AI coding · replacement recipe

AI code editor

Replaces Cursor. 4 ways out. Best: Cursor (free tier) (cheaper plan), about $228 saved in year one.

Modeled, not measured. Savings use public prices and planning assumptions: the bill you stop paying, minus the new tool, your upkeep time and your setup time at $50/hour, over the first 12 months. No verified migrations yet. Check the must-haves in each recipe before you switch.

What you use

  • AI agent in editor
  • Tab autocomplete
  • Chat with codebase

Not covered

  • Frontier model choice
  • Cloud/background agents
  • CLI agent
  • Code review bot
  • MCP, rules and skills

Check before switching

  • You only rely on: AI agent in editor, Tab autocomplete, Chat with codebase
  • Export your data from Cursor before canceling

Agents: get_recipe("replace-cursor") on the Stackcut MCP server.

4 ways out, best first

Cheaper planCursor (free tier)Saves $228 in year one
$20/mo today → $0/mo · setup 0.25 h · then $240/yr · payback 0.6 mo
1 seat. If your use fits the free tier (Hobby: limited Agent requests and Tab completions).
Covers 67% of the core features (not: Chat with codebase)
Hobby tier is free with limited Agent requests and Tab completions.
Sources: cursor.com
Switch vendorGitHub CopilotSaves $70 in year one
$20/mo today → $10/mo · setup 1 h · then $120/yr · payback 5 mo
1 seat. Copilot Pro is $10/mo vs Cursor Pro $20, with agent mode, CLI and code review; works in VS Code/JetBrains.
Covers 100% of the core features
Copilot Pro is $10/mo vs Cursor Pro $20, with agent mode, CLI and code review; works in VS Code/JetBrains.
Sources: cursor.comgithub.com
Open sourceClineCosts $1,220 more in year one
$20/mo today → $5/mo + 2 h upkeep · setup 4 h
1 seat. Free open-source agent in VS Code; pay only for model tokens with your own key. No tab autocomplete.
Covers 67% of the core features (not: Tab autocomplete)
Free open-source agent in VS Code; pay only for model tokens with your own key. No tab autocomplete.
License: open_source
Sources: cursor.comcline.bot
Open sourceAiderCosts $1,220 more in year one
$20/mo today → $5/mo + 2 h upkeep · setup 4 h
1 seat. Free terminal coding agent with any model; pay only API usage.
Covers 67% of the core features (not: Tab autocomplete)
Free terminal coding agent with any model; pay only API usage.
License: open_source
Sources: cursor.comaider.chat

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