Cursor AI review (2026)

Cursor is a code editor built around AI: autocomplete, chat and agents that edit your project. In October 2026 its plans changed significantly. Here is what Cursor does, what it costs now and what to watch for.

Research-based review, checked October 2026. We don't take payment or affiliate fees from anyone we review. How we review.

Verdict

Cursor remains one of the most capable AI editors for developers who want AI woven into every step of their work. But since October 2026 the included usage covers Grok models only, and Claude or GPT cost extra at API rates, so check that the new plans fit how you work. Skip it if you want a predictable bill, need a non-VS Code editor such as JetBrains, or are happy with GitHub Copilot.

What Cursor is

Cursor is a desktop code editor made by Anysphere. It is a fork of Visual Studio Code, so it looks and feels familiar to VS Code users and runs most of the same extensions, but AI features are built into the editor itself rather than added as a plugin.

In June 2026 SpaceX was reported to have agreed to buy Anysphere. On October 12, 2026, xAI (now operating as SpaceXAI) launched "The X Subscription", which bundles Grok, Cursor and X Premium, and new Cursor customers now sign up through it. Existing subscribers can keep their current plan, price and features, or switch; Cursor's community announcement says switching cannot be undone.

Key features

Tab completion

Cursor's Tab model predicts your next edit, not just the next word: it can suggest changes across several lines and jump to the next place you are likely to edit. It is one of the features users praise most.

Agent

The agent takes a task in plain language, finds the relevant files, makes changes across the project, runs terminal commands and tests, and shows you a diff to accept or reject. You can let it run several agents in parallel on separate tasks.

Cloud agents and code review

From Premium, agents can run in the cloud while you do something else, and Bugbot reviews pull requests for bugs. Premium also lists code hosting.

Codebase awareness, rules and MCP

Cursor indexes your project so the AI can find relevant code. Rules files let you set coding conventions, and MCP support connects the agent to outside tools such as databases, issue trackers and documentation.

Model choice

Cursor has its own models and offers models from other companies. Under the new plans, Grok models are covered by your included usage, and third-party models like Claude and GPT are billed separately on Premium and above.

Pricing (as of October 2026)

From Cursor's pricing page, checked October 2026. Prices exclude tax. Usage allowances refresh weekly and are shared with Grok on paid plans.

PlanPriceIncluded usage
Free$0Limited AI usage, limited agent and chat requests.
Plus$8/monthBasic usage pool shared with Grok. Grok models only.
Premium$30/month4x Plus usage; cloud agents, code hosting, AI code reviews. Third-party models at API list price.
Super$100/month15x Plus usage, priority model access at peak times.
Ultra$200/month50x Plus usage, earliest access to new products and models.
TeamsFrom $30/user/month4x to 50x Plus usage, pooled; central billing, usage analytics, SSO, team privacy settings.
EnterpriseCustomPooled usage, invoicing, SCIM, audit logs, spend controls, priority support.

If you plan to use Claude or GPT inside Cursor, set a spending cap first, because those requests are charged from the first one. Before October 12, 2026, Cursor's individual plans were Hobby (free), Pro ($20), Pro+ ($60) and Ultra ($200), with third-party model usage included in the plan; existing subscribers on those plans keep them unless they switch.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Privacy and security

What Cursor states on its security page, as of October 2026:

Platforms

Alternatives

Should existing Cursor subscribers switch?

If you are on an older Pro, Pro+ or Ultra plan, you do not have to do anything: Cursor and xAI say existing subscribers keep their plan, price and features. Before you accept a switch offer, check three things:

For new customers, the simplest approach is to start on the free plan, try the agent on a real project, and only then choose between Plus (Grok only) and Premium (adds cloud agents, code review and access to other models at API prices).

Who should use Cursor

Cursor suits developers who use VS Code, want AI deeply built into their editor, and are comfortable with Grok models or with paying API rates for others. Existing subscribers should compare their current plan with the new ones carefully before switching, since the change is permanent. If you depend on Claude or GPT and want predictable costs, GitHub Copilot or Claude Code may now be the better value.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cursor free? +

Yes. Cursor has a free plan with limited AI usage, including limited agent and chat requests. Paid plans start at $8 a month (Plus, Grok models only) and $30 a month (Premium), as of October 2026.

What changed with Cursor's pricing in October 2026? +

On October 12, 2026, new Cursor customers moved to "The X Subscription", a bundle of Grok, Cursor and X Premium from SpaceXAI. Included usage covers Grok models; Claude, GPT and other third-party models are billed at API list price on Premium and above. Existing subscribers can keep their old plan.

Can I still use Claude or GPT models in Cursor? +

Yes, on Premium ($30 a month) and higher, but they are not part of the included usage: they are charged at the model provider's API list price from prepaid credit. The $8 Plus plan only includes Grok models.

Is Cursor better than GitHub Copilot? +

Cursor is an AI-first editor with deep agent features, while GitHub Copilot is an add-on for the editor you already use and costs less. Many developers prefer Cursor's design; companies on GitHub often prefer Copilot's price, editor choice and admin controls.

Is Cursor safe for company code? +

Cursor offers Privacy Mode, under which it says your code is not used for training, and it holds SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 and ISO 42001 certifications. Teams and Enterprise plans let admins enforce privacy settings. Check your company's policy and the data flows to model providers.

Does Cursor work with VS Code extensions? +

Mostly. Cursor is built on VS Code, so most extensions, themes and keybindings carry over, though it uses its own extension marketplace and some Microsoft-only extensions are not available.

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