Continue vs Cursor
Two of the most-asked-about agents in the coding space. Here's how they actually stack up.
Continue
Open-source AI code assistant that lets you bring any model and configure everything
Free
Read full review →Cursor
AI-first code editor built on top of VS Code
Free + $20/mo
Read full review →Side-by-side comparison
| Continue | Cursor | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Open-source AI code assistant that lets you bring any model and configure everything | AI-first code editor built on top of VS Code |
| Pricing | Free | Free + $20/mo |
| Categories | coding, vscode-extension, jetbrains, open-source | coding, ide |
| Made by | Continue | Anysphere |
| Launched | 2023-08 | 2023-03 |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Status | active | active |
Continue highlights
- + Bring your own model from any provider or run locally via Ollama
- + Chat, edit, autocomplete, and agent modes in VS Code and JetBrains
- + JSON and YAML config files for full control over every behavior
- + Continue Hub for sharing and discovering assistant configurations
- + Custom slash commands and context providers for any workflow
Cursor highlights
- + Inline AI completions with project-wide context
- + Composer mode for multi-file edits from a single prompt
- + Agent mode for autonomous task execution
- + Tab completion that learns your patterns
- + Built-in chat with codebase indexing
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Continue or Cursor?
Neither is universally better. Continue (Free) leans into coding, while Cursor (Free + $20/mo) is closer to coding. Pick based on which workflow you actually do every day.
What is the price difference between Continue and Cursor?
Continue is free. Cursor is free + $20/mo. See the pricing row in the comparison table.
Can I use Continue and Cursor together?
In most cases, yes. They serve overlapping but distinct needs, so running them side by side is common until you decide which fits your workflow.