Cursor
An AI-first editor — a VS Code fork — built around agent workflows.
Hands-on test: scheduled
| Vendor | Anysphere |
|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes — limited Agent/Chat requests (limits not published) |
| Entry paid plan | $8/mo (Plus, Grok models only) |
| Form | Standalone editor, CLI, cloud agents |
| Platforms | Windows · macOS · Linux · Cursor CLI · Cloud agents |
| Official site | https://cursor.com |
Cursor takes the opposite bet to a plugin: it is a complete editor (forked from VS Code) designed around its agent, with a CLI and cloud agents alongside. If you adopt Cursor, you switch editors — your VS Code settings and extensions are the migration path.
Its pricing needs care: Cursor restructured its plans on October 12, 2026, closing the older Pro ($20/month) and Pro+ ($60/month) tiers to new sign-ups. A large share of existing Cursor coverage still cites those retired tiers.
Cursor pricing
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited Agent and Chat requests; exact limits not published |
| Plus | $8/mo | New-user plan from Oct 12, 2026 — Grok models only |
| Premium | $30/mo | |
| Super | $100/mo | |
| Ultra | $200/mo | |
| Teams | from $30/seat/mo |
Cursor restructured its plans on October 12, 2026. The older Pro ($20/mo) and Pro+ ($60/mo) tiers were closed to new sign-ups on that date and remain only with existing subscribers — many reviews still cite them.
Prices read from the official pricing page on October 22, 2026. Vendors in this category change pricing often — check the official page before buying.
Free tier in detail
Free — $0.
- A limited number of Agent requests and Chat requests — the vendor does not publish the exact limits
- The full editor and its agent features, on the free plan
The official pricing page does not mention a credit-card requirement for the free plan.
Features and form
- A full standalone editor rather than a plugin, with a CLI and cloud agents under the same subscription
- Paid tiers differ mainly by model access and usage allowance; the $8 Plus tier is limited to Grok models
- Desktop editor for Windows, macOS and Linux
Who Cursor suits
- Developers willing to switch editors for an agent-first workflow
- Users who want a desktop editor plus cloud agents in one subscription
Our hands-on test
Scheduled — we run every tool through the same frozen benchmark repo and score it with unit tests; results will appear here.
Pros and cons
Based on published product data (official pricing pages and documentation), not on hands-on use. Hands-on findings will be added here when the benchmark runs complete.
Pros
- Lowest entry price among the standalone AI editors ($8/month)
- Editor, CLI and cloud agents under one plan
- Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
Cons
- The free plan's Agent and Chat limits are not published, so the free tier is hard to budget
- The $8 Plus tier includes Grok models only
- Plans were restructured in October 2026, so older pricing coverage is stale
Frequently asked questions
Is Cursor free?
Yes. The Free plan costs $0 and includes a limited number of Agent and Chat requests. Cursor does not publish the exact limits, and its pricing page does not mention a credit-card requirement for the free plan.
How much does Cursor cost?
For new users since October 12, 2026: Plus is $8/month (Grok models only), Premium $30/month, Super $100/month and Ultra $200/month, with Teams from $30 per seat/month. Prices read from Cursor's official pricing page on October 22, 2026.
What happened to Cursor Pro at $20/month?
Cursor closed the older Pro ($20/month) and Pro+ ($60/month) tiers to new sign-ups on October 12, 2026. Existing subscribers keep them, but new users choose from the Plus/Premium/Super/Ultra line-up instead.
Is Cursor a separate app or a VS Code plugin?
A separate app: Cursor is a standalone editor forked from VS Code, available for Windows, macOS and Linux, with a CLI and cloud agents alongside.
Head-to-head comparisons
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot
Side-by-side pricing, free tiers and verdict.
Windsurf (Devin Desktop) vs Cursor
Side-by-side pricing, free tiers and verdict.