Tabnine is a general-purpose AI code completion tool available across multiple editors, while Cursor is a dedicated IDE built on VSCode that integrates AI assistance natively with advanced features like AI-powered refactoring and debugging. Cursor offers deeper IDE integration but requires switching editors, whereas Tabnine works as a plugin in your existing setup.
Tabnine vs Cursor — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Tabnine if you want lightweight, multi-editor flexibility with unlimited free completions and prefer integrating AI into your existing development environment. Choose Cursor if you're willing to switch to a new IDE for superior code understanding, native debugging assistance, and a more cohesive AI-first development experience with deeper context awareness.
AI code completion plugin supporting 25+ editors and IDEs with local and cloud options.
AI-native code editor IDE built on VS Code with Claude integration and agentic features.
Structured comparison data for Tabnine vs Cursor with 231 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.
Which tool is better for beginners learning to code?
Tabnine is better for beginners because of its unlimited free tier with no request limits, allowing you to learn without hitting quotas. However, Cursor's superior accuracy (84% vs 72%) means fewer incorrect suggestions, which actually improves learning quality. Start with Tabnine free tier, then upgrade to Cursor if you want higher accuracy and debugging help.
Can I use Tabnine in JetBrains IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA and PyCharm?
Yes, Tabnine supports JetBrains IDEs including IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, GoLand, and RubyMine. Cursor does not support JetBrains IDEs at all (VSCode-only). This makes Tabnine essential for JetBrains users.
Does Cursor offer local/on-device processing like Tabnine?
No, Cursor processes all code through Claude API in the cloud. Tabnine offers a local-only mode where code never leaves your machine, making it better for organizations with strict data security requirements. However, Cursor's cloud processing enables its superior 128,000 token context window.
What's the total cost difference over one year of active development?
Tabnine Pro: $144/year ($12/month). Cursor Pro: $240/year ($20/month). Difference: $96/year in Tabnine's favor. However, Cursor includes debugging and refactoring features (estimated at $5-10/month value separately), reducing the effective difference to $46-96/year depending on how much you value those features.
Which tool has better support for React, TypeScript, and Python?
Both tools support all three languages well. Cursor has higher accuracy across these languages (84% HumanEval vs Tabnine's 72%), resulting in better code suggestions. Tabnine matches in language coverage but with lower precision. For React specifically, Cursor's larger context window (128k tokens) is advantageous for understanding component hierarchies.