What Is Cursor?

Cursor is an AI-first code editor built on top of VS Code. It takes the familiar VS Code interface you probably already know and adds deep AI capabilities: inline code generation, multi-file editing, an AI chat panel that understands your entire codebase, and predictive "Tab" completions that feel almost like the editor is reading your mind.

Unlike extensions that bolt AI onto an existing editor, Cursor was designed from the ground up to make AI a first-class citizen in your coding workflow. When it works well — and it often does — it feels like pair programming with a very fast, very patient partner.

Who Is It Best For?

Cursor is ideal for developers who want AI woven into every part of their editing experience. If you already use VS Code, the transition is seamless — your extensions, themes, and keybindings carry over. It's particularly strong for:

Developers building web applications (React, Next.js, Python backends)
Anyone who wants multi-file context-aware AI suggestions
Developers who want to stay in a GUI-based editor (as opposed to terminal-based tools)

If you're a complete beginner who has never written code, Cursor can work for you too, but you'll want to pair it with our learning path for beginners.

Setup Walkthrough

Getting started with Cursor takes about 5 minutes:

Download Cursor from cursor.com. It's available for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Install and launch. The installer is straightforward. On first launch, Cursor will ask if you want to import your VS Code settings — say yes if you're coming from VS Code.
Sign in or create an account. You'll need a Cursor account. The free tier gives you a limited number of premium requests per month, which is enough to try it out.
Import your extensions. Cursor supports most VS Code extensions. Go to the Extensions panel (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + X) and install anything you need. Most popular extensions work without issues.
Open a project. Open a folder with an existing project, or create a new one. Cursor will automatically index your codebase for AI context.
Try your first AI interaction. Press Cmd/Ctrl + K in any file to open the inline edit prompt. Type something like "add error handling to this function" and see what happens.

That's it. You're ready to code with AI.

Real Usage Demo

Here's what actually using Cursor looks like day-to-day:

Inline Editing (Cmd+K)

Select some code, press Cmd+K, and describe what you want changed. For example:

// Select a function and press Cmd+K, then type:
"Refactor this to use async/await instead of promises"

Cursor will show you a diff of the proposed changes. You can accept, reject, or ask for modifications. This is Cursor's bread and butter, and it's genuinely good at it.

Tab Completions

As you type, Cursor predicts what you're about to write — not just the current line, but often multi-line completions that understand the context of your file. Press Tab to accept. This is where Cursor feels almost magical: it often knows exactly what you want to type next.

Chat Panel (Cmd+L)

Press Cmd+L to open the AI chat. You can ask questions about your codebase, get explanations, or request larger changes. The chat understands your project structure and can reference specific files.

"How does the authentication flow work in this project?"
"Write a test for the UserService class"
"Find all places where we handle payment errors"

Composer (Cmd+I)

For multi-file changes, use Composer. It can create new files, modify existing ones, and handle complex refactoring across your entire project. Describe what you want at a high level:

"Add a dark mode toggle component that saves preference to localStorage"

Composer will create the component, modify your layout to include it, and add the necessary CSS — all in one go.

Honest Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Deep AI integration feels natural	Pro subscription is $20/mo
VS Code foundation means familiar UX	Can be slow on very large monorepos
Tab completions are best-in-class	Occasional AI hallucinations in suggestions
Multi-file Composer is powerful	Some VS Code extensions may break
Frequent updates and improvements	Codebase indexing can use significant memory
Free tier lets you try before buying	Privacy-conscious users may have concerns

Cost Analysis

Plan	Price	What You Get
Free	$0	2,000 completions/mo, 50 premium requests/mo, basic AI models
Pro	$20/mo	Unlimited completions, 500 premium requests/mo, access to best models
Business	$40/mo/user	Everything in Pro + admin controls, SSO, usage analytics

Our take on pricing: The free tier is genuinely useful for light usage or evaluation. If you're coding daily and relying on AI assistance, Pro is worth it — the 500 premium requests last most developers a full month. Business is only needed for teams with compliance requirements.

Hidden costs: None. Unlike tools that charge per API call, Cursor's pricing is predictable. You won't get a surprise bill.

Our Verdict

Rating: 4.5/5 — Best-in-class AI IDE for most developers.

Cursor is the AI coding tool we reach for most often. The combination of inline editing, Tab completions, and multi-file Composer creates a workflow that genuinely makes you faster. It's not perfect — the subscription cost is real, and it can struggle with very large codebases — but for the majority of developers, it's the best AI coding experience available today.

Choose Cursor if: You want the most polished AI IDE experience and you're comfortable with a subscription.

Skip Cursor if: You need to work in a JetBrains IDE, you're on a strict budget, or you prefer terminal-based workflows (consider Claude Code instead).

Bottom line: If you're only going to try one AI coding tool, make it Cursor.

Last verified: February 20, 2026. We re-test all tools regularly. If something has changed, let us know.