Which Cursor alternative works in VS Code?

GitHub Copilot, Cline, and Continue all work as native VS Code extensions, allowing you to stay in your existing editor. Unlike Cursor which requires switching to a separate IDE fork, these tools integrate directly into VS Code without any editor change. All three support the same VS Code keybindings and extensions you already use.

Do any alternatives match Cursor multi-file editing?

Cline offers autonomous multi-file editing where it can create, modify, and coordinate changes across multiple files independently. While different from Cursor Cmd+K interface, Cline achieves similar results through autonomous task completion. GitHub Copilot and Continue lack true multi-file editing capabilities currently.

Which alternative offers the best privacy?

Continue provides the strongest privacy as a completely local solution - your code never leaves your machine when using local models via Ollama or LM Studio. For cloud options, Cline with self-hosted models or Tabnine Enterprise with on-premise deployment offer next-best privacy. GitHub Copilot and Cursor both send code to external APIs.

Can I use the same AI models as Cursor?

Yes, Cline supports Claude Sonnet 3.5 (same as Cursor) via Anthropic API, plus GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, and local models. Continue supports all major models including Claude when using API keys. GitHub Copilot is limited to OpenAI models. Cline offers the most model flexibility, matching or exceeding Cursor choices.

Cursor Alternatives: Best 8 AI Coding Assistants Compared for 2026

GitHub Copilot, Cline, and Continue work as Cursor alternatives with different strengths. GitHub Copilot offers unlimited AI completions in VS Code at $10/month - half the cost of Cursor Pro. Cline provides autonomous coding with any AI model as a free VS Code extension. Continue delivers free local AI coding with privacy-first approach and works entirely offline.

Updated: 2025-11-09•15 min read

Detailed Tool Reviews

GitHub Copilot

★4.7

GitHub Copilot delivers unlimited AI code completions at $10/month - half the cost of Cursor Pro - while working in your existing VS Code, Visual Studio, or JetBrains IDE.

Key Features:

✓Unlimited code completions
✓Works in existing VS Code
✓Multi-line suggestions
✓Inline chat for code questions
✓Slash commands for tasks
✓Support for 10+ programming languages

Pricing:

Individual at $10/month, Business at $19/user/month

Pros:

+ 50% cheaper than Cursor ($10 vs $20/month)
+ Native VS Code extension - no IDE switch
+ Unlimited completions included
+ Strong ecosystem integration

Cons:

- No multi-file editing like Cursor
- Less advanced codebase awareness
- Limited to GPT-4 models
- No built-in terminal integration

Best For:

Developers who want affordable unlimited AI completions without switching from VS Code to a new IDE

Try GitHub Copilot →

Cline

★4.7

Cline is a free VS Code extension offering autonomous AI coding with support for any model including Claude Sonnet 3.5, GPT-4, and local models - providing maximum flexibility at minimal cost.

Key Features:

✓Free VS Code extension
✓Works with ANY AI model
✓Autonomous task completion
✓File creation and editing
✓Terminal command execution
✓Browser automation

Pricing:

Free extension + AI model costs (typically $5-15/month)

Pros:

+ Completely free extension
+ Model flexibility - switch between Claude, GPT-4, local
+ Autonomous coding capabilities
+ More cost-effective for light usage

Cons:

- Requires AI API key setup
- Pay-per-use for models
- Less polished than Cursor
- Steeper learning curve

Best For:

Developers who want model flexibility and autonomous coding capabilities while staying in VS Code without monthly subscriptions

Try Cline →

Continue

★4.6

Continue provides completely free AI coding assistance with local model support, offering privacy-first development that works entirely offline - the best free Cursor alternative.

Key Features:

✓100% free and open source
✓Local model support (Ollama, LM Studio)
✓Works offline with local AI
✓VS Code and JetBrains support
✓Tab autocomplete
✓Codebase indexing

Pricing:

Free and open source

Pros:

+ Completely free - no API costs
+ Works offline with local models
+ Full privacy - no data leaves machine
+ Active open source community

Cons:

- Requires local GPU for best performance
- Local models less capable than Claude/GPT-4
- Setup complexity for local deployment
- Limited cloud model integration

Best For:

Privacy-conscious developers and enterprises who want free AI coding without sending code to external APIs, especially those with sensitive codebases

Try Continue →

Frequently Asked Questions

Continue is completely free and open source with local AI model support, making it the cheapest option with zero ongoing costs. For cloud-based alternatives, GitHub Copilot at $10/month is 50% cheaper than Cursor Pro ($20/month) with unlimited completions. Cline as a free extension costs only AI API usage (typically $5-15/month for light use).

Choose Your Cursor Alternative

Choose GitHub Copilot at $10/month for unlimited AI completions at half the cost of Cursor while staying in VS Code. Choose Cline as a free extension for autonomous coding with flexibility to use any AI model including Claude Sonnet 3.5. Choose Continue for completely free, privacy-first AI coding with local models that work offline. For most developers prioritizing cost, GitHub Copilot offers the best value with unlimited completions. For those wanting model flexibility and autonomous capabilities, Cline excels. For privacy-conscious teams and enterprises with sensitive code, Continue local deployment is unmatched. All three alternatives let you stay in VS Code rather than switching to a new IDE.

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Tool Discovery

Cursor Alternatives: Best 8 AI Coding Assistants Compared for 2026

Detailed Tool Reviews

GitHub Copilot

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Cline

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Continue

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Frequently Asked Questions

Choose Your Cursor Alternative

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