Cursor vs. Claude Code (Mid-2025): The Brutal, Honest Truth

Summary

In this video, the creator compares two AI-powered coding tools: Cursor and Cloud Code. The analysis covers various aspects such as cost, ease of use, results, and future potential. Cursor is praised for its user-friendly interface and ease of use, making it ideal for beginners. However, Cloud Code excels in delivering faster, more context-aware results due to its superior LLM and advanced features. Despite Cursor being a good starting point, Cloud Code is recommended for long-term growth due to its better scalability and efficiency. The final verdict favors Cloud Code for its value and future potential.

Takeaways

• 😀 **Cost Comparison**: Cursor offers a $20 monthly plan with credits, but it limits how much you can do with complex tasks. Cloud Code uses a token-based system that is more flexible for larger or ongoing projects, with around 4.4 million tokens per month at an estimated $44 cost.
• 😀 **Cursor’s Credit System**: The credit-based system in Cursor charges users per task, especially for complex queries. This can quickly deplete credits, making it less ideal for users working on ongoing projects.
• 😀 **Cloud Code’s Token System**: Cloud Code's token system provides a certain number of tokens within a 5-hour window, allowing for larger-scale and repeated usage compared to Cursor’s credit-based plan.
• 😀 **Ease of Use**: Cursor is much more beginner-friendly, with a text editor interface, drag-and-drop support, and visible chat history. In contrast, Cloud Code uses a terminal-style interface, which is harder for non-technical users to master.
• 😀 **Learning Curve**: While Cursor is easier to get started with, Cloud Code’s interface and interaction method require a bit of time to get used to, but it eventually feels more natural for power users.
• 😀 **User Interface**: Cursor’s interface allows for easier navigation, with a chat history feature that tracks every action. Cloud Code's interface requires manual commands and doesn’t present history as clearly, making it less intuitive.
• 😀 **Code Understanding and Speed**: Cloud Code outperforms Cursor in understanding and generating code, particularly due to its integration with Claude for faster and more accurate responses. Cloud Code has a better grasp of context within a project.
• 😀 **Restore Checkpoints in Cursor**: Cursor offers a unique restore checkpoint feature that allows you to revert to previous project versions, which is a valuable tool for developers looking to quickly correct mistakes or change code.
• 😀 **Future Potential**: Cloud Code is likely the better tool to learn for future-proofing your coding skills. It is backed by Anthropic’s powerful LLM and is poised for continuous improvement, offering long-term value.
• 😀 **Annual Plans**: Although both tools offer annual plans with slight savings (Cloud Code at $17/month and Cursor at $16/month), it’s not recommended to commit long-term as the rapidly evolving AI market could quickly change the landscape.
• 😀 **Final Recommendation**: For beginners or small projects, Cursor is a good starting point. However, for advanced developers or long-term learning, Cloud Code is the better investment, offering superior context understanding, speed, and future growth potential.

Q & A

What is the main difference between Cursor's and Cloud Code's pricing models?

Cursor uses a credit-based system, where each credit corresponds to a task, and complex tasks consume more credits. Cloud Code uses a token-based system, offering a fixed number of tokens within a specific time window, making it more predictable for ongoing projects.

Why does the credit system in Cursor pose a disadvantage for ongoing projects?

In Cursor, complex tasks consume a full credit, which can be inefficient for developers working on ongoing projects. If you're just asking simple queries or recalling code structure, you end up spending credits unnecessarily.

How does the cost of Cloud Code compare to Cursor's pricing?

Cloud Code's pricing is based on a token system, which can cost around $44 per month when using the API. This is more predictable than Cursor's credit-based system. For a $20 plan, Cursor provides half the amount of tokens compared to Cloud Code's Pro plan.

Which platform offers a better user interface for beginners?

Cursor offers a more intuitive, user-friendly interface with a traditional text editor, making it ideal for beginners. Cloud Code, on the other hand, uses a terminal-based interface, which may be more difficult for non-technical users.

What feature of Cursor is highly praised for project management?

The 'restore checkpoint' feature in Cursor is highly praised, allowing users to revert to a previous version of a project if they're not satisfied with the generated code. This feature helps ensure flexibility in the development process.

How does Cloud Code outperform Cursor in handling complex tasks?

Cloud Code leverages Claude's LLM, which gives it a deeper understanding of codebases and faster, more accurate code generation. It also benefits from superior context management, making it more effective for large-scale and complex projects.

What is the main challenge for users new to Cloud Code?

The main challenge for new users is the terminal-based interface, which can be intimidating for those unfamiliar with command-line environments. However, once learned, it becomes a simple and efficient way to interact with the platform.

How do the results of Cursor and Cloud Code compare in terms of efficiency?

Cloud Code provides more efficient results in code generation due to its deep integration with Claude's LLM. It understands the context of a project better and generates code faster than Cursor, which relies on external LLMs.

What is the recommendation for users deciding between Cursor and Cloud Code?

For beginners or those working on smaller projects, Cursor is a great starting point. However, for those looking to handle larger, more complex projects and who want better results in the long run, Cloud Code is the better choice.

Which platform has better long-term viability for developers?

Cloud Code is backed by Anthropic, known for building advanced models for code generation. Its long-term viability seems strong due to its evolving capabilities. Cursor, while still effective, may not keep up with future advancements as well as Cloud Code.