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Software Development · head to head

Cursor vs Sublime Text

Cursor logo

Cursor

Software Development

The AI-first code editor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sublime Text logo

Sublime Text

Technology

A sophisticated text editor for code, markup and prose

From
$99/one-time
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; Sublime Text a personal licence is $99 as a one off purchase but includes only 3 years of updates, after which a paid upgrade is required to keep receiving them
  • They diverge on capability: Cursor covers AI code completion, Sublime Text covers Lightning fast performance.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cursor and Sublime Text actually diverge.

Attributes where Cursor and Sublime Text differ
AttributeCursorSublime Text
Starting priceFree$99/one-time
Pricing modelUnknownone-time
Free tierYesNo
CategorySoftware DevelopmentTechnology
Founded20222007

Identical on both: platforms (Windows, Macos, Linux), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Sublime Text

  • Lightning fast performance
  • Multiple selections
  • Command palette
  • Instant project switch
  • Plugin ecosystem
  • Customizable UI
  • Advanced search and replace
  • Split editing

What people use each for

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

Cursor

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

Sublime Text

  • Editing code and text files in a fast native desktop editornot Cursor
  • Working across large files and projects with multi cursor editingnot 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

Sublime Text

  • A personal licence is $99 as a one off purchase but includes only 3 years of updates, after which a paid upgrade is required to keep receiving them
  • Business use is a separate annual subscription rather than a perpetual licence, starting at $65 per seat per year
  • The distinction means the same editor is perpetual for an individual and subscription for a company

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

Sublime Text

$99/one-time
  • Personal License$99/one-time
    • 3 years of updates
    • All current features
    • Cross-platform license

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 Sublime Text if

  • You need lightning fast performance.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want multiple selections.
Sublime Text review

Questions people ask

Is Cursor or Sublime Text better?
Neither clearly leads. Cursor starts at Free and Sublime Text at $99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cursor or Sublime Text?
Cursor has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Cursor and $99/one-time for Sublime Text.
Does Cursor or Sublime Text run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, Macos, Linux, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Cursor for free?
Yes. Cursor has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sublime Text starts at $99/one-time.
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 Sublime Text is typically brought in for.
What can Cursor do that Sublime Text cannot?
Cursor covers AI code completion, Natural language editing, Codebase chat, Multi-file editing. Sublime Text covers Lightning fast performance, Multiple selections, Command palette, Instant project switch.

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
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