Cursor
codingby anysphere
The AI code editor built on VS Code that turns natural language into working software across your entire codebase.
Key features
Free tier available, Pro at $20/mo
Developers who want an AI-powered editor that feels like VS Code but with deep, native AI capabilities at every step
Built on VS Code, so extensions, themes, keybindings, and muscle memory carry over with zero learning curve.
What it does
Agent Mode (Composer)
Give Cursor a task in natural language and it plans the approach, writes code across multiple files, runs terminal commands, takes screenshots, and iterates until the task is complete.
Learn moreTab Autocomplete
A proprietary model trained with reinforcement learning that predicts your next action with striking speed. Goes beyond single line completions to suggest multi-line edits, cross-file jumps, and refactors.
Learn moreCodebase Indexing
A custom embedding model indexes your entire codebase for best-in-class semantic search and recall, even on large monorepos.
Learn moreSubagents
Multiple agents run in parallel, each using the best model for its task. Explore, plan, and build simultaneously across different parts of your codebase.
Multi-model Support
Choose between every cutting edge model from OpenAI (GPT-5.2), Anthropic (Claude Opus 4.6), Google (Gemini 3 Pro), xAI (Grok Code), and Cursor's own Composer model.
Rules and Context
Teach Cursor your team's conventions, architectural decisions, and coding standards through rules files that scope to specific directories or file patterns.
MCP Support
Connect external tools and data sources like GitHub, Figma, Notion, and databases directly to Cursor through the Model Context Protocol.
Plugins and Skills
Browse and install community-built plugins for new capabilities. Define custom skills as reusable prompts and workflows triggered with slash commands.
Terminal Integration
Run shell commands directly from the agent: builds, tests, installs, and git operations. Sandboxed by default for safety.
Bugbot (PR Review)
An add-on that reviews pull requests on GitHub, catches logic bugs, and offers one-click fixes directly in Cursor or on the web.
Cloud Agents
Run long-running agents in the cloud from your browser or phone. Start a task on mobile and review the results when you are back at your desk.
Git and Checkpoints
Visual timeline of every change with the ability to roll back to any previous checkpoint. See how your code has evolved and restore any snapshot instantly.
Inline Editing (Cmd+K)
Highlight code and describe the change you want. Cursor rewrites the selected code inline without leaving your editing flow.
Integrations
Native integrations with Slack, Linear, GitHub, GitLab, and Git. Cursor can review PRs in GitHub, respond to mentions in Slack, and sync with issue trackers.
Pricing
Hobby
Get started with Cursor for free. Limited agent requests and Tab completions. No credit card required.
- No credit card required
- Limited Agent requests
- Limited Tab completions
- Access to all AI models
- Full VS Code compatibility
Pro
Extended limits for individual developers. Unlimited Tab completions, cloud agents, and maximum context windows.
- Extended limits on Agent
- Unlimited Tab completions
- Cloud Agents
- Maximum context windows
- All AI models included
Pro+
3x usage on all OpenAI, Claude, and Gemini models. For developers who need more capacity without jumping to Ultra.
- Everything in Pro
- 3x usage on all OpenAI, Claude, Gemini models
- Higher rate limits
Ultra
20x usage on all models with priority access to new features. For power users who need near-unlimited capacity.
- Everything in Pro
- 20x usage on all OpenAI, Claude, Gemini models
- Priority access to new features
- Highest rate limits
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Built on VS Code, so extensions, themes, keybindings, and muscle memory carry over with zero learning curve.
- Multi-model support lets you choose the best AI model for each task: Claude for reasoning, GPT for speed, Gemini for large context.
- Tab autocomplete is exceptionally fast and accurate, trained with reinforcement learning on real-world coding scenarios.
- Agent mode handles complex multi-file tasks autonomously: planning, coding, running tests, and iterating until done.
- Trusted by over half the Fortune 500 including Stripe, NVIDIA, OpenAI, Figma, and Salesforce (90% developer adoption at Salesforce).
- Subagents run in parallel with different models, dramatically accelerating complex tasks that involve multiple parts of the codebase.
- Rapid innovation pace with major releases every few weeks. Features like plugins, cloud agents, and CLI mode shipped in early 2026.
Cons
- Tied to the Cursor editor. Unlike CLI agents, you cannot use it inside your preferred terminal, Vim setup, or JetBrains IDE.
- Usage limits on agent requests can be frustrating. Pro users may hit rate limits during extended coding sessions.
- Pricing adds up quickly at the team level. At $40 per user per month, a 20 person team pays $800 monthly before the Enterprise tier.
- Codebase indexing on very large monorepos can take significant time on the initial setup, though subsequent queries are fast.
- As a VS Code fork, it can lag behind upstream VS Code updates and occasionally has compatibility issues with certain extensions.
How to get started
Download Cursor
Visit cursor.com and download the installer for your platform (macOS, Windows, or Linux). The editor installs like any desktop application.
Import your VS Code setup
On first launch, Cursor offers to import your VS Code extensions, themes, keybindings, and settings. Accept the migration to carry over your entire setup.
Sign up and choose a plan
Create a Cursor account. The Hobby tier is free with limited agent requests and Tab completions. Pro at $20/month unlocks extended limits and unlimited Tab.
Open your project and let indexing complete
Open your project folder in Cursor. The editor automatically indexes your codebase using a custom embedding model. Once complete, the agent has full semantic understanding of your project.
Try Tab autocomplete
Start typing in any file. Cursor's Tab model suggests completions inline. Press Tab to accept. It handles multi-line edits, cross-file navigation, and context-aware suggestions automatically.
Use Agent mode for bigger tasks
Open the Composer panel (Cmd+I or Ctrl+I) and describe a task in natural language: "Add authentication to the API routes" or "Refactor the database layer to use Prisma." The agent plans, codes, and verifies the result.
Set up rules for your team
Create a .cursor/rules directory with markdown files that teach Cursor your conventions. Rules can scope to specific directories or file patterns, ensuring consistent AI behavior across the team.
Deep dive
Detailed guides with comparisons, tips, and visuals for each feature.
Agent Mode (Composer)
How Cursor's autonomous agent plans tasks, writes code across files, runs commands, and iterates until the job is done.
Tab Autocomplete
Cursor's proprietary autocomplete model trained with reinforcement learning for next-action prediction.
Codebase Indexing and Context
How Cursor indexes your entire codebase for semantic search, @-mentions, and deep code understanding.
Cursor vs Claude Code vs GitHub Copilot vs OpenAI Codex
How Cursor compares to other AI coding tools across approach, pricing, autonomy, and capabilities.
Funding, Traction, and Roadmap
Cursor's meteoric growth from MIT research project to $29.3B valuation and $1B+ annualized revenue.
Links
Documentation
Pricing
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Last updated: 2026-02-21