Pick Cursor if…
you want agents to plan and apply changes across a codebase and would use Grok and X Premium anyway.
Both are code editors with AI built in, but they put the AI in different places. Cursor, a VS Code fork, is built around agents that edit across many files. Zed is a native, Rust-built editor from the creators of Atom and Tree-sitter whose AI centres on edit prediction, with multiplayer editing and an open-source core. Since October 2026 Cursor is also no longer sold on its own: it comes bundled in X's Grok/Premium subscription.
Pick Cursor if you want an agent doing multi-file edits and you're fine buying it as part of X's subscription — Plus ($8/mo) runs Grok models only, Premium ($30/mo) adds cloud agents and Bugbot code reviews. Pick Zed if editor speed matters most: Pro ($10/mo) gives unlimited hosted edit predictions, and the free plan works with your own API keys.
| App | Free tier | Paid from | Top plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cursor | Yes | $8/mo | $200/mo | Developers who want agentic multi-file editing and don't mind buying it bundled with a Grok/X chat subscription |
| Zed | Yes | $10/mo | $30/mo | Developers who want a fast, native multiplayer editor with AI edit prediction rather than a heavier Electron-based IDE |
Monthly prices in US dollars before tax, from each vendor's official pricing (US list price; weekly-billed plans converted to a monthly figure). Updated November 2, 2026
| Cursor | Zed | |
|---|---|---|
| AI focus | Agentic multi-file editing, Tab autocomplete | Edit prediction as you type |
| Free plan | Limited agent and chat requests | Full open-source editor; no Zed-hosted predictions |
| Entry plan | Plus: Cursor with Grok models only (no Claude/GPT) | Pro: unlimited hosted edit predictions + monthly model credits |
| Other models | Claude/GPT from Premium, billed separately at API list price | Your own API keys or external agents |
| Team plan | Teams from $30/mo per user, SAML/OIDC SSO | Business $30/mo per seat, admin controls |
| Built on | VS Code fork | Native Rust editor, multiplayer editing |
you want agents to plan and apply changes across a codebase and would use Grok and X Premium anyway.
you want a fast native editor, value open source and pair-editing, and are happy with edit prediction rather than full agent workflows.
Cursor's cheapest paid tier doesn't include Claude or GPT at all; from Premium they're available but billed on top at API list price. Zed's free plan makes the opposite trade: no hosted AI, but you can point it at your own keys. If Claude or GPT is the model you actually want, budget for API usage on top of either subscription.
For agentic, multi-file editing, yes — that's what Cursor is built for, while Zed's AI centres on edit prediction. Zed's strengths are native performance and multiplayer editing, though its plugin ecosystem is smaller than VS Code forks like Cursor.
Cursor Plus ($8/mo) is the cheapest paid tier of the two but limited to Grok models. Zed Pro is $10/mo. Both have free plans.
The editor is free and its core is open source. Since 2026 the free Personal plan has no Zed-hosted edit predictions, so you need your own API keys or an external agent for AI; hosted predictions are on Pro.
How we choose: prices come from each vendor's official pricing page and are re-checked every week. We take no affiliate fees, so rankings aren't for sale.