Continue
Cursor
| Feature | Continue | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free only | Free / from $20/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Best For | developers, open-source-advocates, privacy-focused-devs, self-hosters | developers, engineering-teams, startups, full-stack-developers |
| Founded | 2023 | 2023 |
| Autocomplete | ✓ | ✗ |
| Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Inline Editing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multi Model Support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Context Providers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Custom Commands | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Autocomplete | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multi File Editing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Codebase Chat | ✗ | ✓ |
| Composer | ✗ | ✓ |
| Terminal Commands | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom Models | ✗ | ✓ |
| Privacy Mode | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Continue Pros
- Fully open-source (Apache 2.0)
- Works with any LLM provider
- VS Code and JetBrains support
- Local model support
✗ Continue Cons
- Requires self-configuration of LLM
- Less polished than Copilot
- Setup can be complex for beginners
✓ Cursor Pros
- Understands entire codebase context
- Multi-file editing with Composer
- Tab autocomplete is fast and accurate
- Built on familiar VS Code interface
✗ Cursor Cons
- Expensive for individual developers
- Can produce incorrect code in complex repos
- Heavy resource usage on large projects
The Verdict
Continue is built for developers and open source advocates, with a focus on autocomplete and chat. Cursor targets developers and engineering teams and leads with ai-autocomplete and multi-file-editing.
Continue uses custom enterprise pricing, while Cursor starts at $20/mo — a tangible advantage for teams with a fixed budget.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Cursor edges out on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.3). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, Cursor offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Continue takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Both tools are a solid fit for developers — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
Bottom line: Cursor has a slight overall edge — but if fully open-source (apache 2.0) matters most to you, Continue may still be the right call.