I filled in the form on this site and asked which AI was the best fit for what I actually needed. I wanted more token usage than Claude's $20 subscription, and less than the $100 one — I wasn't even using half of that. I also wanted to be able to use several LLMs, not just one. The form pointed me to Cursor.
So I looked into what Cursor was good at. Three days ago I started using it.
Claude had won me over at the beginning of the year. Walking away from it has felt a lot like leaving a girlfriend you still love, for someone who might turn out to be even better. Who doesn't take a risk doesn't win.
Three days in
- The form pointed me to Cursor — more tokens than Claude at $20, less than Claude at $100, and several LLMs.
- Switching models is the real point. Four eyes see more than two. Four AIs see more than one.
- Grok and Composer get the generous usage. The other LLMs are quite limited. Still, something is something.
- I signed up for Cursor's $60 plan. Twenty dollars was too little. A hundred left more than half unused.
- Cursor's own IDE feels more developed than Visual Studio Code — better UX details, more polished, and it tells you where it got its sources. I haven't seen a single detail that's worse.
- My PC heats up more than with Claude Code, and Cursor is quite a bit slower at doing what I ask.
- There is no Android app. On a phone you have to open it in the browser, which is not as good — and there is still no date for when the app will arrive.
The Form Pointed Me to Cursor
I didn't arrive at this switch from a landing page. I arrived from our own form. I told it the constraints that actually mattered: more tokens than Claude at $20 a month, less than Claude at $100, and the option to use more than one model. Cursor came back as the suggestion. That was enough to make me look into its strengths — and then, three days ago, to start using it.
Leaving Claude Felt Like Leaving Someone I Still Loved
Claude got me at the start of 2026. I mean that. Cancelling a subscription is not a small thing when a tool has been that close. It felt like leaving a girlfriend I still care about a great deal, for one that might be even better. I'm doing it anyway. Who doesn't take a risk doesn't win.
Four AIs See More Than One
The option to choose between models is a very big deal. When what an LLM has just done doesn't look quite right, I can contrast it with another one. Four eyes see more than two — and in this case, four AIs see more than one.
What is also true: usage of other LLMs that aren't Grok or Composer is quite limited. Still, something is something.
The $60 Plan Fits How I Actually Use Tokens
Finding a plan that lets me match my LLM use to my real usage is what pushed me toward Cursor's $60 plan — and that's the one I subscribed to. Claude's $20 plan was far too small for me. The $100 plan left more than half unused. Sixty dollars sits in that gap.
Its Own IDE Is More Developed Than Visual Studio Code
There's another point that matters a lot. Cursor has its own IDE, and you can feel it: it's much more developed than Visual Studio Code. It tells you, for example, where it got its sources. The UX details are better. The whole thing is more polished. Three days in, I still haven't seen a single detail that's worse than Visual Studio Code.
It Heats Up My PC — and It's Slower Than Claude
Cursor asks more of my computer. It heats up much more than Claude Code ever did. It is also quite a bit slower at doing what I ask of it than Claude is.
There Is No Android App
Another real downside: there is no app for Android phones. You have to open Cursor in the mobile browser, and that is not as good. There is still no date for when that app will be available.
The Bottom Line
For the rest, I need more time with it before I can say how well the LLMs are actually working. There will be a second part with more on that, and I can't wait to tell you. Update, August 29: that second part is up — I went on holiday without the laptop.
FAQ
Why did you cancel Claude for Cursor?
I asked our form which AI fit my real needs: more tokens than Claude's $20 plan, less than the $100 one — I wasn't even using half of that — and the option to use several LLMs. It pointed me to Cursor. I looked into what Cursor was good at, and three days ago I started using it.
Why Cursor's $60 plan?
Claude's $20 plan was far too small for me, and the $100 plan left more than half unused. Cursor's $60 plan is the one that lets me match my LLM use to how I actually work. That's the plan I subscribed to.
What's the best thing about Cursor so far?
Being able to choose between models. When what an LLM has just done doesn't look quite right, I can contrast it with another one. Four AIs see more than one. Usage of other LLMs that aren't Grok or Composer is quite limited — but something is something. The other big one: Cursor's own IDE feels much more developed than Visual Studio Code.
Is Cursor's IDE better than Visual Studio Code?
From what I've seen in three days, yes. It tells you where it got its sources, the UX details are better, and it's more polished in general. I haven't seen a single detail that's worse than Visual Studio Code.
What's worse than Claude so far?
Cursor asks more of my PC — it heats up much more than Claude Code — and it is quite a bit slower at doing what I ask of it than Claude is. There is also no Android app, so on a phone you have to use the browser, which is not as good, and there is still no date for when that app will arrive.
Is there a Cursor app for Android?
No. You have to open it in the mobile browser, which is not as good. There is still no date for when the Android app will be available.
Is this your final verdict on Cursor?
No. Three days was not enough. The second part is up: nine days in, I still prefer Cursor, and I took a holiday without the laptop.