Cursor rules are persistent instructions that shape how agents and completions behave in a project, while skills are packaged capabilities you invoke for repeatable tasks. Rules belong with coding standards, folder layout, and “always do X.” Skills shine when a workflow is reusable across chats. Neither replaces a paid model pool: Start in India still only gets Grok 4.6, Grok 4.5, and Composer 2.5. Keep rules short and skills focused so agents stay predictable.
What rules are good at
Rules tell Cursor how your codebase prefers to be edited: naming, test commands, WordPress theme paths, or “never commit .env.” They apply as standing context so Agent and Tab stay aligned without pasting the same paragraph every prompt.
Put durable constraints in rules. Put one-off experiment notes in the chat instead of polluting the rules file. Review rules in pull requests the same way you review eslint config, because bad rules ship to every agent session. Version skills beside the repo docs so new hires invoke the same playbooks without pasting tribal knowledge into chat.
What skills are good at
Skills capture a procedure you reuse: scaffolding a plugin, running a release checklist, or generating a PR summary in your house style. You call them when that job starts rather than leaving them always on.
If a skill grows into a novel every time, split it. Agents follow clearer, smaller packages with less contradiction. Version skills beside the repo docs so new hires invoke the same playbooks without pasting tribal knowledge into chat. Delete unused skills quarterly; stale playbooks cause agents to follow abandoned folder layouts.
Choosing in practice
- Always-on convention → rule.
- Repeatable workflow → skill.
- One-time bug chase → plain prompt.
Delete unused skills quarterly; stale playbooks cause agents to follow abandoned folder layouts. Review rules in pull requests the same way you review eslint config, because bad rules ship to every agent session. Version skills beside the repo docs so new hires invoke the same playbooks without pasting tribal knowledge into chat. Write the intended model pool and plan name into your notes before the session so you do not discover a Start exclusion mid-task. Keep git status clean before agent runs, and recheck Cursor pricing when your seat or model needs change.
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Frequently asked questions
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Can rules replace prompts entirely?
No. Rules set defaults; you still describe the task. Overlong rules fight the model. Keep them as constraints and let the prompt state the current goal and files involved. Store shared rules in git so every clone starts with the same agent constraints.
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Do skills work on the Start plan?
Skills and rules are product features layered on whatever models your plan allows. Start still limits you to Cursor Models without Fast mode. Skills do not unlock Claude or GPT on Start. Store shared rules in git so every clone starts with the same agent constraints.
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Should teams share one rules file?
Yes for shared conventions. Store them in the repo so every developeru2019s Cursor session sees the same constraints. Review changes like any other config that affects AI behavior. Store shared rules in git so every clone starts with the same agent constraints.
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Rules or skills for WordPress sites?
Use rules for theme/plugin structure and coding standards. Use a skill for repeatable jobs like u201cadd a CPT with REST fields.u201d Keep sensitive credentials out of both. Store shared rules in git so every clone starts with the same agent constraints.
Sources
Bdeb Technology builds websites, WordPress systems, and tools on top of models like these. A written quote comes back within 24 hours.