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AI Tool Comparison

Continue vs Cursor

A side-by-side breakdown to help you pick the right tool for your workflow.

Continue logo

Continue

Plug any LLM into VS Code or JetBrains and swap models mid-conversation without leaving your editor. Acquired by Cursor in 2026, the project is winding down with a July 15, 2026 data export deadline.

Coding
free
Visit site Full review →
Cursor logo

Cursor

Code with an AI that understands your entire codebase — multi-file edits, autonomous agents, and frontier model access on demand. Pro+ and Ultra for teams that live in it.

Coding
freemium
Visit site Full review →

Bottom Line

Cursor edges ahead on rating (4.9 vs 4.5), but the right pick still comes down to which workflow you're running.

Choose Continue if…

Code Completion

Choose Cursor if…

Coding

AttributeContinueCursor
CategoryCodingCoding
Pricingfreefreemium
Pricing DetailFree (open source) — hosted plans discontinued post-acquisitionFree / $20/mo Pro / $60/mo Pro+ / $200/mo Ultra
Rating4.54.9

Key Features

Continue

  • Multi-model support
  • VS Code and JetBrains
  • Local LLM integration
  • Codebase indexing
  • Inline edit commands
  • Custom context providers

Cursor

  • Composer (multi-file editing)
  • Codebase-aware chat
  • Tab autocomplete
  • VS Code compatible
  • Agent mode

Pros

Continue

  • Fully open-source with active development
  • Works with local models for complete privacy
  • Supports JetBrains, unlike most AI coding tools

Cursor

  • Best-in-class multi-file editing
  • Understands entire repo context
  • Extremely fast completions
  • Active development and updates

Cons

Continue

  • Setup requires API key configuration
  • No built-in free model tier

Cursor

  • Privacy concerns for sensitive codebases
  • Can be expensive for teams
  • Occasional context errors on large repos

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