Cursor AI Review: Is It Worth $20/Month for Developers? (2025)

Cursor AI Review: The AI-First Code Editor

Cursor has become the most popular AI-powered code editor, offering deep AI integration that goes beyond simple autocomplete. But at $20/month, is it worth switching from VS Code?

Key Features

Cmd+K Inline Editing

Select any code, press Cmd+K, and describe what you want to change in natural language. Cursor modifies the code in place. This is the feature that hooks most developers.

Composer (Multi-File Editing)

Describe a feature or change, and Composer edits across multiple files simultaneously. It understands your project structure and makes coordinated changes.

Tab Autocomplete

More intelligent than GitHub Copilot’s autocomplete. Cursor predicts not just the next line, but entire code blocks based on your editing patterns and project context.

Chat with Codebase

Ask questions about your entire codebase using @codebase. Cursor indexes your project and can answer questions about architecture, find bugs, and suggest improvements.

Cursor Plans

Cursor vs Alternatives

Detailed comparison: Cursor vs Windsurf vs Copilot

Our Verdict

If you code daily, Cursor Pro is worth $20/month. The time saved with Cmd+K and Composer alone justifies the cost. For complex project-wide tasks, pair it with Claude Code. For budget-conscious developers, Windsurf’s free tier is a strong alternative.