Use this map to understand what each category does, where overlap appears, and how to budget from pilot mode to scaled production operations.
Think in layers: code surface, runtime framework, platform infrastructure, and orchestration logic. Gaps usually happen between layers, not inside one tool.
Where developers co-build with code-generation and inline reasoning.
Cursor
From $20/mo per seat
AI-native editing and agent tasks
Windsurf
From $15/mo per seat
Fast task-oriented coding loops
VS Code + extensions
Free core + add-on costs
Flexible and team-friendly baseline
Runtime primitives for memory, planning, and multi-agent orchestration.
OpenClaw
Open source + infra
Custom governance and audit depth
LangGraph
Open source + infra
Deterministic graph workflows
CrewAI
Open source + cloud options
Role-based crew execution
Hosted model APIs, observability, and deployment surfaces.
OpenAI Platform
Usage-based
Model API, evals, and tool calling
Anthropic API
Usage-based
Long-context reasoning and guardrails
Vercel + serverless stack
Free to enterprise
Fast app delivery and hosting
Cross-system automation for handoffs, approvals, and event triggers.
Temporal
Open source + cloud tiers
Durable workflow execution
Trigger.dev
Free to usage tiers
Event workflows for JS runtimes
n8n
Free self-hosted + cloud tiers
Low-code ops integration hub
Use pricing bands as planning anchors, then validate against real event volume, token usage, and seat counts.
| Band | Monthly range | Typical stack | Team profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot | $300-$1.5k / month | 1 IDE + 1 framework + one model provider | Solo operator or small team validating one workflow |
| Team | $2k-$8k / month | Multi-seat IDE, managed orchestration, structured observability | Product team shipping customer-facing automations |
| Scale | $10k+ / month | Dedicated infra, strict policy controls, reliability engineering | High-volume or regulated operations |
Pair this ecosystem map with the framework comparison and operationalize it through the lifecycle guide.
Next move
We can help you reduce tool sprawl, define ownership boundaries, and stand up a production-ready stack with measurable ROI.