Pick Cursor if you want to review changes in an editor, use Tab autocomplete and run cloud agents with PR bots. Pick Claude Code if you mainly want Claude: since Oct 12 2026, new Cursor plans bill Claude at API list price, while a Claude plan includes Opus 5.5.
Pick Claude Code if
- Claude models are what you want, without per-token billing
- You do long autonomous runs from the terminal
- You want 1M context on Opus 5.5 by default (Cursor: 300K default)
- You prefer the model vendor's own tool
Pick Cursor if
- You want a visual editor with inline diffs and Tab autocomplete
- You want cloud agents with computer use and PR bots like Bugbot
- Grok 4.7 and Composer 2.5 as included models suit you
- You want the cheapest paid entry ($8/mo Plus)
At a glance
Claude Code
Anthropic- What it is
- Agentic coding tool that reads your repo, edits files and runs commands
- Where it runs
- Terminal, VS Code, JetBrains, desktop app, web (cloud sessions), iOS and Android
- Models
- Claude: Opus 5.5 (default on paid plans), Sonnet 5.5, Haiku 5.5, Fable 5.1
- Starts at
- Pro $20/mo ($17/mo billed yearly). The Free plan does not include Claude Code
- Best for
- Hard multi-file work, long autonomous runs, heavy customization with hooks, skills and subagents
Cursor
Anysphere (SpaceX)- What it is
- AI code editor with agents, Tab autocomplete, cloud agents and PR bots
- Where it runs
- Desktop editor (macOS, Windows, Linux), CLI, web, iOS/iPad, JetBrains, Xcode
- Models
- Grok 4.7 and Composer 2.5 included; Claude, Gemini, GPT at API price
- Starts at
- Free tier; Plus $8/mo; Premium $30/mo
- Best for
- Reviewing changes visually, autocomplete, cloud agents and PR bots in one app
Feature by feature
Basics
| Claude Code | Cursor | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Terminal agent, plus VS Code, JetBrains, desktop, web and mobile | AI code editor (VS Code fork) with a CLI, cloud agents, PR bots and git hosting |
| Owner | Anthropic | Anysphere, a SpaceX subsidiary since Aug 14 2026 |
| Open source | No. The GitHub repo holds docs and plugins; the code is all rights reserved | No. Proprietary VS Code fork |
| Interface | Terminal first. The VS Code extension adds inline diffs and plan review | Full editor: inline diffs, Tab autocomplete, Agents Window, Design Mode |
Models & context
| Claude Code | Cursor | |
|---|---|---|
| Models | Claude: Opus 5.5 default, Sonnet 5.5, Haiku 5.5, Fable 5.1 | Grok 4.7/4.6/4.5 and Composer 2.5 included. Claude, Gemini, GPT at API price from credit |
| Using Claude models | Included in Pro and Max plans | Not in included usage on new plans. Premium and up pay API list price (Opus 5.5 $4/$20 per 1M) |
| Default model | Opus 5.5 on all paid plans | No single documented default. Individual plans get Auto in Cost mode; Plus has no Auto |
| Context window | 1M tokens by default on current models, 200K opt-out | Opus 5.5: 300K default, 1M max. Grok 4.7: 256K (500K max). Composer 2.5: 200K |
Agent features
| Claude Code | Cursor | |
|---|---|---|
| Subagents | Custom subagents, worktree isolation, /batch, dynamic workflows (GA) | Foreground and background subagents, loads .claude/agents. Projects (beta) delegates to many subagents |
| Cloud agents | Cloud sessions on Anthropic VMs keep running after you disconnect (Pro and up) | Cloud agents on isolated VMs with computer use, self-hosted machines, canvases. Premium and up |
| Hooks, skills, plugins, MCP | Hooks, skills, plugins with marketplaces, MCP with tool search | Hooks (also loads Claude Code hooks), skills (reads .claude/skills), plugins, MCP |
| Rules and memory | CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md (since Sept 2026), auto memory | .cursor/rules, AGENTS.md, user and team rules |
| Undo | /rewind checkpoints track every file edit | Automatic checkpoints before big changes, separate from git |
Workflow & integrations
| Claude Code | Cursor | |
|---|---|---|
| IDE | VS Code extension (also installs in Cursor), JetBrains plugin | It is the IDE. Also JetBrains and Xcode integrations |
| CLI, CI and SDK | -p headless mode, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Agent SDK (Python, TS) | agent CLI with -p print mode, TypeScript and Python SDK, Automations |
| PR review | GitHub Actions; managed Code Review on Team/Enterprise (usage credits) | Bugbot (avg run $1.00-$1.50), Security Review, Rollouts. Bugbot included on Premium and up |
| Integrations | Slack, GitHub, GitLab, Chrome, Telegram/Discord channels | Slack, Teams, Jira, Linear, Notion, GitHub, GitLab, Azure DevOps, Bitbucket |
| Mobile | iOS and Android app: start cloud sessions, Remote Control local ones | iOS and iPad app with cloud agents and remote control. No Android app found |
Pricing & limits
| Claude Code | Cursor | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | Pro $20/mo. No Claude Code on Free | Free tier. Plus $8/mo: Cursor models only, fixed settings |
| Top individual plan | Max 20x $200/mo | Ultra $200/mo (50x Plus usage) |
| How limits work | Rolling 5-hour window + weekly caps, shared with Claude chat. No fixed message count | Weekly pool shared with Grok apps. Only multiples published. Top-ups at list price |
Privacy & licensing
| Claude Code | Cursor | |
|---|---|---|
| Training on your data | Consumer plans: you choose. 5-year retention if training is on, 30 days if off | Privacy Mode: no training. With it off, Cursor may store and train on your code |
Pricing
Claude Code
Cursor
Since Oct 12 2026 Cursor is sold as The X Subscription, with a weekly pool shared with Grok apps. Claude bills at API list price from prepaid credit; existing customers can stay on legacy plans until they switch.
Building with Claude? Get paid for it.
Forward Deployed Engineers ship AI agents inside real customer systems. Open roles at Anthropic, OpenAI, Cognizant and more.
The same job in both
How a typical task plays out in each tool. This is where the difference in approach shows.
No autocomplete. You ask the agent in the terminal or the VS Code extension and review the inline diff.
Tab autocomplete and inline edits happen right in the editor, with changes highlighted as you go.
Plan mode, then /batch spreads the change over worktree subagents. Opus 5.5 is included in the plan with 1M context.
Agent in plan mode, parallel agents in worktrees in the Agents Window. Opus 5.5 runs at 300K by default and bills per token, or use Grok 4.7.
Claude in Chrome (beta) tests in your logged-in browser and reads console logs. The desktop app has an app preview.
Design Mode lets you click, draw or speak UI edits in the built-in browser, and canvases render React views.
Cloud sessions keep going after you disconnect. The Claude app on iOS or Android starts and checks them.
Prefix a CLI message with & to hand it to a cloud agent. The iOS app runs cloud agents and controls local ones.
What developers say
Claude Code
- Preferred for long unattended terminal runs (HN)
- The $200 Max plan seen as the deal for heavy Claude use (HN)
- Some indie devs and startups moved over from Cursor (TechCrunch, Mar 2026)
- "Hides too much of what it's doing" (HN)
- Weekly caps drain fast on heavy Opus use
- Terminal diffs harder to review than an editor (HN)
Cursor
- Changes are easy to see, highlighted in the editor (HN)
- Cloud agents with computer use (HN)
- Composer 2.5 is fast (HN)
- Claude and GPT "billed at API list price from the very first request" (forum)
- "Terribly optimised" CPU and RAM use (HN)
- Cheap Auto mode unreliable with weaker models (HN)
Switching, or using both
Moving from Cursor to Claude Code
- 1.Install: curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash. Or add the Claude Code extension inside Cursor itself.
- 2.Move .cursor/rules content into CLAUDE.md, or keep shared rules in AGENTS.md, which both tools read.
- 3.Skills in .claude/skills and agents in .claude/agents already work in both tools.
- 4.Write hooks in Claude Code's format: Cursor loads Claude Code hooks too.
- 5.Re-add your MCP servers in Claude Code's MCP config.
Running both side by side
The most common setup is Claude Code running in Cursor's terminal or as the extension inside Cursor. Cursor reads .claude/skills, .claude/agents and Claude Code hooks, so one setup serves both. Use Cursor for Tab and visual review, Claude Code for long runs on your Claude plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is Claude Code better than Cursor?
They solve different problems. Claude Code is an agent you run from the terminal or IDE, built for long multi-file tasks on Claude models. Cursor is an editor with autocomplete, visual diffs, cloud agents and PR bots. Cursor is not on the Terminal-Bench 4.0 board or the Artificial Analysis agent index, so there is no independent head-to-head.
Claude Code vs Cursor pricing: which is cheaper?
Cursor starts lower: Free, Plus $8 and Premium $30, with Ultra at $200. Claude Code starts at Pro $20 and tops out at Max 20x $200. For heavy Claude use, Claude plans include Opus 5.5, while new Cursor plans bill Claude at API list price from credit.
Can Cursor use Claude models?
Yes. Opus 5.5, Sonnet 5.5, Haiku 5.5 and Fable 5.1 are listed, but on The X Subscription they are billed at API list price from prepaid credit on Premium and up, and not offered on Plus. Legacy plans keep a separate monthly pool for third-party models.
Can I use Claude Code inside Cursor?
Yes. The Claude Code VS Code extension installs in Cursor, or run the CLI in Cursor's terminal. Many developers use both this way.
Does Cursor still offer OpenAI models?
Cursor staff said on Aug 29 2026 that OpenAI plans to end its direct partnership within three months. On Oct 21 the docs still list GPT-5.6 models. The exact cutoff date is not confirmed by Cursor.
Who owns Cursor now?
SpaceX. The acquisition of Anysphere closed on Aug 14 2026, and Cursor plans are now sold through The X Subscription alongside Grok and X Premium.
Which is better for beginners?
Cursor feels familiar if you know VS Code, and Plus costs $8. Claude Code has a desktop app and VS Code extension too, but starts at $20 and is built around giving an agent bigger tasks.
- Claude Code overview
- Claude pricing
- Claude Code model config
- Claude Code data usage
- Claude Code license
- Claude Opus 5.5 announcement
- Cursor pricing
- Cursor models and pricing
- Claude Opus 5.5 in Cursor
- Cursor joins SpaceX
- The X Subscription (Cursor forum)
- Cursor skills docs
- Cursor hooks docs
- Cursor data use
Prices and features change often. Everything here was checked against official pages on 2026-10-21. Spotted something out of date? Tell us on GitHub.
