Cursor
An AI-native code editor that understands your whole project
- Freemium
- New
Cursor is a code editor built as a fork of VS Code, but with AI woven into the editor itself rather than bolted on as an extension. The difference shows up quickly: instead of typing a question into a side panel and copying the answer back, Cursor edits your files directly and suggests your next edit before you type it.
What puts it ahead of most rivals is context. It indexes your whole project, so you can ask “where do we validate the user’s session?” and it finds the file even if you haven’t opened it in weeks.
What it actually does well
- Tab: autocomplete that predicts your next edit, not just the line you’re on. Rename a variable and it offers the matching changes elsewhere, one Tab at a time.
- Agent: describe a task in plain language (“add Google sign-in”), and it plans, edits multiple files, runs terminal commands, and shows you a diff before anything is committed.
- Cmd+K: select a block of code and request a specific change inline, without opening a chat.
@mentions: point at a file, folder, or library’s docs inside your question to scope the context precisely..cursorrules: a file at the project root where you write your conventions (TypeScript only, noany, naming style) that every suggestion then respects.
How to use it
- Download Cursor from
cursor.comand launch it — it offers to import your VS Code setup in one click - Open your project folder and let indexing finish (a few minutes on large repos)
- Write code normally and press Tab to accept suggestions
- For bigger jobs, open the agent with
Cmd/Ctrl + Iand describe the task in plain language - Always read the diff before accepting — never approve blind
Tips that make a real difference
- Write
.cursorruleson day one. Most “the suggestions don’t match my style” complaints are solved by a ten-line rules file. - Scope the context instead of letting it guess.
@src/authbeats “my authentication” every time. - Break the task down. “Rebuild the dashboard” produces a mess. Three small sequential requests produce something you can actually review.
- Watch your credits. Settings shows your usage — frontier models burn through the pool far faster than the light ones.
Who it’s for
Good fit if you’re a professional developer writing code daily, working in a large codebase you need to get familiar with fast, or moving between languages and frameworks. Poor fit if you’re a complete beginner, code once a month, or can’t justify a recurring USD subscription.
Limits worth knowing
Generated code usually runs — that doesn’t mean it’s correct or safe. The recurring failure modes we’ve seen: reaching for outdated or abandoned libraries, skipping error handling, and solutions that work on the happy path and fall apart at the edges. Review everything. You own the code, not the tool.
✅ Pros
- Tab is the standout feature — it predicts your next edit, not just the current line
- Agent mode completes a whole task across several files instead of editing one
- Indexes your entire codebase, so you can ask about files you have never opened
- Built on VS Code, so your extensions, keybindings, and theme come with you
- A `.cursorrules` file lets you enforce project conventions on every suggestion
- Works with multiple models (Claude, GPT, Gemini) — switch based on the task
❌ Cons
- The free tier is very limited — a trial rather than a usable daily plan
- The credit system makes your end-of-month bill hard to predict under heavy use
- Indexing large monorepos is slow and noticeably memory-hungry
- As a VS Code fork it sometimes lags behind upstream VS Code releases
- Subscription pricing in USD adds up fast for an individual developer
💰 Pricing
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Hobby | $0 | Limited Tab and Agent usage, no monthly credit pool |
| Pro | $20 / month | Unlimited Tab, extended Agent limits, $20 monthly credit pool for frontier models |
| Pro+ | $60 / month | Roughly 3× the Pro credit pool, for developers who live in the editor |
| Ultra | $200 / month | Around 20× Pro usage plus priority access to new features |
| Teams | $40 / user / month | Central admin, pooled billing, and org-wide privacy controls |
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cursor worth $20 a month?
It is if you write code most days. The real differentiator isn't generating new code — every assistant does that. It's Tab predicting your next edit, and the agent editing several files from one instruction. If you code occasionally or as a hobby, the free tier or a free extension in your current editor is enough.
How is it different from GitHub Copilot?
Copilot is an extension inside your editor; Cursor is a full editor. In practice that means Cursor controls the editing experience itself — it can suggest edits at scattered points in a file, and open and modify files on its own. Copilot is cheaper, lighter, and easier if you don't want to switch editors.
Does my code get sent to their servers?
By default, parts of your code are sent to the models to do the work — normal for any cloud assistant. Privacy Mode prevents your code from being stored or used for training; turn it on in settings before opening client work, especially if you have contractual obligations.
Can I bring my VS Code setup across?
Yes, and it's one of the smoothest parts of switching. On first launch it offers to import your extensions, keybindings, and theme in one click, and in most cases they work unchanged.
Is it good for beginners?
It suits you if you already have a programming foundation and can read and review code. The risk for a complete beginner is accepting suggestions you don't understand — you end up with a project that works without knowing why, and the first real bug stops you cold. Learn the fundamentals first, then let it speed you up.
Which model should I use inside Cursor?
Use a fast, cheap model for routine edits and autocomplete, and switch to a frontier model for architecture decisions, tricky debugging, or large refactors. Leaving the most expensive model on for everything is the quickest way to burn through your credit pool.