Cursor vs Refraction
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Cursor starts at $8/mo and Refraction starts at $8/mo. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Tab autocomplete
- Agent mode
- Codebase chat
- Bugbot PR review
- VS Code extensions
- Bug detection
- Language conversion
- Function generation
- Inline documentation
- Mermaid diagrams
- VS Code extension
| Feature | Cursor | Refraction |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | AI code editor that edits across your whole codebase | AI code helper for bug checks, language conversion and docs |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free trial |
| Starting price | $8/mo | $8/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No, trial available |
| Made by | Anysphere (SpaceX) | Refraction |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Cursor starts at $8/mo and Refraction starts at $8/mo. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
6 plans
Free
Free
- Limited AI usage
- Limited agent requests
Plus
$8/mo
- Shared AI usage pool
- Grok models only
Premium
$30/mo
- 4x Plus usage
- Cloud agents and automations
- Bugbot code reviews
Super
$100/mo
- 15x Plus usage
- Priority model access at peak
Ultra
$200/mo
- 50x Plus usage
- Earliest access to products and models
Teams
$30/mo
- Per user
- Pooled usage
- Team admin controls
4 plans
Hobby
Free
- One user
- 10 code generations in total
Pro
$8/mo
- Unlimited code generations
- Unlimited history
- Editor extensions
Team
$14/mo
- Per user
- Shared code history
- Team management
Enterprise
Contact sales
- SSO and SCIM
- Audit logs
- Dedicated support
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Cursor
- Understands the whole repository
- Familiar VS Code interface
- Choice of AI models
- Third-party models cost extra
- Heavy on memory for large projects
- Plans changed several times in 2026
Refraction
- Low monthly price for unlimited use
- Many small utilities in one tool
- Works inside VS Code
- Free use stops after 10 generations
- Task-based actions, not a full coding agent
- No student or nonprofit discount yet
Which one should you choose?
Choose Cursor if you want:
- Understands the whole repository
- Familiar VS Code interface
- Choice of AI models
Watch out: third-party models cost extra.
Choose Refraction if you want:
- Low monthly price for unlimited use
- Many small utilities in one tool
- Works inside VS Code
Watch out: free use stops after 10 generations.
Cursor vs Refraction FAQ
What is the difference between Cursor and Refraction?
Cursor: AI code editor that edits across your whole codebase. Refraction: AI code helper for bug checks, language conversion and docs. Both are coding tools.
Is Cursor or Refraction cheaper?
Cursor starts at $8/mo and Refraction starts at $8/mo. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Cursor and Refraction have free plans?
Cursor: Yes. Refraction: No, trial available.
Who makes Cursor?
Cursor is made by Anysphere (SpaceX), based in United States.
Who makes Refraction?
Refraction is made by Refraction.
Which should I choose, Cursor or Refraction?
Choose Cursor if you value understands the whole repository and familiar vs code interface. Choose Refraction if you value low monthly price for unlimited use and many small utilities in one tool.