Ctrl / Cmd + T, and you’re in
No setup and no config. Open Cortex from anywhere in VS Code and offload a thought, a task or a note in seconds.
VS Code extension
Keep your project tasks where you code.
Plan and track project tasks inside VS Code. Keep them with your workspace, and bring Claude into the same task context when you need help.
Free for 14 days with every feature. Then $14.99 once.
Cortex inside VS Code
VS Code, Cursor & every fork
Supercharge your brain.
Cortex keeps your working context inside your project. Everything stays bound to the workspace, so you pick up right where you left off.
Your context stays with the task
Descriptions, notes, documents, changed files and Claude sessions stay attached to the todo. When you come back, you don’t reconstruct where you left off.
Claude’s work stays connected to the task
Plans, recaps and Claude Code sessions don’t disappear inside isolated chats. Cortex links them to the task they belong to, so you find and reuse them later.
New session. Same working context.
The next Claude session gets the goal, what is already done and the documents of the task. You skip the recap, and the session spends fewer tokens on catching up.
Your work stays inside the workspace
Project managers are for bigger goals. Cortex is for the short-term tasks, ideas and notes you need while working. Open a workspace and everything you planned, changed and still need to do is there.
Works with Herdr
Run Claude in Herdr? Cortex picks it up. Sessions link to their task, show their live status, and a click takes you to the right pane.
See what matters right now
Current, Pending, Pins, Backlog and Epics keep active work, waiting items and ideas for later apart. You see at a glance what needs you now and what can wait.
See open work across projects
Inline Workspaces show which projects still have open todos and how many. Jump straight into their tasks without switching the workspace.
Make Cortex fit your workflow
In Cortex Lab you decide which features are visible. Turn on only what you use.
Your editor, your choice
Works in VS Code, Cursor and every fork
Cortex runs wherever VS Code extensions run. Install it from the Visual Studio Marketplace in VS Code, or from Open VSX in Cursor, Windsurf, VSCodium and other forks.
Questions about Cortex
What is Cortex?
Cortex is a VS Code extension for todos and working context. Each todo keeps its notes, code links, time, changed files and Claude Code sessions, and the list belongs to the project you have open.
Does Cortex work in Cursor, Windsurf and VSCodium?
Yes. Cortex is on the Visual Studio Marketplace for VS Code and on Open VSX for forks such as Cursor, Windsurf and VSCodium. It needs VS Code 1.93 or a fork built on it.
How much does Cortex cost?
Every feature is free for 14 days. After that a licence costs $14.99 once. There is no subscription. When the trial ends without a licence, your todos stay on disk and nothing is deleted.
Do I need Claude Code to use Cortex?
No. Todos, notes, epics, timers and workspaces work on their own. The Claude Code features are optional and stay off until you turn them on.
Where does Cortex store my todos?
Workspace todos live in a .cortex folder in your project. Cortex has no account and no cloud sync. The optional MCP server for AI agents only listens on 127.0.0.1 and needs a local token.
Does Cortex replace Jira or Linear?
No. Jira and Linear plan team goals over weeks. Cortex holds the short-term tasks, ideas and context you need while you code. Many developers use both.
Now it's on you.
Start your next task with Cortex. Keep the context ready for tomorrow.
Free for 14 days with every feature. Then $14.99 once.