Compare
Cursor vs Visual Studio Code
Cursor focuses on AI code editing with a proprietary model, while VS Code is open source and extensible via extensions.
Which to pick
Pick Cursor if you want…
- AI-driven coding assistants
- AI-first code editor
- Integrations with Slack, GitHub or Linear (on Cursor's list, not Visual Studio Code's)
Pick Visual Studio Code if you want…
- AI-augmented code editing
- A free, open-source tool
- Integrations with GitHub Copilot or Git (on Visual Studio Code's list, not Cursor's)
Side by side
- What it is
- Cursor:Cursor is an AI-powered code editor that lets agents turn ideas into code across desktop, CLI, and integrations.
- Visual Studio Code:Visual Studio Code is a free, open-source code editor that supports AI-assisted multi-agent development across Linux, macOS and Windows.
- Best for
- Cursor:AI-driven coding assistants
- Visual Studio Code:AI-augmented code editing
- Who it’s for
- Cursor:Developers and teams who want AI assistance for coding, debugging and automation.
- Visual Studio Code:Developers needing a lightweight, extensible editor with AI assistance.
- Pricing
- Cursor:Freemium
- Visual Studio Code:Open source
- Plans
- Cursor:Hobby Free · Individual $20 / mo. per month · Teams $40 / user / mo. per month
- Visual Studio Code:—
- Open source
- Cursor:—
- Visual Studio Code:Yes, 193,343 GitHub stars
- Works with
- Cursor:Slack, GitHub, Linear, JetBrains IDEs, Vercel
- Visual Studio Code:GitHub Copilot, Git
Cursor features
- Agentic coding. AI agents can generate, edit, and test code based on high-level prompts.
- Multi-surface support. Works in a desktop IDE, terminal CLI, Slack, GitHub, Linear and more.
- Cloud agents. Launch fleets of autonomous agents that run in parallel on cloud resources.
- Mission Control UI. Grid view of open windows for quick navigation and window management.
- Team rules & privacy. Define team conventions, enable privacy mode to prevent data training.
- Model selection. Choose from OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, SpaceXAI and Cursor models per task.
Visual Studio Code features
- AI-assisted coding. Integrates AI agents that can plan, write, and debug code within the editor.
- Cross-platform support. Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows with native installers.
- Extensible marketplace. Install extensions for languages, debuggers, and tools.
- Built-in Git integration. Manage source control directly from the editor.
- Integrated terminal. Run commands without leaving the editor.
- Open-source core. Source code is publicly available under an open-source license.
Cursor vs Visual Studio Code FAQ
Is Cursor or Visual Studio Code free?+
Cursor has a free plan (Hobby); paid plans start at $20/month (Individual). Visual Studio Code is free and open source.
Which is cheaper, Cursor or Visual Studio Code?+
Visual Studio Code is free, so it costs less. Cursor starts at $20/month (Individual).
Is Cursor or Visual Studio Code open source?+
Visual Studio Code is open source (microsoft/vscode on GitHub, MIT license). DevHunt has no public source repository on record for Cursor.
Do Cursor and Visual Studio Code integrate with the same tools?+
Their integration lists don't overlap: Cursor lists Slack, GitHub, Linear, JetBrains IDEs and 1 more; Visual Studio Code lists GitHub Copilot and Git.
On DevHunt
Based on each tool's website and DevHunt data. Details may change; check the official sites.