Cursor
✓The AI-first code editor built for fast development
Quick verdict
Cursor is a freemium AI-first code editor that builds powerful AI features directly into a familiar VS Code-style interface. It understands your whole codebase, lets you edit across multiple files from a single prompt, and answers questions about your project. Developers use it to ship features faster and to navigate large, unfamiliar codebases.
Key features
- ▸Whole-codebase understanding
- ▸Multi-file edits from one prompt
- ▸Inline chat and code generation
- ▸VS Code compatible extensions and themes
Pros & cons
- +Powerful codebase-wide AI
- +Familiar VS Code experience
- +Fast multi-file editing
- −Best features need a paid plan
- −Can be resource intensive on large repos
Pricing
Limited completions and slow requests
$20/mo
$40/user/mo
Who is it for
- →Building features across multiple files
- →Refactoring large codebases
- →Understanding unfamiliar projects
- →Writing and running tests with AI help
Cursor alternatives
AI pair programmer that autocompletes code in your editor
Frequently asked questions
Is Cursor free?
Yes. Cursor has a free tier with limited completions and slower requests. Pro unlocks fast unlimited requests for $20/month.
What is Cursor best used for?
It is best for AI-heavy development where editing across many files and understanding a whole codebase matters.
What are the best alternatives to Cursor?
GitHub Copilot plugs into existing editors, Windsurf is another AI-first editor, and Codeium offers a free completion tool.
Is Cursor better than GitHub Copilot?
Cursor offers deeper codebase-wide features as a standalone editor, while Copilot is easier to add to your current setup. Heavy AI users often prefer Cursor.
How much does Cursor cost?
The free plan is $0. Pro is $20/month and Business is $40/user/month.