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Software · head to head

Cursor vs Visual Studio Code

Cursor logo

Cursor

Software

The AI-first code editor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Visual Studio Code logo

Visual Studio Code

Software

Code editing. Redefined.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Cursor cannot work fully offline; AI features require internet connection; Visual Studio Code requires extension installation for language-specific features and tooling
  • They diverge on capability: Cursor covers AI code completion, Visual Studio Code covers IntelliSense.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cursor and Visual Studio Code actually diverge.

Attributes where Cursor and Visual Studio Code differ
AttributeCursorVisual Studio Code
PlatformsWindows, Macos, LinuxWindows, macOS, Linux, Web (via GitHub Codespaces)
Founded20222015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), 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 Visual Studio Code

  • IntelliSense
  • Debugging
  • Built-in Git
  • Extensions
  • Integrated terminal
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Code refactoring
  • Snippets

Both cover

  • GitHub
  • Desktop deployment

What people use each for

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

Cursor

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

Visual Studio Code

  • Code editingnot Cursor
  • Web developmentnot Cursor
  • Debuggingnot Cursor
  • Version controlnot Cursor
  • Remote developmentnot 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

Visual Studio Code

  • Requires extension installation for language-specific features and tooling
  • Performance can degrade with very large codebases (100,000+ files)
  • Git integration is basic; requires extensions for advanced version control workflows

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

Visual Studio Code

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Visual Studio Code 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 Visual Studio Code if

  • You need intellisense.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, Web (via GitHub Codespaces).
  • You also want debugging.
Visual Studio Code review

Questions people ask

Is Cursor or Visual Studio Code better?
Neither clearly leads. Cursor starts at Free and Visual Studio Code at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cursor or Visual Studio Code?
Cursor starts at Free and Visual Studio Code at Free.
Does Cursor or Visual Studio Code run on more platforms?
Cursor runs on Windows, Macos, Linux. Visual Studio Code runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Web (via GitHub Codespaces).
Can I use Cursor for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Visual Studio Code is typically brought in for.
What can Cursor do that Visual Studio Code cannot?
Cursor covers AI code completion, Natural language editing, Codebase chat, Multi-file editing. Visual Studio Code covers IntelliSense, Debugging, Built-in Git, Extensions. Both handle GitHub, Desktop deployment.

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
Visual Studio Code: Is Visual Studio Code free?

Yes. Visual Studio Code is completely free to use under the MIT license. There are no subscription fees or paid tiers.

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
Visual Studio Code: Can I use VS Code for remote development?

Yes. The Remote Development extension pack allows development on remote machines via SSH, in containers, or in Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) while using the full VS Code feature set.

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
Visual Studio Code: How many extensions are available?

The VS Code Marketplace contains thousands of extensions from Microsoft and the community for language support, debuggers, themes, formatters, and productivity tools.

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
Visual Studio Code: Does VS Code support debugging?

Yes. VS Code includes built-in debugging for JavaScript, TypeScript, and Node.js, and supports debugging for Python, C++, C#, Java, Ruby, Go, PHP, and other languages via extensions.

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
Visual Studio Code: What operating systems does VS Code support?

VS Code runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with identical features and keybindings across all platforms.

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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