Cursor AI Review: Is It Worth Switching From VS Code?

I’ve used VS Code for years. It’s comfortable. When people said “try Cursor,” I thought: another tool I don’t need to learn.

Then I tried it for a side project. Two months later, it’s my default editor.

Here’s why.

What Cursor Actually Is

Cursor is VS Code with AI built deeper into the experience. Not an extension - the editor itself.

Key AI features:

• Chat about your codebase (cmd+L)
• Inline code editing (cmd+K)
• Codebase-wide understanding
• Multi-file changes in one action

The critical difference from Copilot: Cursor understands your entire project, not just the current file.

The Features That Actually Matter

Codebase Chat (cmd+L)

Open chat. Ask questions about your code. Get answers that reference your actual files.

Examples that work well:

• “How does authentication work in this project?”
• “Where is the user model defined?”
• “What’s calling this function?”
• “Explain what this middleware does”

This sounds simple but it’s transformative. Instead of grep-ing through files, I ask Cursor.

Real example: I inherited a codebase with 400+ files. Understanding how everything connected used to take days. With Cursor, I asked questions and got answers with file references in minutes.

Inline Edit (cmd+K)

Highlight code. Tell Cursor what to change. It rewrites.

Examples:

• “Add error handling to this function”
• “Convert this to async/await”
• “Add TypeScript types”
• “Refactor this to use hooks instead of class component”

This is faster than writing the changes myself for many tasks. Not all - sometimes I know exactly what I want and typing is faster than prompting.

Multi-File Edits

This is where Cursor really shines over Copilot.

“Add a new API endpoint for user preferences with model, route, and controller”

Cursor creates or modifies multiple files at once, understanding how they connect.

Copilot can suggest code in one file. Cursor coordinates across files.

@ Symbols for Context

You can reference specific files, docs, or code in your prompts:

“@user.py - add a method to check if user is premium” “Looking at @api/routes.js, add a new route for settings”

This precision makes outputs much more relevant.

What It’s Not Good At

Highly Complex Logic

For genuinely difficult algorithms or novel problems, AI suggestions are starting points, not solutions. Same as any AI coding tool.

Understanding Business Logic

AI understands code patterns. It doesn’t understand why your business does things a certain way. You still need to specify requirements clearly.

Replacing Thinking

If you don’t understand what you’re building, AI makes you faster at building the wrong thing. You still need to architect and design.

Cursor vs. VS Code + Copilot

I used Copilot for a year before Cursor. Here’s the honest comparison:

Where Cursor Wins:

• Codebase understanding (Copilot is file-local)
• Chat quality and relevance
• Multi-file changes
• Integration feels native, not bolted on

Where Copilot Wins:

• Autocomplete speed (Copilot’s inline suggestions are faster)
• Cheaper ($10/month vs $20/month)
• Works in your existing VS Code setup

The truth: Copilot autocomplete is marginally better. Everything else about Cursor is marginally to significantly better.

For me, the better chat and codebase understanding justify the extra $10/month.

The Actual Workflow Change

Before (VS Code + Copilot):

1. Think about what I need
2. Search through files manually
3. Start typing, use Copilot autocomplete
4. If stuck, switch to ChatGPT for help
5. Copy/paste suggestions
6. Continue coding

After (Cursor):

1. Think about what I need
2. Ask Cursor where relevant code lives
3. Ask Cursor to explain existing patterns
4. Start editing, use inline cmd+K for changes
5. Use chat for stuck points
6. Apply multi-file changes directly

The context switching to ChatGPT is gone. Everything happens in one tool.

Who Should Switch

Yes, Switch If:

• You code daily and AI assistance matters to you
• You work on larger codebases where understanding structure is hard
• You’re already paying for Copilot (upgrade is only $10 more)
• You’re comfortable with VS Code (Cursor is essentially the same editor)

Don’t Bother If:

• You code occasionally
• You’re happy with your current setup
• You work on small, simple projects
• Budget is tight (free VS Code + ChatGPT works)

Maybe:

• If you use a different editor (JetBrains, etc.) - the switch is bigger
• If you’re team-size and need organizational approval

The $20/Month Question

Is it worth it?

For me, yes. Cursor saves maybe 30-60 minutes per day of searching, context-switching, and routine coding. That’s worth way more than $20.

For occasional coders, probably not. Free tools are good enough.

The math: If your time is worth $50/hour and Cursor saves 30 minutes/day, that’s $25/day in value. $20/month is nothing.

Switching from VS Code

The good news: All your extensions work. All your settings transfer. It’s literally VS Code with AI integrated.

The transition: Maybe 30 minutes to set up and start using AI features. Maybe a few days to build new muscle memory (cmd+L, cmd+K).

Risk: Basically none. If you don’t like it, switch back to VS Code. Everything works the same.

Bottom Line

Cursor is the best AI coding experience I’ve used. The codebase understanding changes how I work with unfamiliar code. The inline editing is faster than typing for many changes.

It’s not revolutionary - it’s evolutionary. VS Code with better AI. But “better” compounds across hours of daily use.

If you code daily and AI assistance matters to you, try Cursor.

Rating: 8.5/10 - Best AI coding experience available. Worth the switch from VS Code. Worth the premium over Copilot for most professional developers.