Cursor is a paid AI code editor with a monthly or annual subscription

Cursor is a code editor built on top of Visual Studio Code that adds AI features for writing, editing, and debugging code. It costs money to use beyond a free tier — you pay either monthly or annually, and the price depends on which plan you choose. The subscription covers access to AI models (Claude, GPT-4, and others), the ability to use those models within the editor, and priority support.

Cursor is not free housing assistance, emergency rental help, or a government program. It is a software tool for developers. If you arrived here looking for housing-related help, use the navigation menu to find the right section for your situation.

Key Takeaways

  • Cursor offers a free tier that includes limited AI requests per month, so you can test it before paying anything.
  • The Pro plan costs a fixed monthly amount and includes a higher monthly allowance of AI requests, with the option to pay per additional request after that.
  • The Business plan is for teams and includes features like shared workspaces, team management, and centralized billing.
  • You can switch between plans or cancel at any time, and you are only charged for the months you use.
  • Annual plans cost less per month than month-to-month plans, but you do not receive refunds if you cancel before the year ends.

Free tier versus paid plans

Cursor's free tier gives you access to the editor and a set number of AI requests each month. The exact number of included requests varies depending on which AI model you use — Claude requests and GPT-4 requests have separate limits. If you stay within those limits, you pay nothing and can use all features without restriction.

Once you hit the monthly limit on the free tier, you stop being able to use AI features until the next month resets, unless you upgrade to a paid plan. You can still use Cursor as a regular code editor without AI assistance, but the AI tools are blocked. This makes the free tier useful for testing whether Cursor fits your workflow before you commit to paying.

Pro plan pricing and what it includes

The Pro plan is the most common paid option for individual developers. It costs a set amount per month (the exact price is listed on Cursor's pricing page and may change over time). With Pro, you get a much higher monthly allowance of AI requests — again, separate limits for different models — plus the ability to pay per request once you exceed that monthly allowance. This means you are not blocked from using AI if you run out of your monthly budget; you can keep working and pay extra for additional requests.

Pro also includes priority support, meaning your questions to Cursor's support team are answered faster than free tier users receive. You can pay month-to-month or commit to an annual plan, which usually costs less per month than paying monthly. The annual option requires you to pay for 12 months upfront, but the per-month cost is lower than if you paid monthly for the same 12 months.

Business plan for teams

If you work as part of a development team, the Business plan lets multiple people use Cursor under one account with centralized billing. It includes higher request limits than Pro, team management features that let you control who has access and what they can do, and dedicated support from Cursor's team. Pricing for Business plans is custom — you contact Cursor's sales team to get a quote based on your team size and needs.

The Business plan is designed for organizations where multiple developers need to use Cursor and a single administrator wants to manage billing and permissions from one place. This is different from each team member buying their own Pro plan, which would mean separate billing and no shared management tools.

How billing works and what happens if you cancel

Cursor charges your credit card or payment method on a recurring schedule — either the same day each month (for monthly plans) or the same day each year (for annual plans). You can view your billing history and update your payment method in your account settings at any time. Charges appear on your statement under Cursor's name.

If you cancel your subscription, your access to paid features stops at the end of your current billing period. You are not charged again after cancellation. If you cancel mid-month or mid-year, Cursor does not refund the unused portion — you keep access until the period ends, then it stops. This is why annual plans carry more risk: if you cancel after three months of a 12-month plan, you lose the remaining nine months of payment.

Switching plans or upgrading

You can change from the free tier to Pro, from Pro to Business, or downgrade from Pro back to free at any time through your account settings. If you upgrade mid-month, you are charged a prorated amount for the remainder of that month, then charged the full plan price on your next billing date. Prorated means you only pay for the days you actually have the new plan active.

If you downgrade, the change takes effect immediately, and you lose access to paid features right away. For example, if you downgrade from Pro to free mid-month, your AI request allowance drops to the free tier limit as soon as the change processes. You do not receive a refund for the unused portion of your Pro plan that month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Cursor for free indefinitely?

Yes, the free tier has no expiration date. You get a set number of AI requests each month, and once you use them up, AI features are blocked until the next month. You can still use Cursor as a regular code editor without AI assistance.

What happens if I run out of requests on the Pro plan?

Once you exceed your monthly allowance on Pro, you can pay per additional request. The cost per request is shown in your account, and you can set spending limits so you do not accidentally run up a large bill beyond what you are comfortable with.

Is there a contract or long-term commitment?

No contract exists for month-to-month plans. Annual plans lock you in for 12 months, but you can still cancel — you just do not get a refund for unused time.

Do I get a refund if I cancel mid-month?

No. Cursor does not refund unused portions of your billing period. Your access continues until the end of the month or year you paid for, then stops.

Can I switch from monthly to annual billing?

Yes. You can change your billing frequency through your account settings. If you switch from monthly to annual mid-month, you are charged a prorated amount to cover the remainder of the current month, then the full annual price for the next 12 months.