Cursor review
AI-first code editor built on VS Code
- Anysphere
- Free + paid plans
- Mac, Windows, Linux
Does it deserve #5?
The verdict
Cursor is the AI code editor many developers switch to first. It is built on VS Code, so your extensions and settings carry over, and it adds fast tab completion, an agent that edits across many files, and cloud agents that work in the background. The catch is pricing: usage-based limits can be hard to predict, and your code is processed in the cloud, so use Privacy Mode for sensitive work.
- Fast multi-line tab completion
- Agent edits across many files
- Background cloud agents
- Imports VS Code extensions
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What we like
- Deep AI help built into every part of the editor
- Familiar VS Code base with easy migration
- Choice of frontier models from several labs
What could be better
- Usage-based pricing can be hard to predict
- Code is processed by cloud AI models
Developers who want AI help built into every part of their editor
you want a fully offline editor or predictable flat pricing
Questions about Cursor
Is Cursor free?
Yes, the free Hobby plan includes a limited number of agent requests and tab completions. Paid plans add much higher usage, access to more models and background agents.
Can I use my VS Code extensions in Cursor?
Mostly. Cursor is built on VS Code, so you can import extensions, themes and keybindings, though a few Microsoft-only extensions are not available.
What are the best alternatives to Cursor?
The closest alternatives are Visual Studio Code, Warp and GitHub. See all of them ranked on our Cursor alternatives page.
Where does Cursor rank?
Cursor ranks #5 of 8 in our Developer Tools ranking, with an overall score of 8.7 out of 10.