Cursor vs Claude Code

Cursor is an AI code editor with its own agent and a choice of models from several vendors. Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic coding tool, used mainly from the terminal and IDE extensions, and it runs Claude models only. Both also run as cloud coding agents: Cursor cloud agents on Cursor-managed Ubuntu VMs with a full desktop, and Claude Code on the web on Anthropic-managed VMs.

The biggest difference is the shape of the tool. Cursor is the editor you write code in, with the agent built in. Claude Code is an agent that works alongside whatever editor you use, including Cursor itself through an extension. In the cloud, Cursor's agents can drive a desktop and attach screenshots and videos to PRs, while Claude Code's cloud sessions are included in a $20 Claude plan.

If you want an editor with an agent inside and the freedom to switch model vendors, choose Cursor. If you prefer the terminal, want Claude models, and already pay for Claude, choose Claude Code. You can also use both: Claude Code runs inside Cursor as an extension.

At a glance

What is Cursor?

Cursor is an AI code editor. Its cloud agents, formerly called Background Agents, run the same agent in isolated VMs in the cloud with full development environments. Each VM is an Ubuntu machine with a desktop the agent can drive, so it can open a browser, test the running app and attach screenshots, videos and logs to the pull request. You can take over the remote desktop, and the agent tries to fix CI failures on its own PRs when you use GitHub Actions.

You start a cloud agent from the editor, cursor.com/agents, the iOS app, @cursor in Slack, Linear or a GitHub or Bitbucket comment, the API or scheduled Automations. Cursor works with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket and Azure DevOps, and teams can run tool execution on machines they manage.

What is Claude Code?

Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic coding tool. It reads your codebase, edits files and runs commands, and it is available in your terminal, IDE, desktop app and browser, with extensions for VS Code and JetBrains. The VS Code extension also installs in Cursor.

Claude Code on the web is the cloud coding agent. Each session runs in an isolated, Anthropic-managed VM, started from claude.ai/code, the Claude apps, the terminal with claude --cloud, Slack or scheduled tasks. Claude pushes changes to a branch, you review the diff and create a pull request, and Auto-fix can keep pushing fixes for CI failures and review comments. --teleport pulls a cloud session back into your terminal.

Key differences

Editor or terminal

Cursor is a full editor: you write code, review diffs and run the agent in one window, and the cloud agent is an option in the same agent input. Claude Code is an agent first. Its home is the terminal, with extensions that bring it into VS Code, JetBrains or Cursor, and a desktop app for running sessions side by side. If you want to keep your current editor, Claude Code fits around it. If you want the editor and the agent to be one product, Cursor is that product.

Models

Cursor's cloud agents use a curated selection of models: Cursor and Grok models from your plan's weekly pool, and Claude, GPT, Gemini and others at API list price on Premium and above, where your own API keys are also allowed. Claude Code runs Claude models only, and its cloud sessions require a claude.ai subscription sign-in. If you want to switch model vendors per task, Cursor gives you more choice. If you want Claude with the agent Anthropic builds for it, Claude Code is the direct route.

What the cloud agent can check

Cursor's cloud VMs include a full desktop with computer use: the agent can click through the app it changed and attach screenshots and videos to the PR. Claude Code's cloud sessions run on Ubuntu 24.04 with 4 vCPUs, 16 GB of RAM and 30 GB of disk, with Docker, PostgreSQL and Redis preinstalled, and Claude runs every command for you without a shell or desktop. Cursor does not publish its default VM size.

Where your code lives

Cursor's cloud agents work with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket and Azure DevOps. Claude Code on the web needs GitHub to clone repositories and create PRs; other hosts can only upload a one-way bundle. Teams on GitLab or Azure DevOps will find Cursor easier to adopt for cloud work.

Pricing compared

As of October 2026, Cursor's cloud agents need Premium at $30 a month or higher (Super $100, Ultra $200), or a Teams seat at $30, $100 or $200 per month. Free and Plus ($8) don't include cloud agents. Cloud agents use your plan's usage at the selected model's rate, from a weekly pool shared with Grok. Claude Code on the web is included in Claude Pro at $20 a month billed monthly, Max from $100, and Team standard seats at $25 per seat per month billed monthly, with no separate charge for the VM. It counts toward your Claude plan's usage limits.

For one developer, the cheapest plan with a cloud agent is $30 a month for Cursor and $20 a month for Claude Code. For a team of five on monthly billing, Cursor Premium seats are 5 × $30 = $150 a month and Claude Team standard seats are 5 × $25 = $125 a month. Third-party models in Cursor are billed at API list price on top of the plan.

When to choose Cursor

• You want an AI code editor with the agent built in, and a cloud agent one click away.
• You want to use models from several vendors, or bring your own API keys.
• You want the cloud agent to test UI changes on a desktop and attach screenshots and videos.
• Your code is on GitLab, Bitbucket or Azure DevOps.

When to choose Claude Code

• You work in the terminal, or want an agent that fits into the editor you already use.
• You want Claude models and already pay for a Claude plan, which includes cloud sessions.
• You want --cloud and --teleport to move work between your laptop and the cloud.
• You want the lower entry price for a cloud agent: $20 a month.

Run Claude Code from Slack

If what you want is an agent your team can hand work to in Slack, OpenComputer runs Claude Code, and Codex, in its cloud and opens pull requests from a Slack thread. It does not run Cursor's agent. It can sign in with your existing Claude subscription, and each Slack workspace gets one cloud Linux machine where every thread works on its own branch. See OpenComputer vs Cursor and OpenComputer vs Claude Code on the web.

FAQ

Is Cursor or Claude Code better?

It depends on how you work. Cursor is better if you want one editor with the agent inside and several model vendors to choose from. Claude Code is better if you prefer the terminal, want Claude models, or want an agent that works with any editor.

Can I use Claude Code inside Cursor?

Yes. Claude Code's VS Code extension also installs in Cursor, so you can run Claude Code in the Cursor editor. The two use separate subscriptions.

Do Cursor and Claude Code have cloud agents?

Yes. Cursor cloud agents run on Cursor-managed Ubuntu VMs with a desktop and need the Premium plan or higher. Claude Code on the web runs each session on an Anthropic-managed VM and is included in Claude Pro and higher plans.

How much do Cursor and Claude Code cost?

As of October 2026, Cursor Plus is $8 a month without cloud agents, and Premium is $30 a month with them. Claude Code is included in Claude Pro at $20 a month billed monthly, and in Max from $100 a month. Team seats are $30 and up for Cursor and $25 for a Claude Team standard seat, billed monthly.

Can Cursor use Claude models?

Yes. On Premium and above, Cursor offers Claude, GPT, Gemini and other third-party models at API list price, alongside its own and Grok models. That is Cursor's agent calling Claude models, not the Claude Code tool.

Sources

• Cursor cloud agents
• Cursor cloud agent capabilities
• Cursor self-hosted machines
• Cursor pricing
• Claude Code overview
• Claude Code on the web
• Claude Code cloud environments
• Claude pricing