All tools
Cursor
The best AI code editor. Not a novelty — it genuinely changes how fast you ship.
Free tier with limits. Pro at $20/mo. Business at $40/mo.
Best for
Any developer who writes code daily. Especially valuable for full-stack developers working across multiple languages and frameworks.
Not for
Non-technical users. Also overkill if you only write simple scripts occasionally — VS Code with Copilot might be enough.
Strengths
Where it performs well.
- Codebase-aware completions that actually understand your project structure and patterns
- Tab completion is eerily accurate — often predicts the exact next block you'd write
- Chat mode with full repo context lets you refactor large sections conversationally
- Built on VS Code so the transition is seamless — all your extensions still work
- Multi-file edits in one shot save enormous time on cross-cutting changes
Limitations
Where you should be careful.
- Heavy token usage on large codebases — can get expensive on Pro plan with frequent use
- Occasionally suggests plausible but incorrect code that passes a quick glance — still need to review
- Auto-complete can be distracting when you're thinking through architecture, not just typing
- Some extensions conflict with Cursor's AI features — occasional debugging needed
Verdict
Use
If you write code for a living and you're not using Cursor, you're leaving speed on the table. The codebase awareness is the killer feature — it doesn't just complete lines, it understands your project. Best dev tool investment I've made this year.