Cursor
AI-first code editor built for agentic coding
- Category
- Coding & Development
- Pricing
- Free tier (Hobby) available; Pro $20/mo, Pro+ $60/mo, Ultra $200/mo, Teams $40/user/mo
- Best for
- Cursor is best suited for individual developers and teams who want the most capable agentic, multi-file AI coding experience available and are willing to switch editors (or already use a VS Code-based one) and manage variable, usage-based costs to get it.
- Official site
- www.cursor.com
- Last updated
- August 2026
Cursor is an AI-native code editor built by Anysphere, forked from VS Code so existing extensions, themes and keybindings carry over. Since its 2023 launch it has grown into one of the most-discussed tools in developer AI circles, reportedly reaching very large annualized revenue on the strength of its agentic coding features.
Its core differentiator is that AI isn't a bolted-on chat panel — it's woven into the editor itself: Tab completions predict entire next edits, Composer and Agent Mode can autonomously edit across files and run terminal commands, and up to 8 agents can run in parallel using isolated git worktrees. Where Copilot retrofits agentic behavior onto a completion tool, Cursor was built agent-first, which shows up in reviewer comparisons that consistently rate its multi-file task handling above Copilot's.
Cursor is best suited for individual developers and teams who want the most capable agentic, multi-file AI coding experience available and are willing to switch editors (or already use a VS Code-based one) and manage variable, usage-based costs to get it. Budget-conscious teams or developers who mainly want lightweight inline completions rather than autonomous multi-file agents may be better served by GitHub Copilot.
Key features
Tab completion
A low-latency, specialized model that predicts multi-line next-edits as you type, not just single-line completions.
Composer
An in-IDE agent for tight, multi-file edits with a diff-review step before changes are applied, aimed at fast iterative editing.
Agent Mode
A longer-running agent loop that reads the codebase, edits files, runs terminal commands and iterates until the task is complete — up to 8 agents can run in parallel in isolated git worktrees.
Bugbot
Automated AI code review that inspects every pull request on a connected GitHub repo and posts inline comments about regressions and missing error handling.
Cloud agents
Background agents that run coding tasks asynchronously outside the local machine.
MCP support
One-click Model Context Protocol server installation from a curated list with OAuth support.
Multi-model access
Access to frontier models from Anthropic, OpenAI and Google, selectable per task rather than locked to a single provider.
Privacy mode
An account or team-wide setting that guarantees code is not used for training by Cursor or its model providers when enabled.
Pricing breakdown
Hobby
- Limited Agent requests
- Access to Composer
- Full editor access
Pro
- Extended limits on Agent
- Access to frontier models
- MCPs, skills and hooks
- Cloud agents
- $20 of included frontier-model usage credits
Pro+
- Everything in Pro
- 3x Pro limits on Agent
Ultra
- Everything in Pro
- 20x Pro limits on Agent
- Priority access to new features
Teams
- Pro-equivalent AI access per seat
- Centralized team billing and administration
- Bugbot code reviews and usage analytics
- SAML/OIDC SSO
Enterprise
- Everything in Teams
- Pooled usage across the org
- SCIM seat management
- Audit logs, service accounts and AI code tracking API
Pros and cons
Pros
- Reviewers and Reddit's large r/cursor community consistently rate its agentic, multi-file coding quality above GitHub Copilot's
- Tab completion model is purpose-built and low-latency, distinct from just wrapping a general chat model
- Running up to 8 parallel agents in isolated git worktrees is a genuinely differentiated workflow for tackling multiple tasks at once
- Fast iteration speed: built on VS Code's foundation, so existing extensions and muscle memory transfer directly
- Bugbot brings AI code review into the PR loop without a separate tool
- Free Hobby tier requires no credit card and is enough to seriously evaluate the editor before paying
Cons
- The June 2025 shift from a flat request model to credit-based billing effectively cut usable requests at the $20 price point, and Cursor's CEO publicly apologized for how the change was communicated
- Reddit threads document real user frustration with unpredictable costs, with some reporting significant overage charges for usage that used to be flat-rate
- A visible slice of the community migrated to cheaper alternatives after the pricing change, indicating real price sensitivity
- AI-generated suggestions still require manual validation on complex or large codebases
- G2 and Capterra review volume for Cursor is thin relative to its market buzz, so ratings should be read with a smaller sample size in mind
- Pro+ ($60/mo) and Ultra ($200/mo) create a steep price ladder for heavy users compared to Copilot's flatter structure
What reviewers say
Cursor's G2 rating sits around 4.6-4.7/5 across a review base that has grown quickly, reflecting a tool whose reputation is still being actively written by its user base. Capterra does not yet show a well-established star rating with meaningful review volume for Cursor. The clearest and loudest signal is from Reddit's r/cursor communities: strong praise for coding quality is consistently paired with anger about the June 2025 credit-based billing change, which cut effective usage at the same price point and pushed some users to competitors.
Frequently praised
- AI feels woven into the editor rather than bolted on as a separate chat panel
- Multi-file agentic task quality is rated above GitHub Copilot's by most reviewers
- Parallel agents in isolated git worktrees enable genuinely new workflows
Frequently criticized
- June 2025 credit-based billing change cut effective usage per dollar and drew a public CEO apology
- Unpredictable day-to-day costs once included credits run out
- AI-generated code can be overconfident and requires manual review, especially in large codebases
- Sparse, still-maturing review base on both G2 and Capterra relative to the tool's market attention
Alternatives to Cursor
Frequently asked questions
Is Cursor free to use?
Yes, the Hobby tier is free and requires no credit card, but it caps you at limited Agent requests and 2,000 Tab completions. Most developers who code daily outgrow it and move to Pro.
How much does Cursor Pro cost?
Cursor Pro is $20/month (or about 20% less billed annually) and includes extended Agent limits plus $20 of included frontier-model usage credits.
Why did Cursor's pricing change in 2025?
In June 2025, Cursor moved from a flat 500-request-per-month model to a credit-based system tied to which model you use. This effectively reduced usable requests at the $20 tier for many users, and Cursor's CEO publicly apologized for how the change was rolled out.
Is Cursor better than GitHub Copilot?
Independent reviewers and developer communities generally rate Cursor higher for complex, multi-file agentic coding tasks, while Copilot wins on integration convenience, price predictability and enterprise governance tooling.
What's the difference between Cursor Pro, Pro+, and Ultra?
Pro ($20/mo) includes extended Agent limits and $20 of usage credits; Pro+ ($60/mo) triples Pro's Agent limits; Ultra ($200/mo) gives 20x Pro's limits plus priority access to new features.
Can I use Cursor on a team?
Yes, the Teams plan is $40/user/month (Standard) and includes centralized billing, SSO, usage analytics and Bugbot code review; a Premium seat tier is available for 5x the usage limits.
Ready to try Cursor?
Head to the official site to explore pricing and start a free trial where available.
Visit Cursor →