The agent that codes for you
You describe the task. The agent reads the files, proposes and applies the changes, runs commands, searches the web, and can test the app in a built-in browser.
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Cursor pricing, use cases, and first steps
Cursor is software for writing programs, with a built-in agent. You open a project folder, describe what you want, and the agent reads the files, edits the code, runs commands, and tests the result. You review its changes before keeping them.
Cursor has a free plan. Prices checked on October 5, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
CursorThe code editor where agents build for you- Vendor
- Anysphere (United States)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Page checked on
- October 5, 2026
What Cursor does
Who it’s for: developers, and technically comfortable people who maintain scripts or internal tools. If you don’t read code at all, start with Lovable.
A plan before touching the code
In “Plan Mode,” the agent studies the project, asks you questions, and writes a detailed plan. It waits for your approval before writing a single line.
Go back
Before each significant change, Cursor saves the state of the files. You can look at a past state and return to it. The conversation itself is kept.
Also
- Point at what needs to change
- Agents that work in the cloud
- Ask for a fix from Slack
- Bugbot: automatic code review
- Grok Bot: always-on assistants
Cursor pricing
Cursor publishes its prices in dollars and does not publish the exact amount of usage included in each plan. Its documentation writes “Pro Plus” for the plan the pricing page calls “Pro+”; the Teams plan has two tiers, “Standard” ($40) and “Premium” ($120). In the iPhone app, the French listing shows Pro at €29.99, Pro+ at €89.99, and Ultra at €299.99: compare with the website price before you subscribe.
| Plan | Price | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Hobby | $0 | Trying the editor and the agent |
| Pro | $20 per month | Regular use, solo |
| Pro+ | $60 per month | Sustained daily use |
| Ultra | $200 per month | Heavy use, several agents at once |
| Teams | $40 per user per month | Development teams |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Large organizations |
What the free plan includes
The “Hobby” plan is free and requires no credit card. It gives a limited number of agent requests. Cloud agents, Slack, and the iPhone app require a paid plan.
Nova’s advice
If you don’t read code, don’t pay for anything: Cursor is not the tool you need, look at Lovable instead. If you code a little, try “Hobby,” then move to Pro at $20 when you hit the limits. For your company’s code, ask for the Teams plan: privacy mode is on by default there.
A first try, in 10 minutes
Your data. Without “Privacy Mode,” your code and your requests may be stored and used to train Cursor’s models. With it, your code is never used for training.
What it does less well
- This is a developer tool. The agent can change files and run commands on your computer: if you can’t review what it does, you are taking a real risk.
- The cost is hard to predict. Included usage is not quantified, and cloud agents are billed by usage on top of the subscription. Set a spending limit.
Have a project explained to you, then ask for a small improvementCursor- Open an existing project folder in Cursor. If you don’t have one, ask a developer coworker for a copy of a small internal tool.
- Open the agent with ⌘ + I (Mac) or Ctrl + I (Windows), paste the prompt below, and send it.
- Read the summary: the agent went through the files and tells you where to start.
- Then ask: “Suggest three small, low-risk improvements. Explain the trade-offs and wait for me to choose.”
- Pick one. Review the changes in the diff view: you see what was added and what was removed.
- If you are not happy with the result, click “Restore Checkpoint” to put the files back in their previous state.
The prompt to copy
Explain this project to me in plain English. Tell me what it is for, what the main files are, and what I should read before changing anything. Don’t change anything for now.
Jobs that use Cursor
In the starter kit for one job.
Alternatives to Cursor
Lovable
If you don’t code: you describe, and the app gets built and published.
Claude Code
Anthropic’s coding agent, in the terminal or in the Claude app.
Codex
OpenAI’s coding agent, built into ChatGPT.
Replit
To build and host in the same place, with nothing to install.
Frequently asked questions about Cursor
How much does Cursor cost?
Hobby: $0; Pro: $20 per month; Pro+: $60 per month; Ultra: $200 per month; Teams: $40 per user per month. Prices checked on October 5, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
Can you use Cursor for free?
Yes. The “Hobby” plan is free and requires no credit card. It gives a limited number of agent requests. Cloud agents, Slack, and the iPhone app require a paid plan.
What happens to my data with Cursor?
Without “Privacy Mode,” your code and your requests may be stored and used to train Cursor’s models. With it, your code is never used for training.
What are the alternatives to Cursor?
Lovable: If you don’t code: you describe, and the app gets built and published. Claude Code: Anthropic’s coding agent, in the terminal or in the Claude app. Codex: OpenAI’s coding agent, built into ChatGPT. Replit: To build and host in the same place, with nothing to install.
Official pages consulted
Page checked on October 5, 2026. Brands are named to identify the tools. No affiliation.