Key takeaways
- As of November 1, 2026, Cursor's plans run from Free to $200 a month, while VS Code is free and its AI comes from GitHub Copilot plans at $0, $10, $39 and $100 a month.
- Cursor's docs say it is based on the VS Code codebase and can import your VS Code extensions, themes, settings and keybindings in one click.
- Cursor meters AI with a weekly usage pool, while GitHub Copilot uses monthly AI credits worth $0.01 each.
Cursor vs VS Code comes down to one question: do you want an editor built around an AI agent, or the editor you already use with AI added through GitHub Copilot? Cursor is based on the VS Code codebase, so the two feel alike. They differ in how they charge for AI and in where the AI sits. This comparison is based on the products' docs and published results, not on hands-on testing, and prices are as of November 1, 2026.
The short answer: VS Code is free, and its AI features run on a GitHub Copilot plan that starts at $0. Cursor's paid plans start at $8 a month and go up to $200. If you only want completions and a chat panel, VS Code costs less. If you want an agent-first tool with a weekly usage pool, Cursor is built for that.
Cursor vs VS Code at a glance
| Cursor | VS Code with GitHub Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Editor | Based on the VS Code codebase, rebased regularly onto new VS Code versions | Microsoft's VS Code. The Code - OSS source repo is MIT licensed, the product has a Microsoft license |
| Editor price | Free tier, paid plans from $8 a month | Free for private and commercial use |
| AI price | Included in the plan, from $0 to $200 a month | Copilot Free $0, Pro $10, Pro+ $39, Max $100 a month |
| AI usage meter | Weekly usage pool, shared with Grok apps | Monthly AI credits (1 credit is $0.01) |
| Agent | Core of the product, with Plan Mode | Agent mode in the Chat view and Agents window |
| Models | Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, Z.ai, Moonshot, Meta, DeepSeek and Cursor's own | Multiple providers through Copilot, your own API key, or a local model |
| Extensions | One-click import of VS Code extensions, themes, settings and keybindings | Native |
Sources: Cursor pricing, Cursor docs, VS Code Copilot overview, VS Code FAQ, GitHub Copilot plans.
What Cursor costs as of November 1, 2026
Cursor's pricing page lists Free at $0, Plus at $8 a month, Premium at $30, Super at $100 and Ultra at $200. Teams starts at $30 per user a month, and Enterprise is custom. Prices exclude taxes.
Each paid tier includes a pool of AI usage that refreshes weekly. Plus gets the base pool, Premium 4 times that, Super 15 times and Ultra 50 times. The pool is shared between Cursor and Grok. Plus is limited to Grok models. From Premium up, third-party models are available at API list price, billed separately. We covered the change in more detail in Cursor pricing plans now run on a weekly usage pool, and the free tier in Is Cursor free.
What AI costs in VS Code as of November 1, 2026
VS Code itself costs nothing. Its AI features come from GitHub Copilot, and signing in with a GitHub account that has no subscription enrolls you in Copilot Free, per the VS Code docs.
GitHub's plans page prices AI in credits, where one credit is $0.01:
| Plan | Price | Credits | Inline suggestions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited chat and agent usage | 2,000 a month |
| Pro | $10 a month | $10 base, $15 total with a $5 flex allotment | Unlimited |
| Pro+ | $39 a month | $39 base, $70 total | Unlimited |
| Max | $100 a month | $100 base, $200 total | Unlimited |
Pro adds code review, Copilot in the cloud and assigning pull request work to Copilot. Pro+ and Max add delegating tasks to third-party coding agents. For more on how the credits count, see GitHub Copilot AI credits and token billing and how to check your Copilot usage.
Which features each one is built around
Cursor's docs describe it as a coding agent for building ambitious software. The listed tasks are understanding a codebase, planning with Plan Mode, fixing bugs and reviewing changes. It also lets you add plugins, skills, MCP servers and rules, and lists integrations with GitHub, GitLab, Azure DevOps, Bitbucket, JetBrains, Slack and Linear.
VS Code's docs describe agents that use a model and tools to find code, make changes and run checks, in the Chat view or a separate Agents window. It also has inline suggestions, including next-edit suggestions, and inline chat. You can pick an agent harness (Copilot, Claude or Codex), connect MCP servers, or bring your own key. A bring-your-own-key setup gives chat access without a Copilot plan, but it does not replace Copilot for inline suggestions.
The gap is narrower than the marketing suggests. Both run agents, both support MCP and both let you choose models. The difference most readers will feel is the bill: a weekly pool inside a Cursor plan, or monthly credits inside a Copilot plan.
Moving between the two
Cursor has a one-click import under General, Account, "VS Code Import" that brings over extensions, themes, settings and keybindings. You can also export a VS Code profile and import it through Cursor's Profiles UI. Going the other way needs no migration, since VS Code is the editor Cursor is based on.
What this comparison does not show
Neither company publishes a head-to-head benchmark, and we did not find an independent test of the two editors' agents on the same tasks. Speed, code quality and how fast each plan's allowance runs out depend on the model and the work. Cursor's docs do not say which VS Code version it currently tracks. For other matchups, see our comparisons of Cursor and GitHub Copilot, Cursor and Antigravity and Claude Code and GitHub Copilot.
Prices and plans change. Check cursor.com/pricing and GitHub's Copilot plans page before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cursor better than VS Code?
Neither company publishes a head-to-head test, so there is no independent answer. Cursor is built around an AI agent and charges for AI inside its plans, while VS Code is free and adds AI through GitHub Copilot.
Is Cursor just VS Code?
Not exactly. Cursor's docs say it is based on the VS Code codebase and is regularly rebased onto the latest VS Code version, but it is a separate product with its own agent, plans and models.
Is VS Code free to use with AI?
VS Code is free. Signing in with a GitHub account that has no Copilot subscription enrolls you in Copilot Free, which has a monthly allowance of inline suggestions and AI credits. Heavier use needs a paid plan from $10 a month, as of November 1, 2026.
Can I use my VS Code extensions in Cursor?
Yes. Cursor has a one-click import in its settings that brings over extensions, themes, settings and keybindings. You can also export a VS Code profile and import it.
Sources
- Cursor pricingCursor
- Cursor docsCursor
- Migrate from VS Code to CursorCursor
- GitHub Copilot in VS Code overviewVisual Studio Code
- Set up GitHub Copilot in VS CodeVisual Studio Code
- Visual Studio Code FAQVisual Studio Code
- GitHub Copilot plansGitHub