Key takeaways
- AI-native VS Code fork trusted by half the Fortune 500 including NVIDIA (40K engineers) and Salesforce (20K)
- Pricing: Free tier, $60/month Pro, $40/user/month Teams — includes access to frontier models
- Jensen Huang: 'Every one of our engineers, some 40,000, are now assisted by AI'
- Features span the autonomy spectrum: Tab completion → targeted edits → full agentic coding
- Moving toward 'self-driving codebases' with multi-agent research and background agents
FAQ
What is Cursor?
An AI-native code editor (VS Code fork) with integrated coding agents, tab completion, and access to frontier models.
How much does Cursor cost?
Free tier available. Pro is $60/month. Teams is $40/user/month with shared usage pools.
Who uses Cursor?
NVIDIA (40K engineers), Salesforce (20K developers), and over half the Fortune 500.
How does Cursor compare to Devin?
Cursor is an IDE with AI features. Devin is a fully autonomous agent. Different use cases.
Does Cursor support multiple models?
Yes — OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, xAI (Grok), and Cursor's own models.
Executive Summary
Cursor is an AI-native code editor built by Anysphere, reportedly valued at $29 billion. As a VS Code fork with deeply integrated AI capabilities, it provides the full autonomy spectrum from tab completion to fully autonomous agents. With deployments at NVIDIA (40K engineers) and Salesforce (20K developers), Cursor has become the leading AI IDE for enterprise development.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | Anysphere |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Funding | $900M+ (Series C at $9B valuation, reportedly now $29B) |
| Employees | ~100 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, CA |
Product Overview
Cursor is an IDE with an "autonomy slider" — users control how much independence to give the AI:[1]
The product is a VS Code fork with deeply integrated AI capabilities — from tab completion to fully autonomous coding agents. Cursor has achieved remarkable enterprise adoption, trusted by over half the Fortune 500.[1]
The company recently acquired Graphite for code review capabilities, signaling expansion beyond just code generation.
Key Capabilities
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| Tab Completion | Unlimited AI-powered code predictions on paid plans |
| Cmd+K Edits | Targeted natural language edits inline |
| Agentic Mode | Fully autonomous agent that plans and executes |
| Cloud Agents | Background agents without IDE involvement |
| Multi-Model Access | OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, xAI, Cursor models |
Product Surfaces / Editions
| Surface | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Cursor IDE | Primary VS Code fork with all AI features | GA |
| Cloud Agents | Background execution without IDE | GA |
| Subagents | Decompose tasks across specialized agents | Preview |
Technical Architecture
Cursor is a VS Code fork, so developers get a familiar environment with added AI capabilities. The AI features are integrated at every level:
- Inline — Tab completion predicts next code
- Command — Cmd+K for targeted edits with natural language
- Chat — Conversational interface for complex questions
- Agent — Fully autonomous mode that plans and executes
Key Technical Details
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deployment | Desktop app (VS Code fork) + Cloud (agents) |
| Model(s) | OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, xAI, Cursor proprietary |
| Integrations | Slack, Linear, GitHub/GitLab, AWS Bedrock |
| Open Source | No (proprietary) |
Enterprise features include:
- AWS Bedrock integration for BYOK
- Analytics and AI code tracking APIs
- MDM distribution and centralized team billing
- Cursor Blame for tracking AI-generated code
Strengths
- Massive adoption — Fortune 500 customers including NVIDIA (40K) and Salesforce (20K)
- Familiar UX — VS Code fork means zero learning curve for most developers
- Full autonomy spectrum — From tab completion to full agents in one tool
- Model flexibility — Works with all major frontier models plus proprietary
- Enterprise features — Bedrock BYOK, analytics APIs, Cursor Blame compliance
- Proven results — Salesforce: 90% developer adoption, 85% legacy coverage improvement[2]
Cautions
- IDE lock-in — Must use Cursor's editor, not just a plugin
- Cursor model dependency — Some features require Cursor's proprietary models
- Price escalation risk — Usage-based pricing can surprise teams with overages
- Individual-focused — Core value is "make this developer faster" not workflow orchestration
- Competitive pressure — VS Code Copilot improving, Windsurf emerging as competitor
Pricing & Licensing
| Tier | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Hobby | Free | Limited model access, limited agent usage |
| Individual (Pro+) | $60/mo | All models, $70/mo included usage |
| Teams | $40/user/mo | Shared pool, team analytics, centralized billing |
| Enterprise | Custom | Invoice billing, conversation insights, Cursor Blame |
Licensing model: Subscription + usage credits (overages billed separately)
Hidden costs: Pro+ includes $70/mo usage; heavy agent use can exceed this quickly[3]
Competitive Positioning
Direct Competitors
| Competitor | Differentiation |
|---|---|
| GitHub Copilot | Copilot is a plugin; Cursor is a full IDE with more autonomy options |
| Windsurf | Direct competitor AI IDE; Cursor has broader enterprise adoption |
| Devin | Devin is fully autonomous; Cursor is IDE-first with optional autonomy |
| Roo Code | Roo is VS Code extension, open source; Cursor has more polish |
When to Choose Cursor Over Alternatives
- Choose Cursor when: You want the most capable AI IDE with enterprise features
- Choose Copilot when: You need to stay in VS Code and want Microsoft ecosystem integration
- Choose Devin when: You need fully autonomous agents working without human oversight
- Choose Windsurf when: You prefer alternative AI IDE with different UX philosophy
Ideal Customer Profile
Best fit:
- Individual developers wanting maximum AI-assisted productivity
- Teams standardizing on AI-assisted development with enterprise controls
- Organizations with VS Code familiarity wanting seamless AI integration
- Enterprises needing compliance features (Cursor Blame, AI code tracking)
Poor fit:
- Teams wanting agent orchestration across multiple workflows
- Organizations needing Jira/Bitbucket integrations
- Developers who refuse to switch from their current IDE
- Teams requiring fully autonomous agents without human involvement
Viability Assessment
| Factor | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Financial Health | Strong — $900M+ raised, $29B reported valuation |
| Market Position | Leader — dominant in AI IDE category |
| Innovation Pace | Rapid — self-driving codebases[4], Graphite acquisition |
| Community/Ecosystem | Active — large user base, enterprise partnerships [5][6] |
| Long-term Outlook | Positive — on track to become default developer tool |
The $29B valuation reflects expectations that Cursor becomes the default way developers write code. Strong enterprise traction and continuous innovation reduce viability concerns.
Bottom Line
Cursor has won the "AI IDE" category for now. The NVIDIA and Salesforce deployments are proof of enterprise-grade quality, and the product's autonomy slider — from tab completion to full agents — covers the entire spectrum of developer needs.
The Graphite acquisition signals expansion into code review and broader SDLC coverage.
Recommended for: Developers and teams wanting the most productive AI-native code editor with enterprise compliance features.
Not recommended for: Organizations wanting multi-agent orchestration across workflows, or teams requiring integrations with Jira/Bitbucket for SDLC automation.
Outlook: Cursor will expand beyond IDE into code review (Graphite) and broader SDLC. "Self-driving codebases" vision suggests movement toward more autonomous, multi-agent capabilities that could compete with orchestration platforms.
Research by Ry Walker Research • methodology