Visual Studio Code vs Cursor: my take on AI coding

My favorite feature in Cursor is Plan Mode. When it comes to the usability of working with Codex and ChatGPT in my IDE workflow, I still prefer Visual Studio Code.

Both are quite comparable. They share a foundation, and each can be a comfortable place to build with AI. The choice comes down to the experience you prefer while doing the work.

Cursor comes from Visual Studio Code

Cursor is a fork of the open-source Visual Studio Code codebase. A fork starts with an existing software project and develops it into a separate product. Cursor has its own AI features, interface decisions, and release cycle.

That shared foundation helps explain why moving between the two feels familiar: you will recognize the editor layout, file explorer, terminal, and many of the editing conventions. Cursor’s roots in VS Code are described in its security documentation.

A shared starting point also leaves room for differences. Check the extensions and integrations you rely on in the version you intend to use; support and behavior can vary between the editors.

Why Cursor’s Plan Mode is my favorite feature

I like being able to work through a change before the agent starts building it. Cursor’s Plan Mode makes that planning step easy to bring into the conversation.

According to Cursor’s Plan Mode documentation, the agent can investigate the project, ask questions, and produce an implementation plan for you to review and edit before building.

For me, that is a useful interaction: first understand what we are trying to do, then agree on the approach, then start making changes. It gives me a place to sharpen an idea while the scope is still easy to change.

I would try it when a feature touches several files, when there are a few possible approaches, or when the original request is still fuzzy. For a small, clear edit, a detailed plan may add little.

Why I still prefer VS Code for Codex and ChatGPT

For the day-to-day usability of my Codex and ChatGPT workflow in the IDE, I still prefer Visual Studio Code. It feels more comfortable to me. That is the preference I would share with someone asking how I choose between these tools.

Codex is available in both editors. OpenAI’s IDE documentation lists VS Code and Cursor as supported places to use the Codex extension. You can compare the editor experience while keeping Codex as part of the setup.

It helps to separate the names: VS Code and Cursor are editors; Codex is a coding agent you can use in supported editors; ChatGPT is another part of my OpenAI workflow. When I say I prefer VS Code here, I am talking about how that working setup feels to use.

VS Code and Cursor side by side

These are different criteria. I can prefer a feature in Cursor and still prefer VS Code for the way I usually work.

Compare them with one small project

If you are deciding between them, use a task you actually need to finish. A website update is a useful example because you can inspect the result in a browser.

1. Start from the same project state. Use separate branches or copies so one test does not inherit the other’s changes.
2. Give both the same brief. Specify the outcome and the constraints. Use the same agent and model where available if you want to focus on the editor experience.
3. Ask for a plan first. Check whether the plan understands your request and whether reviewing it feels natural.
4. Make one bounded change. Review the edits, run the project’s existing checks, and inspect the result.
5. Compare the experience. How easy was it to provide context, adjust the plan, review the changes, and get to a result you were happy with?

I want to add a search filter to this page.

First, inspect how the existing page works.
Propose a plan covering the files to change, the user experience,
and how we will check the result.

Ask about anything that would materially change the approach.
Wait for me to review the plan before changing files.

Watch how the full workflow feels, including the time you spend correcting or reviewing the output. That will tell you more about your preference than a feature checklist alone.

My recommendation

Cursor’s Plan Mode is worth trying. VS Code remains my preference for my Codex and ChatGPT workflow. The editors are close enough that your own experience with a real task should guide the decision.

Explore the individual guides for Visual Studio Code, Cursor, and Codex. To put the comparison to work, try building a website with Codex and Cloudflare.

Product documentation checked on 21 October 2026. My usability preferences are personal; features and controls change as the products develop.