Cursor: Features, Pricing, Models & Alternatives (2026)

Last researched: September 26, 2026. Pricing and included usage allowances change frequently — verify current figures at cursor.com/pricing before subscribing.

Cursor is an AI-first code editor built by Anysphere. Rather than adding AI features to an existing editor as a plugin, Cursor is a fork of Visual Studio Code redesigned around agentic, multi-file AI editing as a first-class workflow.

What Is Cursor?

Cursor is a standalone code editor developed by Anysphere that is built directly on top of Visual Studio Code's codebase, extended with deep AI integration: multi-file "Agent" editing, predictive Tab completions, background agents that work in cloud sandboxes, and an automated pull-request reviewer called Bugbot. It supports switching between several third-party frontier models and Anysphere's own in-house "Composer" model line, positioning itself as a model-agnostic, agent-centric alternative to both traditional editors with AI plugins and single-vendor coding agents.

Key Capabilities

• Agent Mode: autonomous, multi-file code generation and editing within the editor
• Tab: fast, predictive inline completions tuned for rapid multi-line edits
• Background Agents: cloud-sandboxed agents that continue working while the developer does something else
• Bugbot: automated pull-request review posting comments directly on GitHub PRs
• A model picker spanning multiple external providers plus Cursor's own in-house Composer model
• MCP (Model Context Protocol) support for connecting the editor to external systems
• A separate headless CLI agent ("cursor-agent") for terminal-only workflows
• Native iOS and Android companion apps for monitoring/interacting with agent sessions
• Privacy Mode, preventing code storage or training use, available even on the free tier

Main Features

Use Cases

• Multi-file feature development driven by natural-language prompts inside the editor
• Delegating longer-running refactors or migrations to Background Agents while continuing other work
• Automated first-pass code review on pull requests via Bugbot
• Terminal-only or CI-triggered agentic coding via the headless CLI agent
• Teams standardizing on one editor while letting individual developers choose different underlying models per task

Supported Models / Technologies

Cursor supports a multi-vendor model picker rather than a single proprietary model: as of this writing that includes Anthropic Claude models (Sonnet and Opus tiers), OpenAI's GPT-5-series models, Google's Gemini models, xAI's Grok models, and Cursor's own in-house Composer model, which Anysphere runs by default in many sessions. Some Claude models available inside Cursor support extended context windows in the roughly 1-million-token class; exact context-window sizes vary by the specific model selected and are not fixed by Cursor itself. Agentic capabilities include autonomous multi-file Agent Mode, asynchronous Background Agents, and an automated PR-reviewing agent (Bugbot).

Platforms

• Desktop: Windows, macOS, and Linux (native app, VS Code fork)
• CLI: standalone headless agent (cursor-agent) for terminal-only use
• Mobile: native iOS and Android companion apps for monitoring/steering sessions
• Web/PR integration: Bugbot posts directly on GitHub pull requests
• No official JetBrains-family plugin as a primary product line (Cursor's own editor is the primary surface, unlike Copilot's broad plugin ecosystem)

Integrations

• GitHub, via Bugbot automated pull-request review
• Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers for external tools and data sources
• Compatibility with most existing VS Code extensions, given its VS Code fork foundation
• SAML/OIDC SSO for Teams and Enterprise plans

Pricing

Bugbot's automated PR review is billed on a usage basis in addition to the base plan on team tiers. Verify current figures at cursor.com/pricing.

Advantages

• Deep, native agentic editing experience rather than an AI layer bolted onto an existing IDE
• Broad multi-vendor model choice, including a competitive in-house Composer model
• Background Agents and a headless CLI extend usage beyond the editor GUI itself
• Bugbot adds automated PR review as a differentiator versus editor-only competitors
• Privacy Mode is available even to free users, not gated entirely behind paid tiers

Limitations

• No official first-class JetBrains plugin comparable to GitHub Copilot's IDE coverage
• Usage-based credit consumption above plan allowances can make costs variable for heavy agent users
• Bugbot and some team features carry additional usage-based billing on top of the seat price
• As a VS Code fork, migrating from vanilla VS Code requires adopting a separate application rather than installing a plugin

Security & Privacy

Cursor documents SOC 2 Type II compliance and publishes a security trust center. Its Privacy Mode, available to all users including on the free Hobby plan, prevents code from being stored on Cursor's servers or used for model training when enabled, and can be enforced organization-wide by Business/Enterprise admins. Some product telemetry may still be collected for product improvement even with Privacy Mode on. Enterprise plans add SSO, audit logs, and granular repository/model access controls. Consult Cursor's own security documentation at cursor.com/security for the current, complete policy.

Best For

Cursor is best suited to developers and teams who want an AI-native primary editor — not a plugin bolted onto an existing IDE — with the flexibility to switch between several frontier models and Anysphere's own Composer model, plus asynchronous Background Agents and automated PR review for teams that live in GitHub.

Alternatives

• GitHub Copilot — broader IDE coverage as a plugin across many existing editors
• Claude Code — terminal-first agentic coding directly from Anthropic
• Devin / Devin Desktop (Cognition, formerly Windsurf) — a comparable AI-first agentic editor and agent platform
• Amazon Q Developer — AWS-centric coding assistant
• Zed — a fast, collaborative code editor with growing native AI features

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cursor free to use?

Cursor offers a free Hobby plan with limited agent requests and no credit card required, aimed at evaluation and light use. Sustained professional use typically requires the Pro plan ($20/month) or higher.

What AI models does Cursor support?

Cursor lets users pick from multiple providers, including Anthropic Claude models, OpenAI GPT-5-series models, Google Gemini models, xAI Grok models, and Cursor's own in-house Composer model, switchable within the same session depending on plan and task.

Is Cursor built on Visual Studio Code?

Yes. Cursor is a fork of Visual Studio Code with added AI-native features such as Agent Mode, Background Agents, Tab completion, and integrated codebase-aware chat, so most VS Code extensions and keybindings are compatible.

Does Cursor have a command-line or headless mode?

Yes. Cursor ships a separate terminal-based agent (commonly called cursor-agent) that can read files, make edits, and run commands without opening the editor GUI, in addition to native iOS and Android companion apps.

What is Cursor's Privacy Mode?

Privacy Mode prevents code from being stored on Cursor's servers or used to train models. It is available to all users, including on the free Hobby plan, and can also be enforced organization-wide by a Business or Enterprise admin.

Final Summary

Cursor has grown from an AI-enhanced VS Code fork into a broader agentic development platform spanning a desktop editor, background cloud agents, a headless CLI, mobile companion apps, and an automated PR reviewer, with a multi-vendor model picker that includes its own in-house Composer models. Its usage-based credit system above each plan's included allowance is the main variable teams should model against real usage before committing to a tier.