Softwr

Software · head to head

Cursor vs Greenhouse

Cursor logo

Cursor

Software

The AI-first code editor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Greenhouse logo

Greenhouse

Software

Hiring software for growing companies

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Cursor has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Cursor cannot work fully offline; AI features require internet connection; Greenhouse core plan lacks talent discovery and contact lookups
  • They diverge on capability: Cursor covers AI code completion, Greenhouse covers Applicant tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cursor and Greenhouse actually diverge.

Attributes where Cursor and Greenhouse differ
AttributeCursorGreenhouse
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Macos, LinuxWeb, Ios, Android, Api
Founded20222012

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Cursor

  • AI code completion
  • Natural language editing
  • Codebase chat
  • Multi-file editing
  • Code generation
  • Bug fixing assistance
  • Refactoring suggestions
  • AI pair programming

Only in Greenhouse

  • Applicant tracking
  • Interview scheduling
  • Scorecard system
  • Job board posting
  • Candidate CRM
  • Reporting & analytics
  • Offer management
  • EEO compliance

Both cover

  • Data encryption

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Cursor

  • AI-assisted codingnot Greenhouse
  • Code generationnot Greenhouse
  • Bug fixingnot Greenhouse
  • Refactoringnot Greenhouse
  • Learning new codebasesnot Greenhouse
  • Rapid prototypingnot Greenhouse

Greenhouse

  • Applicant tracking system for structured hiringnot Cursor
  • AI-powered interview notetaking and sourcingnot Cursor

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Cursor

  • Cannot work fully offline; AI features require internet connection
  • Local models require requests to route through Cursor's backend, not true localhost support
  • Free tier capped at 2,000 completions per month
  • Codebase indexing uploads code chunks to compute embeddings, with file caching handled server-side

Greenhouse

  • Core plan lacks talent discovery and contact lookups
  • Core plan lacks email automation and applicant texting
  • Plus plan lacks resume anonymisation and application limits
  • Plus plan lacks audit logging and developer tools
  • Pricing customised by hiring volume and company size, not published
  • Only Pro tier offers audit logs and developer sandbox

Pricing, plan by plan

Cursor

Free
  • HobbyFree
    • 2,000 completions/month
    • 50 slow premium requests
    • Basic autocomplete
  • Pro$20/month
    • Unlimited completions
    • 500 fast premium requests
    • Composer multi-file editor
  • Pro+$60/month
    • 3x Pro limits on Agent requests
    • Priority feature access
  • Teams Standard$40/user/month
    • All Individual Pro features
    • Centralized billing
    • SAML/OIDC SSO

Greenhouse

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Greenhouse review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Cursor if

  • You need ai code completion.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want natural language editing.
Cursor review

Choose Greenhouse if

  • You need applicant tracking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want interview scheduling.
Greenhouse review

Questions people ask

Is Cursor or Greenhouse better?
Neither clearly leads. Cursor starts at Free and Greenhouse at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cursor or Greenhouse?
Cursor has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Cursor and On request for Greenhouse.
Does Cursor or Greenhouse run on more platforms?
Cursor runs on Windows, Macos, Linux. Greenhouse runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use Cursor for free?
Yes. Cursor has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Greenhouse starts at On request.
What is Cursor best used for?
Cursor is most often used for ai-assisted coding, code generation, bug fixing, refactoring. Of those, ai-assisted coding and code generation are not what Greenhouse is typically brought in for.
What can Cursor do that Greenhouse cannot?
Cursor covers AI code completion, Natural language editing, Codebase chat, Multi-file editing. Greenhouse covers Applicant tracking, Interview scheduling, Scorecard system, Job board posting. Both handle Data encryption.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cursor: What's included in Cursor's free tier and what are its limits?

The free Hobby plan provides 2,000 completions per month and 50 slow premium requests, with access to basic autocomplete features. Codebase-wide indexing and the Composer multi-file editor are not available on the free plan.

Source
Cursor: Does Cursor require an internet connection to edit code?

While Cursor can open and edit files locally, its AI features including autocomplete, chat, agents, and codebase-aware reasoning require internet access to cloud-hosted models.

Source
Cursor: Can I use Cursor with local models running on my machine?

Cursor can integrate with local models, but requests still route through Cursor's backend for prompt building. True localhost mode without external endpoints is not supported. The paid plan ($20+/month) is required to use local models.

Source
Cursor: What privacy controls does Cursor offer?

Cursor offers Privacy Mode (enabled on paid Team plans) which prevents customer data from being used for model training, with zero data retention agreements with all AI providers. When disabled, Cursor may use codebase data to improve features.

Source
Cursor: What are the differences between Pro and Pro+ plans?

Pro ($20/month) includes unlimited completions and 500 fast premium requests, while Pro+ ($60/month) provides 3x those request limits, priority feature access, and extended Agent capabilities.

Source
Cursor: Does Cursor support SSO and on which plan?

SSO with SAML/OIDC is included on Teams Standard ($40/user/month) and higher plans, with full team administration and audit logs.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Cursor

More on Greenhouse

Keep looking

Other head to heads