Tabnine is a general-purpose AI code completion tool that works across 30+ IDEs with both cloud and local deployment options, while Cursor is a specialized IDE built from VSCode that integrates AI-assisted editing directly into the editor with real-time code understanding.
Tabnine vs Cursor — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Tabnine if you need flexibility across multiple IDEs, prefer on-premise deployment options, or work in environments with strict data privacy requirements. Choose Cursor if you want the deepest AI integration within a single IDE, need larger context windows for complex codebases, and prefer a more seamless, AI-first development experience with state-of-the-art language models like Claude 3.5 Sonnet.
AI code completion plugin supporting 30+ IDEs with deployment flexibility and proprietary models.
AI-first IDE forked from VS Code with integrated Claude and GPT-4 coding
Structured comparison data for Tabnine vs Cursor with 154 attributes.
Primary AI Model Quality (MMBENCH score)
Tabnine vs Cursor — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Tabnine vs Cursor.
Yes, Tabnine works as a plugin/extension in 30+ IDEs including VSCode, all JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm), Visual Studio, Sublime Text, Vim, Neovim, and Emacs. This makes it ideal if you don't want to switch editors. Cursor, by contrast, requires using its VSCode-based IDE.
What's the difference in context window and why does it matter?
Tabnine's Pro plan maxes out at 30,000 tokens while Cursor provides 200,000 tokens. A larger context window means the AI can see and understand more of your codebase at once—critical for refactoring large projects, understanding architecture across files, or working with monorepos. Cursor's 200k window enables it to analyze entire large codebases in one request.
Which is better for security and privacy?
Tabnine offers stronger privacy options: it supports on-premise deployment, private local models, and can run entirely offline in air-gapped environments. Cursor is cloud-only by default (though Pro tier includes local mode). If data residency or avoiding cloud transmission is critical, Tabnine is the clear choice.
Cursor's free tier is more generous: you get 50 monthly uses of Claude 3.5 Sonnet and 200 uses of GPT-4o. Tabnine's free tier offers only basic completions with its proprietary model. This makes Cursor significantly better for trying before committing financially.
Can I use Cursor with my favorite IDE (PyCharm, Visual Studio, etc.)?
No, Cursor is a standalone IDE based on VSCode. It doesn't work as a plugin in other editors like JetBrains IDEs or Visual Studio. If you're committed to another IDE, Tabnine is the only viable option.