Cursor vs GitHub Copilot
A full AI-native IDE vs a plugin for your existing editor. They're not even the same category, but everyone asks anyway.
Cursor
If you're willing to switch editors, Cursor is the better experience. The AI is more deeply integrated, the context awareness is superior, and Composer mode is genuinely useful. Copilot is fine if you're married to VS Code or JetBrains.
Different Beasts Entirely
Let's get this straight: Cursor is an IDE. Copilot is a plugin. Comparing them is like comparing a Tesla to a turbocharger kit.
Cursor is a VS Code fork with AI baked into every corner. Copilot is an extension that works in VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, and others.
That said, people want to know which one to use for AI-assisted coding. Fair enough.
Quick Comparison
| Factor | Cursor | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Full IDE (VS Code fork) | Plugin/Extension |
| Code Completion | Excellent | Excellent |
| Chat/Context | Codebase-aware | File-level mostly |
| Multi-file Edits | Composer mode | Copilot Chat (limited) |
| Editor Flexibility | Cursor only | VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, etc. |
| Price | $20/mo Pro | $10/mo Individual |
| Free Tier | 2000 completions/mo | Free for students/OSS |
| Model Choice | GPT-4, Claude, custom | GPT-4 only |
Why Cursor Wins
Cursor's killer feature is Composer. You describe what you want, and it creates or modifies multiple files at once. It understands your codebase, not just the file you're in.
The @-mention system lets you reference files, docs, or even URLs in your prompts. Ask it to "refactor the auth module to use the pattern in @auth-example.ts" and it actually does it.
"Copilot gives you code suggestions. Cursor gives you a pair programmer who's read your entire codebase."
Cursor also lets you choose your model. Want Claude for code? GPT-4 for explanations? Your own API key to save money? All possible.
Why Copilot Still Makes Sense
Not everyone can or wants to switch editors. If you're in a JetBrains shop, using Neovim, or your company mandates VS Code, Copilot works where you already are.
- Editor freedom: Use Copilot in IntelliJ, PyCharm, VS Code, Neovim, Emacs, whatever.
- Half the price: $10/month vs $20/month. For basic autocomplete, that matters.
- Enterprise features: Better compliance, SSO, audit logs if you're at a big company.
- GitHub integration: Works seamlessly with GitHub, obviously.
The Context Problem
Here's where Cursor really shines: it indexes your entire codebase. When you ask a question or request changes, it knows about your models, your utils, your patterns.
Copilot Chat is getting better, but it's still mostly file-level context. Ask it about something in a different directory and it often struggles.
For small projects, this doesn't matter much. For large codebases, it's the difference between useful and useless.
The Switching Cost
Cursor is a VS Code fork, so your extensions and settings transfer. But it's still a switch. Updates lag behind VS Code by a bit. Some extensions have quirks.
If you're deeply customized into your VS Code setup, expect a few hours of adjustment. If you're on JetBrains, you're looking at a full editor change. That's a bigger ask.
The Verdict
Use Cursor if: You want the best AI coding experience available and don't mind switching to a new (but familiar) editor. The extra $10/month is worth it for Composer alone.
Use Copilot if: You need to stay in JetBrains/Neovim, your company only allows Copilot, or you just want basic autocomplete at a lower price.
Use both if: You're a power user who wants Copilot in JetBrains for some projects and Cursor for others. Expensive but flexible.
Cursor is what AI coding should feel like. Better context, better multi-file edits, model flexibility. If you can switch editors, do it.