headroom.walls.sh · cursor
Claude Code vs Cursor
Both use Claude models. Both write and edit code. The difference is in the interaction model — and knowing when to reach for which one makes you faster with both.
The core difference
Cursor is an IDE — a fork of VS Code with AI deeply integrated into the editor. You write code in Cursor; the AI assists inline. Tab-complete, inline edits, Ctrl+K rewrites, the sidebar chat. The unit of work is a file or selection.
Claude Code is a terminal agent. You give it goals, not edits. It reads files, writes code, runs tests, checks git, searches the codebase, and iterates — autonomously. The unit of work is a task.
The practical dividing line: use Cursor when you're in the editor driving. Use Claude Code when you want to describe what needs doing and let the agent figure out the steps.
Side-by-side comparison
| Claude Code | Cursor | |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Terminal / CLI | IDE (VS Code fork) |
| Interaction | Describe a goal; agent executes | Inline assist; you drive |
| File scope | Whole repo — reads, searches, edits across files | Current file or selection |
| Can run commands | Yes — bash, git, npm, tests | Limited (terminal tab) |
| Best for | Multi-file tasks, refactors, debugging, new features | Writing code with AI assist, quick edits, completions |
| Context window | Sends relevant files; manages via /compact | Cursor indexes your repo with embeddings |
| Billing | Anthropic API usage against your plan limits | Cursor subscription (separate cost) or bring-your-own-key |
| Model | Claude (your Anthropic account) | Claude, GPT-4, Gemini (configurable) |
They're not mutually exclusive
Many developers use both in the same session. A common pattern: Claude Code for the heavy lifting (spec a feature, generate the scaffold, write the tests), then Cursor for the fine-grained editing (tweak the UI, iterate on variable names, fix the edge cases while reading the output).
They don't conflict. Claude Code operates in your terminal; Cursor operates in your editor. They both modify files on disk — just don't have both running simultaneous edits on the same file.
When Claude Code wins
Multi-file changes
When a task touches 10 files — rename a function everywhere, update all callers, fix the tests — Claude Code does this in one go. In Cursor you'd be doing it file by file.
Running and iterating on tests
Claude Code can run npm test, see the failure, fix the code, run again. Cursor can't close that loop on its own.
Codebase exploration
"Find all places we call this API and check they handle errors correctly." Claude Code reads your codebase and comes back with an answer. Cursor's chat knows the current file context well but not the full repo by default.
Agentic tasks while you do something else
Start a Claude Code session on a well-specified task, switch away, come back when it's done. Cursor requires you to drive.
When Cursor wins
Inline completions
Tab to accept a suggestion mid-line, right where you're typing. Claude Code doesn't have this.
Visual context
You're looking at a function and want to tweak it — Cursor sees exactly what you see, in context. Ctrl+K rewrites a selection. Natural for visual, in-the-moment edits.
Staying in the editor flow
If your workflow is "write code in an editor," Cursor integrates into that without a context switch to a terminal.
Quota: how they share your Anthropic limits
If you're on the Anthropic Claude Max plan, Claude Code has a 5-hour session window and a 7-day weekly window. Cursor with "bring your own key" (BYOK) mode makes API calls against the same key — so Cursor usage counts toward the same limits.
Cursor's default subscription mode uses Cursor's own API allocation (not yours), so there's no overlap. But if you switched Cursor to use your Anthropic API key directly, you're sharing the quota across both tools.
Headroom shows your Claude Code session (5h) and weekly (7d) utilization live in the macOS menu bar. If you're running Cursor BYOK alongside Claude Code and wondering why your quota is burning faster than expected, Headroom gives you the live number to watch.
brew install patwalls/tap/headroom
Adding Claude Code if you're a Cursor user
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code claude # opens a session in your current directory
Claude Code reads .gitignore, respects your project structure, and picks up your CLAUDE.md if you have one. No additional configuration needed to use it alongside Cursor.
→ Installing Claude Code
→ Session and weekly rate limits
→ 5-hour session window explained
→ Agent mode and subagents