Cursor vs Vs Code

Cursor is built on VS Code, so this comparison is really about whether you should switch to an AI-native fork or stay with VS Code and add AI extensions yourself.

Overview

Cursor is a fork of VS Code that adds native AI features: Composer for multi-file editing, Tab completions, inline generation, and codebase-aware chat. It supports your VS Code extensions and settings but adds AI as a first-class feature. VS Code is Microsoft's open-source editor with the largest extension ecosystem. You can add AI capabilities through extensions like Copilot, Cline, Continue, or Cody, creating a customized AI setup.

Key Differences

AI integration depth: Cursor's AI features are deeply integrated — Composer can plan and apply edits across multiple files natively. VS Code's AI comes through extensions, which means features feel bolted-on rather than native. Extension compatibility: Cursor supports most VS Code extensions but not all. Some proprietary Microsoft extensions (like certain C# or remote development features) may not work. VS Code has guaranteed compatibility with its entire marketplace. Update cadence: VS Code updates monthly with new features. Cursor must merge upstream VS Code changes, which means it may lag behind on non-AI features. Customization: VS Code lets you mix and match AI extensions — use Copilot for completions, Cline for agentic tasks, and Cody for codebase search. Cursor bundles everything but limits your AI configuration choices. Settings sync: VS Code's Settings Sync is seamless with a Microsoft account. Cursor has its own sync but migrating from VS Code requires importing settings. Stability: VS Code is extremely stable with Microsoft's resources behind it. Cursor occasionally has rough edges as a smaller team maintains a fork of a massive codebase.

Pricing

VS Code is free. AI extensions have their own pricing (Copilot at $10/month, Cline free with API costs, etc.). Cursor has a free tier and Pro at $20/month.

Verdict

Choose Cursor if you want the most seamless AI coding experience and are willing to trade some extension compatibility. Stay with VS Code if you need guaranteed extension compatibility, want to customize your AI setup, or rely on specific VS Code-only features.