Cursor.
Agent IDE — multi-file context, fast iteration, code-first execution.
What it is.
Anysphere's VS Code fork built for agent-first development. Composer handles multi-file edits; Background Agent runs longer tasks while the developer continues. Model-agnostic — switch between Claude, GPT-5, and Gemini per task. The default IDE for AI-native engineering teams.
Where it fits.
Engineering organisations where agent throughput is the unit of leverage. Cursor's editor share inside YC-funded startups crossed 60% in 2025. Enterprise tier adds SSO, audit logs, and self-hosted model routing.
- Most polished agent UX in a code editor
- Model-agnostic — buyer picks the substrate
- Strong enterprise governance at Ultra tier
- VS Code parity not perfect — some extensions break
- Pricing climbed with Ultra tier introduction
Frequently asked.
Is Cursor a VS Code replacement?
Yes. It is a fork — your VS Code extensions and settings transfer. Some plug-ins targeting internal VS Code APIs need adaptation.
Which model is best inside Cursor?
Claude Sonnet 4.6 for reasoning-heavy edits; GPT-5 for fast iteration; Cursor's own models for tab completion.
Can Cursor run against on-prem models?
Yes. Ultra tier supports custom model endpoints including self-hosted Llama 4 and Mistral.
