What Cursor Does
Cursor is an AI-native code editor built on top of VS Code. It integrates AI directly into the coding workflow — not as a chatbot sidebar, but as a coding partner that understands your entire codebase.
What We Tested
We used Cursor for one month on real projects: a Next.js web app, a Python data pipeline, and bug fixing across multiple repositories.
What Works Well
- Codebase awareness: Indexes your entire project and uses it as context. Massive advantage over ChatGPT or Claude in a browser.
- Tab completion: Predicts the next several lines based on what you are building. Acceptance rate around 40% in our testing.
- Composer: Multi-file editing from plain English descriptions. For refactoring or adding features across files, this saves hours.
- Familiar environment: Built on VS Code — all your extensions and keybindings carry over.
What Falls Short
- Token limits: 500 premium requests on Pro plan — heavy users burn through this in a week.
- Occasional hallucinations: Sometimes generates code that looks correct but has subtle bugs.
- Large monorepos: Performance degrades with very large codebases.
- Documentation: Sparse. Most learning happens through community tips.
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot
Cursor offers a more integrated AI experience. Copilot has wider IDE support and a generous free tier. For VS Code users wanting the deepest AI integration, Cursor wins. For teams on JetBrains, Copilot is the better fit.
Pricing
Free tier with limited completions. Pro at $20/month (500 premium requests). Business at $40/user/month. GitHub Copilot: free tier, Individual at $10/month, Business at $19/user/month.
The Verdict
Cursor earns an A because it has fundamentally changed how coding with AI feels. Codebase awareness and multi-file editing represent a genuine leap. If you code daily and use VS Code, switching to Cursor is an easy recommendation.