Claude Code vs Cursor
Short answer: Claude Code is in CLI coding agents; Cursor is in AI IDEs, so they solve different parts of the job. Cursor has the lower entry price ($8/month vs $20/month for Claude Code). Cursor has a free plan; Claude Code does not.
| Claude Code | Cursor | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | CLI coding agents | AI IDEs |
| Vendor | Anthropic | Anysphere |
| Status | Active | Active |
| Free plan | No (Claude Free does not include Claude Code; "Claude Code is included in all paid plans.") | Yes (Free: limited agent and chat requests.) |
| Paid plans from | $20/mo | $8/mo |
| Plans | Pro: $20 · Max 5x: $100 · Max 20x: $200 · Team (standard seat): $25 · Team (premium seat): $125 · Enterprise: $20 (annual) | Free: Free · Plus: $8 · Premium: $30 · Super: $100 · Ultra: $200 · Teams: $30 · Enterprise: — |
| Open source | Not verified yet | Not verified yet |
| Editors named on vendor page | VS Code, JetBrains, terminal/CLI | terminal/CLI |
| Features named on vendor page | MCP, self-hosting, code review, test generation, debugging, refactoring, SSO/SAML | code review, code completion, background/cloud agents, MCP, SSO/SAML |
| Model families named | Claude | OpenAI GPT, Gemini, Grok |
| Checked | Oct 26, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 |
“Named on vendor page” means the phrase appears on the vendor's own page we captured; it is not a hands-on test. Unknown values are left blank rather than guessed.
FAQ
Is Claude Code cheaper than Cursor?
Cursor has the lower entry price ($8/month vs $20/month for Claude Code). Prices are from each vendor's pricing page.
Do Claude Code and Cursor have free plans?
Cursor has a free plan; Claude Code does not.
What is the difference between Claude Code and Cursor?
Claude Code is in CLI coding agents; Cursor is in AI IDEs, so they solve different parts of the job. Claude Code is made by Anthropic; Cursor is made by Anysphere. See the table for plans, editors and features each vendor names.