Cursor is a VS Code fork where the AI understands the whole project rather than the open file: multi-file edits, codebase questions, and refactors that respect existing patterns. Because it keeps the VS Code extension ecosystem, moving over costs an afternoon rather than a week.
Who it is for
A developer on an existing repo who wants AI edits that respect the project's patterns, not just the open file.
Key features
- Codebase-aware chat and multi-file edits
- Tab completion predicting the next edit
- Keeps VS Code extensions and keybindings
- Inline edit with a prompt on selection
- Model choice across providers
- Free tier caps fast requests
Where it falls short
It confidently writes code that matches its training data instead of your conventions, so review discipline matters more than ever, and the pricing tiers have moved around enough to make budgeting annoying.
Pricing
Free tier includes a limited number of premium requests per month; Pro is around $20, and the gate is that heavy agent use burns the fast-request quota and falls back to slower models.
Prices move; the tier structure is the part that stays true. Check current pricing on Cursor.
Alternatives to Cursor
Frequently asked
Is Cursor free?
Partly. Free tier includes a limited number of premium requests per month; Pro is around $20, and the gate is that heavy agent use burns the fast-request quota and falls back to slower models.
What is Cursor best for?
A developer on an existing repo who wants AI edits that respect the project's patterns, not just the open file.
What are the best alternatives to Cursor?
The closest substitutes we list are Visual Studio Code. They sit in a similar price bracket but make a different trade-off, so read the weaknesses section of each review before switching.
Which platforms does Cursor run on?
Cursor is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.