Choose Cursor if you want an AI agent inside a visual code editor, with diffs you review on screen and a choice of models. Choose Claude Code if you want an agent that works across your whole project from the terminal, IDE extension, desktop app or web, using Anthropic's Claude models. On price, Cursor's paid plans start at $8/month (Grok models only) and its Premium plan is $30/month; Claude Code starts with Claude Pro at $20/month, or $17/month billed annually. Both are built for people who read code. If you don't, an AI app builder is the better category.
Both tools can read a codebase, edit several files and run commands. The real differences are where you work, which models you can use and how you pay for usage. Plans and features below come from each vendor's own pages.
Cursor vs Claude Code at a glance
| Cursor | Claude Code | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An AI code editor and coding agent | An agentic coding tool from Anthropic |
| Where you use it | Desktop editor, CLI and cloud agents | Terminal, VS Code and JetBrains extensions, desktop app and web |
| Models | Grok models, plus third-party models on Premium and above | Claude models |
| Free option | Yes, with limited agent requests | Not on the Claude Free plan |
| Entry price | Plus, $8/month (Grok models only) | Pro, $20/month or $17/month billed annually |
| Main paid tiers | Premium $30, Super $100, Ultra $200 | Max $100, Ultra $200 |
| Team price | From $30 per user a month | $20 per standard seat billed annually, $25 monthly |
| Best for | Developers who want to see and steer every change in an editor | Developers who delegate larger tasks and work from the command line |
The core difference: editor first or agent first
Cursor starts from the editor. You open a project in a code editor, and the agent works next to your files. You see proposed changes as diffs, accept or reject them, and keep typing yourself. Its pricing page also lists cloud agents and automations, code hosting through Origin and AI code reviews through Bugbot on Premium and above, along with a CLI.
Claude Code starts from the task. You describe what you want, and the agent reads the codebase, edits files and runs commands. Anthropic's documentation describes it as an agentic coding tool available in your terminal, IDE, desktop app and browser. It suits work you would hand to a colleague: "add this endpoint, write the tests, run them and fix what fails."
The line has blurred. Cursor has a CLI and cloud agents, and Claude Code has editor extensions and a desktop app. Still, the default way of working differs, and that default is what you will feel every day.
Pricing: what you actually pay
Pricing is where this comparison has changed most, so check it before you commit.
Cursor's plans on its pricing page:
| Plan | Price | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/month | Limited agent and chat requests |
| Plus | $8/month | A shared AI usage pool; only Grok models are available |
| Premium | $30/month | 4x the usage of Plus, cloud agents, Origin code hosting, Bugbot reviews, third-party models at API list price |
| Super | $100/month | 15x the usage of Plus, priority model access at peak times |
| Ultra | $200/month | 50x the usage of Plus, earliest access to products and models |
| Teams | From $30 per user a month | Team features and a team marketplace for rules, skills and plugins |
One detail matters here: Cursor says third-party model usage is not included in the monthly price and must be purchased separately. If you plan to use Claude or OpenAI models inside Cursor, budget for that on top of the plan.
Claude Code comes with Claude's subscription plans:
| Plan | Price | Claude Code |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Not included |
| Pro | $20/month, or $17/month billed annually | Included |
| Max | $100/month | Included, with 5x Pro usage |
| Ultra | $200/month | Included, with higher limits than Max |
| Team, standard seat | $20 per seat billed annually, $25 monthly | Included |
| Team, premium seat | $100 per seat billed annually, $125 monthly | Included, with 5x standard seat usage |
Both products use usage limits rather than unlimited access, so the right tier depends on how many hours of agent work you run. For light use, compare Cursor Premium at $30 with Claude Pro at $20. For all-day agent work, both reach $100 and $200 tiers.
Got an idea? Build it now!
Just start with a simple prompt. No coding required: Greta.sh turns your idea into a working app in minutes.
Models: choice or depth
Cursor's plans are built around Grok models, and third-party models become available from Premium, billed separately by usage at API list price. That gives you a choice of models in one editor, but the bill has two parts.
Claude Code runs Claude models, so you don't pick between vendors. The subscription covers usage up to your plan's limits, which makes the monthly cost easier to predict.
If trying several vendors' models on the same task matters to you, Cursor is the natural pick. If you already prefer Claude's models, Claude Code is the direct route.
Which one fits which job?
| Job | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small edits while you write code | Cursor | Inline changes and visual diffs stay in your flow |
| Reviewing each change before accepting it | Cursor | The editor is built around the diff view |
| A multi-file task you want to delegate | Claude Code | It plans, edits and runs commands from one instruction |
| Scripting agent runs in CI | Claude Code | Anthropic documents running it in your own CI |
| Comparing models on the same task | Cursor | Third-party models are available from Premium |
| Staying in VS Code or JetBrains | Claude Code | It has extensions for both; Cursor is its own editor |
Many developers don't treat this as either-or. Because Claude Code has an IDE extension and a terminal mode, it can run alongside another editor, including Cursor. Paying for both only makes sense if you use both enough to justify two subscriptions.
Learning curve
Cursor is easier to start with if you already use a graphical editor, since the interface looks familiar and the changes are visible. Claude Code asks you to be comfortable in a terminal for its full-featured mode, although the desktop app and web versions lower that barrier.
Either way, you still need to read what the agent produces. Both tools can make confident mistakes, and you are responsible for checking the result, running the tests and catching security problems. Our guide to vibe coding security risks lists what to look for.
Got an idea? Build it now!
Just start with a simple prompt. No coding required: Greta.sh turns your idea into a working app in minutes.
What if you don't write code?
Neither tool is really aimed at non-developers. Each assumes you can set up a project, understand an error and decide whether a change is safe. If you want a working app rather than a better coding workflow, an AI app builder does the assembly for you.
Greta.sh builds a full-stack app from a plain-English description and deploys it. The free plan gives you 5 credits a day but cannot deploy. Deployment starts on Starter (a $5/month welcome offer, normally $20/month), and Pro (a $20/month welcome offer, normally $50/month) adds the Database, Flows and GitHub version control. Greta.sh builds its own database for each app rather than sitting on top of an existing production database.
For the category question, read AI coding assistants vs AI app builders. For the direct comparison, see Greta.sh vs Claude Code and Greta.sh vs Cursor.
How to choose
- You like reviewing every change in an editor: Cursor.
- You want to hand over whole tasks and work from the terminal: Claude Code.
- You want to compare models from several vendors: Cursor Premium or above, and budget for third-party usage.
- You want predictable subscription usage on Claude models: Claude Code on Pro or Max.
- You're choosing for a team: compare Cursor Teams from $30 per user with Claude Team from $20 per standard seat, then run the same real task on both.
- You don't write code: use an AI app builder instead.
FAQ
Is Claude Code better than Cursor?
Neither is better for everyone. Claude Code suits developers who delegate larger tasks and work from the terminal. Cursor suits developers who want to see and steer each change inside an editor. Try the same real task in both before you decide.
Is Cursor cheaper than Claude Code?
It depends on the plan. Cursor Plus is $8/month but only offers Grok models, while Claude Pro with Claude Code is $20/month or $17/month billed annually. Cursor's Premium plan, which adds cloud agents and third-party models, is $30/month, and third-party model usage is billed separately.
Can I use Claude models in Cursor?
Cursor lists third-party models at API list price from the Premium plan, billed separately by usage. Check Cursor's pricing page for the current model list before you rely on a specific one.
Can I use Claude Code and Cursor together?
Yes. Claude Code runs in a terminal and has editor extensions, so it can run alongside another editor. You would pay for both subscriptions, so it is worth doing only if you use both regularly.
Is Claude Code free?
Claude Code is not included in Claude's Free plan. It is included from the Pro plan, at $20/month or $17/month billed annually. Cursor does have a free plan, with limited agent and chat requests.
Do I need to know how to code to use Cursor or Claude Code?
They are built for people who can read code, and you are responsible for checking what they produce. If you don't code, an AI app builder is a better fit, because it generates and hosts a complete app from a description.
