Claude Code vs Cursor: Which One Should You Use?
An honest comparison of Claude Code and Cursor for real-world development workflows.
Both Claude Code and Cursor are AI-powered coding tools, but they work very differently. Here’s an honest breakdown to help you choose.
The Core Difference
Cursor is an IDE (forked from VS Code) with AI built in. You work in a graphical editor, and AI assists you there.
Claude Code is a CLI tool. You work in the terminal, and Claude operates on your files directly through commands.
When to Use Cursor
You prefer visual editing
Cursor gives you:
- Syntax highlighting
- Visual file explorer
- Inline diffs for AI changes
- Click-to-apply suggestions
You’re new to AI coding tools
The visual interface makes it easier to:
- See what changes AI is proposing
- Accept or reject individual edits
- Understand the AI’s reasoning
You work mostly in one file at a time
Cursor excels at:
- Single-file refactoring
- Code completion
- Inline chat about specific lines
Your team uses VS Code
Since Cursor is a VS Code fork:
- Extensions mostly work
- Settings transfer over
- Familiar keybindings
When to Use Claude Code
You prefer terminal workflows
Claude Code is for developers who:
- Live in the terminal
- Use tmux, neovim, or similar tools
- Want AI that fits existing workflows
You’re doing multi-file operations
Claude Code handles complex tasks:
- Codebase-wide refactors
- Creating multiple related files
- Understanding project architecture
You need automation
Claude Code runs headless:
claude --headless "fix all TypeScript errors"Use it in CI/CD, scripts, or scheduled tasks.
You want git-aware AI
Claude Code:
- Creates checkpoints automatically
- Understands your git history
- Can create commits and PRs
You’re working with large codebases
The CLI approach scales:
- No IDE memory overhead
- Parallel exploration with subagents
- Works over SSH on remote machines
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Claude Code | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Terminal | GUI (VS Code fork) |
| Learning curve | Steeper | Gentler |
| Multi-file edits | Excellent | Good |
| Code completion | No | Yes |
| Inline suggestions | No | Yes |
| Git integration | Deep | Basic |
| Automation/CI | Yes | Limited |
| Custom commands | Yes (Skills) | Limited |
| Remote/SSH | Excellent | Needs setup |
| Price | Usage-based | $20/mo + usage |
Pricing Comparison
Cursor:
- Free tier with limits
- Pro: $20/month (includes some AI usage)
- Additional usage billed
Claude Code:
- Uses Anthropic API directly
- Pay per token used
- No monthly subscription (just API costs)
For heavy users, Claude Code can cost more or less depending on usage patterns. Light users might find Cursor’s flat rate simpler.
Accuracy and Quality
Both use Claude models (Cursor can also use GPT-4). The main differences:
Cursor has specialized prompts for:
- Code completion
- Inline edits
- Tab-to-accept flows
Claude Code has better:
- Project-wide understanding
- Multi-step task execution
- System-level operations
For pure code generation quality, they’re comparable. For complex reasoning and multi-file tasks, Claude Code often produces more coherent results.
Can You Use Both?
Yes. Many developers use:
- Cursor for day-to-day editing and quick completions
- Claude Code for complex refactors, automation, and CLI tasks
They don’t conflict. You can have Cursor open while running Claude Code in a terminal.
My Recommendation
Start with Cursor if:
- You’re new to AI coding
- You prefer visual interfaces
- You mainly work on single files
Start with Claude Code if:
- You’re comfortable in the terminal
- You do complex, multi-file work
- You want automation capabilities
Use both if:
- You have the budget
- You work on varied tasks
- You want the best tool for each situation
Switching Between Them
If you start with one and want to try the other:
Cursor to Claude Code:
- Learn basic terminal navigation
- Set up your CLAUDE.md for project context
- Start with simple tasks before complex ones
Claude Code to Cursor:
- Install Cursor (it imports VS Code settings)
- Learn Cmd+K (inline edit) and Cmd+L (chat)
- Get comfortable with inline diffs
The Bottom Line
They’re different tools for different workflows. The “better” one depends entirely on how you work. Try both for a week each and see which fits your style.