Overview
Cursor is revolutionizing how developers write code. Built as a fork of VS Code, Cursor is designed from the ground up for AI-assisted development, offering capabilities that go far beyond traditional code completion. It's the editor that many developers have been waiting for — one where AI is a first-class citizen, not an afterthought.
What sets Cursor apart is its deep integration with large language models like GPT-4 and Claude. Unlike extensions that bolt AI onto existing editors, Cursor's architecture allows it to understand your entire codebase, edit multiple files simultaneously, and engage in sophisticated conversations about your code. The result is an AI assistant that feels like a true pair programmer.
Since its launch, Cursor has rapidly gained adoption among professional developers, especially those working on complex codebases. Its ability to reference documentation, understand project context, and make coordinated changes across files makes it particularly powerful for large-scale refactoring and feature development.
Why Cursor Stands Out
Cursor is the only editor where you can highlight code, press Cmd+K, and describe changes in natural language. The AI understands your entire project and edits multiple files at once while preserving your code style.
Key Features
Multi-File Editing
Cursor can edit multiple files simultaneously while maintaining consistency. Perfect for refactoring, renaming, and implementing features that span your codebase.
Codebase Chat
Ask questions about your entire project. Cursor indexes your codebase and can answer questions like "How does authentication work here?" with accurate, contextual responses.
Doc References (@docs)
Reference external documentation in your prompts. Cursor can fetch and understand docs from URLs, ensuring suggestions align with the latest library APIs.
Cmd+K Inline Editing
Select code, press Cmd+K, and describe what you want. Cursor generates a diff preview that you can accept, reject, or iterate on — all without leaving your flow.
Terminal Integration
AI-powered terminal that can explain command output, suggest fixes for errors, and help you compose complex shell commands.
Composer Mode
Create entirely new features by describing them. Composer generates the necessary files, updates imports, and creates a complete implementation.
Style Preservation
Cursor learns your coding style from existing code and generates suggestions that match your conventions, indentation, and naming patterns.
VS Code Compatible
All your VS Code extensions, themes, and settings work in Cursor. One-click import of your existing configuration.
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- Best-in-class multi-file editing capabilities
- Full codebase awareness and indexing
- Access to both GPT-4 and Claude models
- VS Code extensions fully compatible
- Excellent for large refactoring tasks
- Doc references improve accuracy
- Privacy mode available (code never leaves machine)
- Generous free tier for trying it out
- Rapid feature development and updates
- Active community and responsive team
Disadvantages
- Standalone app (can't use as VS Code extension)
- More expensive than GitHub Copilot ($20/mo vs $10)
- Newer product, less battle-tested
- Occasional latency with large codebases
- Learning curve for advanced features
- No mobile or web version
- Model usage limits on free tier
- Some VS Code features still missing
Pricing Plans
Cursor offers a generous free tier that lets you experience the core features before committing. Pro and Business tiers unlock higher usage limits and additional capabilities.
| Plan | Price | Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hobby | Free | 2000 completions, 50 slow premium requests/mo, GPT-3.5 & GPT-4 | Trying Cursor out |
| Pro | $20/mo | Unlimited completions, 500 fast premium requests, Claude + GPT-4, Priority | Professional developers |
| Business | $40/user/mo | Everything in Pro + Admin dashboard, usage analytics, SSO, priority support | Teams & Companies |
Screenshots & Interface
Explore Cursor's interface:
Best Use Cases
Large Refactoring
Rename, restructure, and modernize code across files
Feature Development
Implement new features with multi-file support
Codebase Learning
Onboard to new projects faster with chat
Bug Hunting
Find and fix bugs with AI analysis
API Integration
Reference docs while implementing APIs
Code Migration
Migrate to new frameworks or versions
Final Verdict
Cursor represents the future of AI-assisted coding. Its multi-file editing, codebase awareness, and access to top-tier AI models make it the most powerful AI code editor available today. While the price is higher than alternatives and it requires switching from your current editor, the productivity gains are substantial. Highly recommended for professional developers who want the cutting edge of AI coding assistance.