Claude Code vs Cursor: Side-by-Side Comparison 2026
Claude Code vs Cursor comparison 2026. Side-by-side features, pricing & capabilities.
| Feature | Claude Code | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Assistant | AI IDE |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Model Family | Claude | Multi-model |
| Code Completion | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chat | ✓ | ✓ |
| Agentic Mode | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-File Editing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Terminal Commands | ✓ | ✓ |
| Browser Use | — | — |
| App Generation | — | — |
| Git Integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Supported IDEs | VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, Terminal | Cursor (standalone VS Code fork) |
| Open Source | No | No |
Pricing verified 2026-02-06. Claude Code pricing | Cursor pricing
Overview
Claude Code is a CLI tool from Anthropic. Cursor is an AI IDE from Cursor (Anysphere). Both tools are actively maintained as of 2026.
Claude Code: What You Get
Anthropic's CLI tool that brings Claude directly into your terminal for agentic coding — it can read, edit, and create files autonomously.
- Agentic file editing
- Terminal integration
- Git operations
- Multi-file refactoring
- Code review
- Test writing
Pricing: Free / $20/mo. 7 plans available.
Cursor: What You Get
AI-powered code editor built on VS Code with deep AI integration for code generation, editing, and chat.
- AI autocomplete
- Chat with codebase
- Multi-file editing
- Terminal commands
- Code explanation
- Bug detection
Pricing: Free / $20/mo. 6 plans available.
Key Differences
- Category: Claude Code is a CLI tool, Cursor is an AI IDE.
- Model family: Claude Code uses Claude; Cursor uses Multi-model.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Claude Code if you want Autonomous multi-file changes with full codebase understanding. Choose Cursor if you want Full-featured AI IDE for professional development. Both tools are strong options — the right choice depends on your workflow and priorities.