⚡ TL;DR — 30-Second Verdict
Choose Cursor if you're willing to switch to a new IDE for the best AI coding experience — it has deeper AI integration, better multi-file editing, and more powerful agent capabilities. Choose Continue if you want AI coding assistance while staying in your current VS Code or JetBrains setup, or need to connect your own local models (Ollama, etc.) to keep code private.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Cursor | Continue |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Standalone IDE (VS Code fork) | VS Code + JetBrains extension |
| Editor switch required | Yes — replaces your editor | No — installs in existing editor |
| AI power | Most powerful (Composer, agents) | Chat + edit, growing features |
| Custom models | Limited to Cursor-supported models | Any model via LiteLLM/Ollama |
| Privacy / local models | Privacy mode available | Full local model support |
| Pricing | Free tier / $20/mo Pro | Free open-source |
| Multi-file context | Full codebase awareness | @codebase context support |
What Is Cursor?
What Is Continue?
Continue's 20k+ community validates its utility—this isn't a weekend project, it's maintained software. Effective for accelerating routine coding tasks like generating tests, writing docstrings, and implementing standard patterns. For complex architectural decisions, use it as a thinking partner rather than expecting production-ready output.
— AI Nav Editorial Team on Continue
→ Read the full Continue review