Software Development · head to head
Cursor vs Zephyr Scale
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; Zephyr Scale split across separate Essential and Advanced editions plus a distinct Zephyr Enterprise on-premises product, so buyers must pick the right SKU before pricing applies
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Cursor and Zephyr Scale actually diverge.
| Attribute | Cursor | Zephyr Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Linux | Web |
| Category | Software Development | Testing & QA |
| Founded | 2022 | Unknown |
Identical on both: 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 Zephyr Scale
Nothing recorded that Cursor does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Cursor
- AI-assisted codingnot Zephyr Scale
- Code generationnot Zephyr Scale
- Bug fixingnot Zephyr Scale
- Refactoringnot Zephyr Scale
- Learning new codebasesnot Zephyr Scale
- Rapid prototypingnot Zephyr Scale
Zephyr Scale
No use cases recorded yet. See the Zephyr Scale review.
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
Zephyr Scale
- Split across separate Essential and Advanced editions plus a distinct Zephyr Enterprise on-premises product, so buyers must pick the right SKU before pricing applies
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
Zephyr Scale
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Zephyr Scale 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.
Choose Zephyr Scale if
Nothing in the data separates Zephyr Scale from Cursor on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Cursor or Zephyr Scale better?
- Neither clearly leads. Cursor starts at Free and Zephyr Scale at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Cursor or Zephyr Scale?
- Cursor has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Cursor and On request for Zephyr Scale.
- Does Cursor or Zephyr Scale run on more platforms?
- Cursor runs on Windows, Macos, Linux. Zephyr Scale runs on Web.
- Can I use Cursor for free?
- Yes. Cursor has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zephyr Scale 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 Zephyr Scale is typically brought in for.
- What can Cursor do that Zephyr Scale cannot?
- Cursor covers AI code completion, Natural language editing, Codebase chat, Multi-file editing.
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.
SourceCursor: 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.
SourceCursor: 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.
SourceCursor: 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.
SourceCursor: 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.
SourceCursor: 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.
SourceRelated pages
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