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Cursor vs JetBrains AI
Features, pricing, strengths and trade-offs — and which one fits your situation.
The verdict
Summary
Cursor is best for developers who want an AI-first code editor with tab completion and agents in one place, while JetBrains AI is best for developers using IntelliJ, PyCharm and other JetBrains IDEs who want AI built in. Cursor has a medium learning curve, compared with low for JetBrains AI. Both Cursor and JetBrains AI offer a free plan, so you can try each before paying.
Which should you choose?
Choose Cursor if…
- You need developers who want an AI-first code editor with tab completion and agents in one place
- You're one of: professional developers, startup engineering teams, vs code users wanting deeper ai features
- Familiar VS Code interface with extension support
Choose JetBrains AI if…
- You need developers using IntelliJ, PyCharm and other JetBrains IDEs who want AI built in
- You're one of: java and kotlin developers, python developers using pycharm, enterprise teams standardised on jetbrains
- You want something quicker to learn
- Uses JetBrains' code analysis and refactoring engine as context
At a glance
| Cursor | JetBrains AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Developers who want an AI-first code editor with tab completion and agents in one place | Developers using IntelliJ, PyCharm and other JetBrains IDEs who want AI built in |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | From $20/mo | From $10/mo |
| Learning curve | Medium | Low |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux, Web, iOS, Android | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Ideal for | Professional developers, Startup engineering teams, VS Code users wanting deeper AI features | Java and Kotlin developers, Python developers using PyCharm, Enterprise teams standardised on JetBrains |
Feature comparison
| Cursor | JetBrains AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | IDE | IDE extension + agent |
| Inline code completion | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-file agent | Yes | Yes |
| Builds full apps from prompts | Yes | Limited |
| Hosting / deploy included | No | No |
| Backend / database | No | No |
| GitHub integration | Yes | Limited |
| Choice of AI models | Yes | Yes |
| Export / own the code | Yes | Yes |
IncludedLimited / higher plansNot available— Not confirmed
Security & enterprise
| Cursor | JetBrains AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Business / enterprise plan | Yes | Yes |
| SSO (SAML / OIDC) | Teams & Enterprise | AI Enterprise |
| SCIM user provisioning | Enterprise plan | AI Enterprise |
| SOC 2 | Type II | Type II |
| ISO 27001 | Yes | — |
| HIPAA (BAA available) | — | — |
| GDPR DPA | Yes | Yes |
| Data residency options | — | — |
| No training on your data | Privacy Mode | Yes |
| Audit logs | Enterprise plan | AI Enterprise |
| Admin controls | Yes | AI Enterprise |
| Deployment | Cloud (desktop client) | Cloud, on-prem, air-gapped |
From each vendor's security documentation. "—" = not confirmed. What to ask vendors · Compare all tools
What each tool does
Cursor
Cursor is an AI code editor built on a fork of VS Code, combining predictive tab completion with an agent that makes multi-file changes and runs commands. It supports models from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google alongside its own Composer model, and adds cloud agents, a CLI, Bugbot pull request review and Slack and GitHub integrations. It is used by individual developers and engineering teams.
Key features- Tab completion that predicts multi-line edits
- Agent for multi-file changes with terminal access
- Cloud agents that run tasks in parallel
- Bugbot automated pull request review
- Choice of OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Cursor's Composer models
- CLI, Slack integration and scheduled automations
JetBrains AI
JetBrains AI covers the AI Assistant and the Junie coding agent inside JetBrains IDEs such as IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm and WebStorm. It offers cloud and local code completion using JetBrains' Mellum model, chat and next edit suggestions, and access to third-party agents such as Claude Agent, OpenAI Codex and Gemini CLI. Users can pick models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and xAI, bring their own API keys or run local models.
Key features- AI Assistant chat and next edit suggestions in JetBrains IDEs
- Junie coding agent for multi-step tasks
- Cloud and local code completion with the Mellum model
- Third-party agents via the Agent Client Protocol
- Model choice across OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and xAI
- Bring-your-own-key and local models via Ollama or LM Studio
Pricing
Cursor
Free Hobby plan; Pro $20/mo ($16/mo annual); Pro+ $60; Ultra $200
JetBrains AI
Free AI tier (3 credits/30 days); AI Pro $10/mo; AI Ultimate $30/mo; Enterprise $60/user/mo
Prices last checked September 2026. Plans change often — confirm on each vendor's site.
Pros and cons
Cursor
Strengths- Familiar VS Code interface with extension support
- Combines fast completion and agent work in one editor
- Wide model choice
- Has a free plan
- Usage-based credits can be consumed within days when using frontier models
- Billing changes in 2025 caused confusion and unexpected charges
- Heavy agent use pushes effective cost well above the base plan
- Requires switching editors for users of JetBrains or other IDEs
Not ideal for: Developers committed to JetBrains IDEs or non-developers who want hosting and a database handled for them should look elsewhere.
JetBrains AI
Strengths- Uses JetBrains' code analysis and refactoring engine as context
- Local completion and local model options for privacy
- Wide choice of models and agents
- Free tier included with JetBrains IDEs
- Only useful inside JetBrains IDEs
- Free tier credits are very limited
- Credit-based quotas on paid tiers can run out with heavy agent use
- Generally trails AI-first editors in how quickly new agent features ship
Not ideal for: Developers who use VS Code or other editors, or non-developers wanting a hosted app builder, should choose a different tool.
Integrations
Cursor
JetBrains AI
FAQ
What is the main difference between Cursor and JetBrains AI?
Cursor is built for developers who want an AI-first code editor with tab completion and agents in one place; JetBrains AI is built for developers using IntelliJ, PyCharm and other JetBrains IDEs who want AI built in.
Is Cursor or JetBrains AI cheaper?
Cursor starts from $20/mo and JetBrains AI starts from $10/mo (as of September 2026). On entry price, JetBrains AI is cheaper — but compare what each plan includes, since limits differ. Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site.
Do Cursor and JetBrains AI have free plans?
Both Cursor and JetBrains AI offer a free plan, so you can try each before paying.
Which is easier to use, Cursor or JetBrains AI?
JetBrains AI is generally quicker to learn (Cursor: medium, JetBrains AI: low learning curve).
What are good alternatives to Cursor and JetBrains AI?
Other coding & apps tools worth comparing include Lovable, Base44 and v0.
