DEV·02 · Coding & App Builders

Cursor

A VS Code-based editor built around AI chat, multi-file edits and codebase awareness.

PricingFreemium

CategoryCoding & App Builders

Last checkedNov 2026

What is Cursor?

Cursor is a code editor built around AI. It is based on VS Code, so extensions and shortcuts feel familiar, but chat, code generation and multi-file editing are part of the core experience.

Its strength is understanding your whole codebase: ask how a feature works or request a change that touches several files, and it can find and edit the right places. You need to switch editors to use it, and the free tier has usage caps.

Key features

Codebase awarenessAnswers and edits informed by your whole project.

Multi-file editsApply changes across files in one step.

Tab completionPredicts your next edit, not just the next line.

Agent modeRuns commands and iterates toward a goal.

How to get started

Download Cursor from cursor.com and import your VS Code settings.
Open a project and ask a question about how it works.
Request a small change and review the diff before accepting.

Our take

The most capable AI-first editor for people who code every day.

Best for

Full-time coders
Refactoring

Strengths

Understands the whole codebase
Fast multi-file edits

Limits

Usage caps on the free tier
Requires switching editor

Visit Cursor ↗

Questions

Is Cursor free?

Cursor has a free plan with usage limits. Paid plans unlock more usage and features.

What is Cursor best for?

Cursor is best for: Full-time coders and Refactoring.

What are the best alternatives to Cursor?

Popular alternatives in Coding & App Builders include Windsurf, GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, and Replit.

Pricing and features change often. Confirm details on the official Cursor website.