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Cursor
9.3/10
"Long-running agents and async subagents make Cursor the most autonomous AI IDE available—redefining how developers build software."
AI-first IDE with Mission Control, long-running agents, async subagents, and plugins—powered by Claude Sonnet 4.6, GPT-5.2, and Gemini 3.
Best for:DevelopersIndie HackersStartupsAI Enthusiasts
Free / Pro $20/mo / Pro+ $60/mo / Ultra $200/mo / Teams $40/user/mo
Verified Tool
About Cursor
Cursor is the AI-first IDE redefining software development. Built as a VS Code fork, it puts AI at the center of the coding experience rather than as a plugin.
February 2026 brings major updates: Long-Running Agents (research preview, Feb 12) allow Cursor to autonomously complete complex, extensive tasks. Async Subagents (Feb 17) enable parallel processing where multiple agents tackle different parts of a project simultaneously. Plugins (Feb 17) extend Cursor's capabilities with custom integrations and enhanced Sandbox Access Controls.
Mission Control provides a grid-view interface for simultaneously managing multiple agent workflows. Auto Mode (unlimited, no credit cost) intelligently selects optimal AI actions. The multi-model backend supports Claude Sonnet 4.6, GPT-5.2, and Gemini 3, plus Cursor's proprietary models. Composer enables chat-based multi-file editing with architecture planning.
Cursor shifted to credit-based pricing in June 2025. Pro ($20/mo) includes $20 monthly credit covering ~225 Claude Sonnet 4.5 or ~500 GPT-5 requests, plus unlimited Auto Mode and background agents. Pro+ ($60/mo) offers 3x credits. Ultra ($200/mo) provides 20x credits. Teams ($40/user/mo) includes admin dashboard, SAML/SSO, RBAC, and enforced privacy mode. Enterprise offers custom pricing with SCIM, audit logs, and pooled credits.
Key Features
Long-Running Agents (Research Preview)
Async Subagents (Parallel Processing)
Mission Control (Multi-Agent Grid)
Plugins (Extensibility System)
Auto Mode (Unlimited, No Credits)
Claude Sonnet 4.6 / GPT-5.2 / Gemini 3
Credit-Based Pricing System
The Good
- Long-running agents handle complex tasks
- Async subagents enable parallelism
- Auto Mode is unlimited and free
- Familiar VS Code interface
The Not-So-Good
- Credit-based pricing confusing
- Heavy resource usage
- Ultra tier very expensive ($200/mo)
How Cursor Compares
| Feature | Cursor | GitHub Copilot | Claude Code | Bolt.new |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Full AI IDE | IDE Extension | CLI Agent | Web-based IDE |
| Base Editor | VS Code fork | VS Code / JetBrains | Terminal | Browser |
| Multi-Agent | ✅ Async Subagents | ❌ Single agent | ✅ Agent Teams | ❌ No |
| Long-Running Tasks | ✅ Research preview | ❌ No | ✅ Autonomous | ❌ No |
| Auto Model Selection | ✅ Auto Mode (free) | ❌ Manual | ❌ Manual | ❌ Manual |
| Cloud Agents | ✅ Yes | ✅ Copilot Workspace | ❌ Local only | ✅ Cloud-native |
| Starting Price | $20/mo | $10/mo | Included with Claude Pro | Free tier |
| Best For | Full-time developers | Existing IDE users | CLI-first developers | Rapid prototyping |
Real-World Use Cases
🏗️
Large Codebase Refactoring
Long-Running Agents autonomously handle complex, multi-step refactors across large projects. Async Subagents process different modules in parallel, dramatically reducing refactoring time.
🚀
Full-Stack Feature Development
Use Composer for chat-based multi-file editing with architecture planning. Mission Control manages multiple agents working on frontend, backend, and database changes simultaneously.
🔍
Code Review & Bug Hunting
Bugbot add-on provides automated code reviews on GitHub PRs. Combined with Claude Sonnet 4.6 and GPT-5.2 backends, Cursor identifies bugs, security issues, and code quality problems.
📦
Rapid Prototyping & MVPs
Auto Mode intelligently selects the optimal AI model for each task at zero credit cost. Plugins extend capabilities with custom integrations. Build working prototypes faster than any traditional IDE.
Pricing Plans
Hobby
$0
- ✓Limited Agent requests
- ✓Limited Tab completions
- ✓No credit card required
- ✓VS Code extension support
Recommended
Pro
$20/mo
- ✓Extended Agent limits
- ✓Unlimited Tab completions
- ✓Cloud Agents
- ✓Maximum context windows
- ✓$20 monthly credit
- ✓Auto Mode (unlimited, free)
Pro+
$60/mo
- ✓3x usage on all models
- ✓All Pro features
- ✓Claude Sonnet 4.6 / GPT-5.2 / Gemini 3
- ✓Extended context windows
Ultra
$200/mo
- ✓20x usage on all models
- ✓Priority access to new features
- ✓All Pro features
- ✓Maximum compute allocation
Teams
$40/user/mo
- ✓Shared chats & commands
- ✓Centralized billing
- ✓Usage analytics
- ✓SAML/OIDC SSO
- ✓Role-based access control
- ✓Org-wide privacy mode
Alternatives to Cursor
GitHub Copilot
Works inside existing IDEs (VS Code, JetBrains) without switching. Cheaper at $10/mo with tight GitHub integration for PR reviews and Copilot Workspace.
Claude Code
CLI-first agent with Agent Teams for collaborative coding. Included with Claude Pro ($20/mo). Better for terminal-oriented developers who prefer command-line workflows.
Bolt.new
Browser-based AI IDE with zero setup. Better for rapid prototyping, quick demos, and developers who want to code from any device without local installation.
v0.dev
Specialized in UI/frontend code generation with Vercel integration. Better for frontend developers building React/Next.js interfaces with instant preview.
Editor's Review
Editor's Review (February 2026)
Cursor's February 2026 updates are transformative. Long-Running Agents and Async Subagents push the boundaries of what an IDE can do autonomously.
What We Love:
• Long-Running Agents (Feb 12) can autonomously complete complex, multi-step tasks
• Async Subagents (Feb 17) enable parallel processing across project components
• Mission Control grid view manages multiple agents simultaneously
• Auto Mode is unlimited with zero credit cost—intelligent model selection
• Plugins (Feb 17) extend capabilities with custom integrations
What Could Be Better:
• Credit-based pricing (June 2025) still causes community frustration
• Ultra at $200/mo is expensive for individual developers
• Long-Running Agents still in research preview
Who Should Use It:
Full-time developers who want AI deeply integrated into their workflow. The productivity gains from async subagents and long-running agents justify the cost for professional use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:What are Long-Running Agents?
Released Feb 12, 2026 in research preview, Long-Running Agents allow Cursor to autonomously complete complex, extensive tasks without timing out—ideal for large refactors and multi-step implementations.
Q:How do Async Subagents work?
Released Feb 17, 2026, Async Subagents run in parallel, enabling multiple AI agents to work on different aspects of a project simultaneously. This dramatically speeds up complex, multi-faceted tasks.
Q:How does Cursor's credit-based pricing work?
Pro users get $20/month in credits. Auto Mode is unlimited and free. Credits are used for advanced model requests—e.g., ~225 Claude Sonnet 4.5 or ~500 GPT-5 requests per $20. Pro+ ($60/mo) gets 3x, Ultra ($200/mo) gets 20x.
Q:What is Mission Control?
Mission Control is a grid-view interface for managing multiple agent workflows simultaneously. It gives you visibility into all active agents and their progress across your project.
Tool Information
Pricing ModelFreemium
Starting PriceFree / Pro $20/mo / Pro+ $60/mo / Ultra $200/mo / Teams $40/user/mo
CategoryCoding Assistants
Last UpdatedFebruary 2026
