What is Cursor?
Cursor is a code editor built on top of VS Code that integrates AI deeply into every part of the development workflow. Unlike GitHub Copilot (an add-on), Cursor is built AI-first — it indexes your entire codebase and can answer questions about it, generate multi-file changes and understand project-wide context.
For developers, Cursor's key advantage is codebase awareness — it can read all your files and understand how they relate, allowing it to make more accurate, contextually correct suggestions. The free plan gives 2,000 completions and 50 chat queries per month. Pro ($20/mo) gives unlimited access and access to Claude and GPT-4o.
👍 Pros
- ✅ Indexes entire codebase for context-aware suggestions
- ✅ Chat with your code — ask about any file or function
- ✅ Generates multi-file changes in one command
- ✅ Built on VS Code — familiar interface
- ✅ Supports Claude, GPT-4o and other models
👎 Cons
- ❌ Free plan limited to 2,000 completions/mo
- ❌ Pro is $20/mo — double GitHub Copilot
- ❌ Heavy on API usage with large codebases
- ❌ Indexing large projects can be slow
Cursor Pricing 2026
Hobby
$0
forever
2,000 completions/mo · 50 chat queries · Basic models
Pro
$20
per month
Unlimited completions · GPT-4o · Claude · Priority
Business
$40
per user/mo
SSO · Admin controls · Privacy mode
* Pricing subject to change. Always check Cursor's website for current rates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Cursor different from GitHub Copilot?
Cursor indexes your entire codebase and maintains awareness of all files and their relationships. GitHub Copilot works on the current file context. Cursor's codebase awareness makes it significantly more powerful for large, complex projects.
Is Cursor free?
Cursor has a free Hobby plan with 2,000 completions and 50 chat queries per month. Pro is $20/mo for unlimited access to GPT-4o and Claude.
Do I need to know how to code to use Cursor?
Cursor is designed for developers — it assumes coding knowledge. For non-developers wanting to build apps with AI, Bolt.new or Replit are more beginner-friendly alternatives.