Cursor vs Perplexity

A detailed comparison to help you choose the right AI tool for your needs.

Winner
Cursor

Cursor

4.7
Try Cursor
Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI

4.6
Try Perplexity
Our Pick
Cursor

Cursor edges out Perplexity AI with superior overall performance and features that make it the better choice for most users.

Try Cursor

Feature Comparison

Feature
Cursor
Perplexity
Ratings
Overall Rating
4.7
4.6
Coding
4.8
3.5
Writing
-
4.2
Reasoning
4.5
4.4
Speed
4.6
4.8
Value
4.7
4.7
Pricing
Monthly Price
$20
$20
Free Tier
Input (per 1M tokens)
-
-
Output (per 1M tokens)
-
-
Features
Context Window
200K
128K
Vision/Images
Audio
Video
Code Generation
AI Agents

Cursor

Pros

  • Best IDE experience for AI coding
  • Understands project context deeply
  • Multi-file editing
  • Tab completion is excellent
  • Uses latest Claude/GPT models

Cons

  • Limited to coding only
  • Premium features require subscription
  • Can be resource-intensive

Perplexity AI

Pros

  • Real-time web access
  • Cites all sources
  • Great for research
  • Fast responses
  • Generous free tier

Cons

  • Not as capable for coding
  • Writing not as polished
  • Limited context for complex tasks

Choose Cursor if you need:

Daily coding, large projects, professional developers

Choose Perplexity if you need:

Research, fact-checking, current events

Ready to get started?

Both tools offer free tiers or trials. Try them out and see which one works best for your workflow.