Side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right tool for your business
Our Verdict: Cursor for IDE-native editing, Claude Code for autonomous multi-file tasks
Cursor wraps VS Code in an AI layer — you get inline completions, chat, and Composer for multi-file edits without leaving your editor. Claude Code runs in your terminal and operates more like a junior developer: it reads your codebase, creates files, runs tests, and commits code autonomously. Choose Cursor if you want AI augmenting your existing VS Code workflow. Choose Claude Code if you want to delegate entire tasks and review the results.
Developers who want AI assistance within a familiar IDE experience
Free (2,000 completions) / $20/mo (Pro) / $40/mo (Business)
beginner
1 day
Developers who want to delegate entire coding tasks to an AI agent
Usage-based via Anthropic API ($3-15 per 1M tokens) or $20/mo (Claude Pro with limited usage)
intermediate
1-2 days
| Feature | Cursor | Claude Code |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | VS Code-based IDE | Terminal CLI |
| Inline completions | Yes (tab complete) | No |
| Multi-file editing | Composer (visual diffs) | Autonomous (reads/writes directly) |
| Shell command execution | No | Yes (runs tests, installs packages) |
| Git integration | Built-in (standard VS Code) | Creates commits and branches |
| Project context | @codebase indexing | CLAUDE.md + smart file discovery |
| Extension support | Full VS Code extensions | MCP servers |
| Pricing model | $20-40/mo subscription | Usage-based (per token) |
Inline completions and instant preview in VS Code make iterative UI work fast. Claude Code's terminal interface adds friction for visual work.
Point it at the codebase, describe the migration, and it autonomously updates files, fixes type errors, and runs tests. Cursor's Composer struggles with 20+ file refactors.
Tab completion and inline chat feel like natural extensions of typing. Claude Code requires switching to a terminal and typing commands.
One prompt generates the model, controller, routes, tests, and migration. It runs the tests to verify everything works before presenting the result.
We implement both options. Tell us your use case and we'll recommend the right fit — then set it up for you.
Yes, and many developers do. Use Cursor for daily coding (completions, inline edits, quick chat) and Claude Code for larger tasks (new features, refactors, migrations). They don't conflict — Cursor is your IDE, Claude Code runs in a separate terminal.
Claude Code, when using Claude Opus, generally produces more thoughtful, well-structured code because it has more context (200K tokens) and more time per request. Cursor's completions are faster but can be more superficial. For critical code, Claude Code's deliberate approach wins.
It varies widely. Light usage (a few tasks per day) runs $30-60/month on the API. Heavy usage (delegating multiple features daily) can hit $200-400/month. Most professional developers we work with spend $50-100/month — less than a Copilot + Cursor subscription combined, but less predictable.
Reasonably safe with guardrails. It asks permission before running destructive commands, and you can configure allowed/blocked actions. That said, always review diffs before accepting changes. Treat it like a junior developer — capable but needs code review.