered dependency mapping | Git-based file tracking |
| Session Persistence | SQLite with hot reload | Chat history only |
| Multi-Model Support | Claude, GPT-4, multiple providers | OpenAI, Anthropic (Claude), Google Gemini, DeepSeek, OpenRouter (many providers), and local models (Ollama/OpenAI‑compatible) |
| Execution Safety | Plan review before changes | Direct file modifications |
How it works
Compare planning vs direct execution
Show file discovery advantages
Demonstrate session persistence
Highlight safety features
Technical implementation
Intelligent File Discovery
Hierarchical folder selection, pattern filtering, and AI relevance assessment
- Root folder selection based on task
- Targeted regex pattern groups
- LLM analyzes actual file contents
- Automatic dependency detection
- Files organized into XML for LLM consumption
Multi-Model Planning
Generate multiple implementation approaches using different AI models, then synthesize the best solution
- OpenAI GPT‑5 family (GPT‑5 and GPT‑5 Thinking/Pro), historical o‑series (e.g., o3 variants); Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 and Opus 4.1; Google Gemini 2.5 Pro - availability and features vary by plan and endpoint (ChatGPT vs API).
- AI architect merges best insights
- Your guidance shapes the merge
Use official vendor docs to confirm features like streaming, function calling, and background mode for each model.
Quick setup for your workflow
Install PlanToCode
Download for your platform. Launches in seconds, no complex setup.
Connect your tools
Integrates with Claude Code, Cursor, Codex CLI and more.
Start planning
$5 free credits to start. Generate your first implementation plan in under a minute.
Available for macOS & Windows • $5 free credits
What developers achieve
Explore related topics
PlanToCode vsClaude Code (Standalone)
Multi-model synthesis vs single-model sessions
Learn morePlanToCode vsGitHub Copilot CLI
Full architectural awareness vs command suggestions
Learn morePlanToCode vs tmux, script & asciinema
Why modern AI workflows need more than Unix recording tools
Learn moreRelated resources
Ready to get started?
Join thousands of developers who ship with confidence using architectural AI planning.
Pay-as-you-go credits. $5 free for new users. No subscription traps.