Quick Verdict
Cursor is an AI-first code editor built on VS Code that integrates advanced AI directly into your coding workflow. Features tab completion, natural language editing, codebase-aware chat, and the ability to reference documentation - making it a true AI pair programmer.
Best for: Professional developers, AI-curious programmers, Teams wanting AI coding, VS Code users
Cursor
Cursor is an AI-first code editor built on VS Code that integrates advanced AI directly into your coding workflow. Features tab completion, natural language editing, codebase-aware chat, and the ability to reference documentation - making it a true AI pair programmer.
Best for: Professional developers • AI-curious programmers • Teams wanting AI coding • VS Code users
Key Features
- AI code completion (Tab)
- Cmd+K inline editing
- Codebase-aware chat
- Doc references (@docs)
- Multi-file editing
- VS Code compatibility
- Custom model support
- Privacy mode
Pros
- Best-in-class AI integration
- Understands full codebase
- VS Code familiar
- Fast completions
- Active development
Cons
- Subscription required for full features
- Can be resource-intensive
- Learning new shortcuts
- Some VS Code extensions incompatible
Pricing
| Plan | Details |
|---|---|
| Free | 2000 AI completions per month, 50 slow premium requests monthly, limited chat usage, basic features |
| Pro | $20/month - Unlimited completions, 500 fast premium requests monthly, Composer access, multiple AI model selection, priority support, custom rules |
14-day free trial of Pro features available without credit card required. Annual billing provides discount on Pro tier. Free tier resets monthly with substantial limits for evaluation.
Tips & Best Practices
Use Cmd+K for quick inline edits and code tweaks without context switching
Be specific and detailed in natural language prompts for more accurate code generation
Leverage Composer for complex refactoring across multiple files efficiently
Create and customize .cursorrules file to enforce coding standards and patterns
Ask the AI to explain generated code to deepen understanding and verify correctness
Switch between different AI models (GPT-4, Claude, Gemini) to find best fit
Use chat interface for debugging help and exploring new libraries
Combine with VS Code shortcuts for maximum productivity
Features
- AI code completion (Tab)
- Cmd+K inline editing
- Codebase-aware chat
- Doc references (@docs)
- Multi-file editing
- VS Code compatibility
- Custom model support
- Privacy mode
Best for: Professional developers • AI-curious programmers • Teams wanting AI coding • VS Code users
Pros
- Best-in-class AI integration
- Understands full codebase
- VS Code familiar
- Fast completions
- Active development
Cons
- Subscription required for full features
- Can be resource-intensive
- Learning new shortcuts
- Some VS Code extensions incompatible
Final Recommendation
Cursor is a freemium AI tool best suited for Professional developers and AI-curious programmers.