HEAD-TO-HEAD

Cursor vs. Claude Code

See what each agent is suited for and jump to the details that matter for your task.

What matters for your task

Example task Develop software

Cursor
A good fit if you work in an AI editor and want to choose approval levels for terminal commands yourself
Claude Code
A good fit if you want to work with the same agent in the terminal, VS Code, JetBrains, the desktop app or the browser

Workspace Check whether you work in an editor, a terminal, on your own machine or in the cloud.
Approvals Check which actions the agent may take and who approves them.
Model choice Check which models your access includes and whether you can connect your own.

AI development environment

Coding agent for understanding code, planning changes, developing, and testing.

Coding agent

Coding agent for understanding code, fixing errors, testing, and making changes through terminal, editor, or web.

Tool category: Coding agents
Environment: Terminal, editor, desktop and web
Selbstbetrieb: Possible
Entry plan on pricing page: Pro: USD 20 per month; alternatively USD 200 prepaid annually, excluding taxes
Europe: Available
Sources reviewed: 9 October 2026

LimitationNew owner and new plansAccording to the provider, Cursor has been part of SpaceX since 14 August 2026. The pricing page now shows Grok features and X benefits in the same plans. The former Hobby, Pro and 40 USD Teams plans are no longer listed there; according to the documentation they continue for existing customers.
RequirementAccess and usage budgetAgent use follows plan and usage budget. Plus includes only Grok models. Cloud agents, automations and other providers' models start at Premium; those models are billed separately by usage.
RequirementApprove MCP toolsMCP access follows Run Mode, the allowlist and approval configuration. Check the tools actually permitted before use.

RequirementLocal installation with internet accessThe CLI requires a supported operating system, at least 4 GB of RAM, and an internet connection.
RequirementWrite and execution permissionsIn manual mode, sessions start with read access. File changes and commands require approval; settings and organization rules determine the scope.
LimitationDesktop access requires a paid subscriptionThe desktop app already includes Claude Code. Anthropic requires a paid subscription for this access method; other access methods have their own requirements.

Based on dated provider sources, not hands-on product tests. Prices and availability may change; each profile states its review date.