Cursor is a fork of VS Code, so the layout, folders, and many extensions feel familiar, while AI features like Tab, Agent, and Composer ship in the product. Your files stay on disk; Cursor does not move the project into a remote-only vault for normal local work. You do not have to uninstall VS Code. Many developers keep both: VS Code for stock workflows, Cursor when they want agent edits. Pricing is separate—Hobby, Start in India at ₹649, then Pro and up.
What stays the same
Opening a folder, the sidebar, the terminal, and git workflows feel close to VS Code because Cursor builds on that codebase. Extensions may work, though AI-centric features are Cursor’s own. Local files are still local files on disk.
If your muscle memory is VS Code keybindings and multi-root workspaces, the learning curve is mostly around Agent, Composer, rules, and model selection—not reinventing how you open a repo. Export the handful of keybindings you actually use instead of trying to clone an entire VS Code profile on day one.
What Cursor adds
Cursor layers Tab completions, Agent, Composer, Cloud Agents on paid plans, Bugbot, and plan-gated model pools. Start in India limits you to Cursor Models; Pro ($20/mo before tax) and higher include Other Models as well. Paid plans also list unlimited Tab, extended agent limits, Bugbot, and Cloud Agents.
Plain VS Code has none of that built-in; you add Copilot or other extensions if you want AI there instead. If a critical extension fails in Cursor, keep VS Code for that repo until you find a replacement workflow.
When to keep both installed
- Keep VS Code for extension-critical or policy-locked setups.
- Use Cursor for agent refactors and multi-file edits.
- Drop one only after a month of real usage data.
Document which app opens which monorepo so teammates stop editing the same branch in two editors by accident. Export the handful of keybindings you actually use instead of trying to clone an entire VS Code profile on day one. If a critical extension fails in Cursor, keep VS Code for that repo until you find a replacement workflow.
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Frequently asked questions
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Will Cursor mess up my local git repo?
No. Files stay on disk like VS Code. Cursor edits the same working tree. Use normal git status and commits; treat AI edits like any other local change you review before pushing. Keep a short migration note for your future self listing extensions that still need VS Code.
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Do I lose VS Code settings?
Cursor is a separate app. You can import or recreate settings, but it is not a silent swap of your existing VS Code profile. Plan a short setup pass for themes, formatters, and extensions you rely on. Keep a short migration note for your future self listing extensions that still need VS Code.
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Is Cursor free like VS Code?
VS Code is free. Cursor offers a free Hobby tier plus paid plans; India also has Start at u20b9649/month tax inclusive. Student discounts exist but must be verified on Cursoru2019s site. Recheck live pricing. Keep a short migration note for your future self listing extensions that still need VS Code.
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Can my team standardize on Cursor?
Yes if everyone accepts the fork and billing. Teams using third-party models pay API price plus a Cursor Token Rate of $0.25 per million tokens; Cursoru2019s own models are exempt. Confirm with finance before a rollout. Keep a short migration note for your future self listing extensions that still need VS Code.
Sources
Bdeb Technology builds websites, WordPress systems, and tools on top of models like these. A written quote comes back within 24 hours.