Compare
Cursor vs Codex CLI
Side-by-side comparison of Cursor and Codex CLI for SKILL.md agent skills — install model, shell access, native support, skill count and best use cases.
Comparison
At a glance
| Dimension | Cursor | Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Cursor | OpenAI |
| Native SKILL.md support | Via compatibility layer | Yes |
| Verified skills indexed | 78 | 51 |
| Install model | Local folder | Local folder |
| Shell / Bash access | Yes | Yes |
| Tagline | AI-first IDE. SKILL.md works via the Cursor plugin layer; per-skill compatibility verified here. | OpenAI's coding agent CLI. Adopted the SKILL.md spec verbatim in Dec 2025. |
Vendor
- Cursor
- Cursor
- Codex
- OpenAI
Native SKILL.md support
- Cursor
- Via compatibility layer
- Codex
- Yes
Verified skills indexed
- Cursor
- 78
- Codex
- 51
Install model
- Cursor
- Local folder
- Codex
- Local folder
Shell / Bash access
- Cursor
- Yes
- Codex
- Yes
Tagline
- Cursor
- AI-first IDE. SKILL.md works via the Cursor plugin layer; per-skill compatibility verified here.
- Codex
- OpenAI's coding agent CLI. Adopted the SKILL.md spec verbatim in Dec 2025.
Both
47
Skills verified to work on both Cursor and Codex.
Only Cursor
31
Indexed for Cursor but not yet verified on Codex CLI.
Only Codex
4
Indexed for Codex CLI but not yet verified on Cursor.
Verdict
Which should you pick?
Codex CLI is the deeper SKILL.md target — native support, the broadest verified skill ecosystem, and the closest fit for skill-driven workflows. Cursor works well when you are already invested in the Cursor ecosystem or need its specific integrations.
Many teams use both — Skills with the SKILL.md spec are portable, and 47 of the skills indexed here are verified on both agents. Browse the per-agent rankings to see which Skills lead on each platform: Skills for Cursor · Skills for Codex CLI.
FAQ
Common questions
Which is better for SKILL.md skills, Cursor or Codex CLI?
Codex CLI has native SKILL.md support; Cursor uses a compatibility layer. Cursor has 78 verified skills indexed here; Codex CLI has 51. 47 skills work on both.
Can I use the same Skill on Cursor and Codex CLI?
47 of the skills indexed here work on both. The SKILL.md spec is shared, so most skills run cleanly on both — the exceptions are skills that depend on agent-specific tools (Bash, Workflows, MCP patterns).
How do I install a Skill on Cursor?
Drop the folder under `.cursor/skills/` for project-scoped, or the global Cursor config dir for user-wide. The marketplace gives one-click install for popular Skills.
How do I install a Skill on Codex CLI?
Drop the Skill folder under `~/.codex/skills/` for user-wide or `.codex/skills/` for project-scoped. Codex loads SKILL.md the same way Claude Code does.
Which agent should I pick for cross-platform skill use?
If native SKILL.md support and the broadest skill ecosystem matter most, pick Codex CLI. Cursor works for teams already invested in that platform.
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