Cursor

Cursor is a fork of VS Code rebuilt from the ground up around AI-assisted development. Rather than bolting AI onto an existing editor, Cursor's interface is designed so that AI suggestions, multi-file edits, and chat are first-class citizens — visual diffs show exactly what the AI changed before you accept it.

Its standout feature is the agent workflow: describe a feature or bug in natural language, and Cursor can search your codebase, edit multiple files, run terminal commands, and iterate based on test results — all while showing you a clear diff you can accept, reject, or edit. The "Auto" mode picks an appropriate model automatically, which keeps the experience fast without manual model-switching.

At $20/month for Pro, it costs more than Copilot but less than premium Claude Code usage, and most developers find the editor experience alone — fast inline edits, smart autocomplete, and seamless agent handoffs — worth the switch from their previous IDE. The main trade-off is that you're moving your primary editor, which has some onboarding cost for teams with established VS Code workflows.