Cursor or VS Code with AI extensions: what to choose in 2026

The question "cursor vs vscode" does not really compare two different editors but two ways to get AI into a familiar interface. Cursor is built on VS Code, and its AI agent, chat and autocomplete are part of the product. In plain VS Code the same things are added through extensions: Cline, Kilo Code, Continue. We look at how these paths differ in practice, how to connect your own key in each and what it comes to in money.

Cursor vs VS Code: the real difference

Cursor looks like VS Code: the same file tree, tabs, terminal and hotkeys. The difference is that the agent is built into the editor, knows the open files, shows edits as a diff and keeps checkpoints with no extra setup. You get a cohesive product, but you are tied to it: the editor, models and plans come as one package.

In VS Code you add an extension from the marketplace and pick the provider and model yourself. The interface is slightly less cohesive, but you control each link: you can swap the extension without changing the editor, or the model without changing the extension.

Both lists of features change fast, so check details in the Cursor documentation and in the chosen extension's.

Which VS Code extensions to consider

• Cline. An agent extension that reads the project, edits files and runs commands with confirmation. It connects as an OpenAI-compatible provider. Step by step: Cline on your own key↗.
• Kilo Code. An agent extension; setup is similar to Cline: an OpenAI-compatible provider, address and key.
• Roo Code. It was a fork of Cline, but according to the project's documentation the Roo Code extension was shut down on May 15, 2026. For new installs look at Cline or Kilo Code.
• Continue. An extension for chat, edits and autocomplete with models set in a config.

The features and settings of each extension change from version to version, so look at its documentation before choosing.

How to connect your own key in both cases

Cursor. Settings → Models: enable your own OpenAI key fetch_..., turn on the Base URL override and set https://api.zukko.pro/v1, then add a model name and click Verify. Cursor does not accept a model name it already knows, so for Claude use the second names from the Cursor guide↗. The provider override may depend on your Cursor plan, so check current terms on the service's site. Tab autocomplete stays on the built-in models.

VS Code + Cline. Cline panel → Settings → API Provider: OpenAI Compatible, Base URL https://api.zukko.pro/v1, your key and a model ID such as claude-sonnet-5-5. If the settings have a context size field, enter 1,000,000 for Claude and GPT models. For extensions with an Anthropic provider the address is written without /v1: https://api.zukko.pro. Setting up Cline and Kilo Code is described in the VS Code extensions guide↗.

The key is the same; only the place where you paste it changes.

What a working day costs

Here the difference between the paths shows up not in the interface but in caching, and it is worth knowing before you choose. Prices on October 18, 2026, per 1M tokens.

Take a day of agent work: 100 requests, each with 30,000 input tokens and 1,000 output tokens. In total 3,000,000 input and 100,000 output.

• claude-sonnet-5-5 in OpenAI format (Cursor with the override, Cline as OpenAI Compatible). For Claude in this format all input is billed at the input price ($0.4 / $2). Cost = 3,000,000 × 0.4 / 1,000,000 + 100,000 × 2 / 1,000,000 = 1.20 + 0.20 = $1.40.
• claude-sonnet-5-5 in Anthropic format (an extension with an Anthropic provider). Assume each request reads 25,000 tokens from cache ($0.05), writes 2,000 to cache ($0.5) and sends 3,000 as fresh input ($0.4). Per request: 3,000 × 0.4 + 25,000 × 0.05 + 2,000 × 0.5 + 1,000 × 2 = 1,200 + 1,250 + 1,000 + 2,000 = 5,450 micro-dollars. For 100 requests ≈ $0.55.
• gpt-6.1-sol (input $0.27, cache read $0.013, output $1.32). Assume 25,000 of the 30,000 tokens come from cache: fresh input 500,000 × 0.27 / 1,000,000 = 0.135, cache 2,500,000 × 0.013 / 1,000,000 = 0.0325, output 100,000 × 1.32 / 1,000,000 = 0.132. Total ≈ $0.30. With no cache hits: 3,000,000 × 0.27 / 1,000,000 + 0.132 ≈ $0.94.
• glm-5.3-flash ($0.04 / $0.04, context 128K): 3,000,000 × 0.04 / 1,000,000 + 100,000 × 0.04 / 1,000,000 = 0.12 + 0.004 ≈ $0.12.

The cache share of 25,000 out of 30,000 and the session size are taken as an example: real ones depend on the client and the project. The point is not that one path is cheaper: for GPT the cache is visible in both formats, but for Claude the cache discount comes from the Anthropic format. If most of your spend goes on Claude, take that into account when choosing a client. Compare the Cursor subscription with these numbers yourself: check the current plan on the Cursor site.

What to choose

• Cursor if you want a ready product with no setup: open, connect, work. Fits when you live in one editor and want a single interface for the agent, rules and planning.
• VS Code with an extension if you want to pay only for tokens of the provider you choose, change models and tools independently and keep configuration in your own hands.
• A terminal agent if you work over SSH or are not tied to an editor: the comparison is in Claude Code or Cursor↗.

Try both paths on one small task in a real project: a day of work says more than any table. A key from the Zukko dashboard↗ with a daily limit is enough for that.

FAQ

Is Cursor the same as VS Code?

No. Cursor is built on VS Code and looks similar, but it is a separate application with a built-in agent and its own models for autocomplete.

Can I install VS Code extensions in Cursor?

Cursor is built on VS Code, so a good part of familiar extensions is available there, but check compatibility of a specific extension with the extension itself and the Cursor documentation.

Which extension replaces Cursor best in VS Code?

Choose by task: agent mode with commands and edits suggests Cline or Kilo Code; chat and autocomplete configured in a file suggest Continue. We do not claim one is better than another: test on your own project.

Which is cheaper?

It depends on the model, volume and caching, see the calculation above. On your own key spend is counted in the provider's tokens; check Cursor's subscription terms on its site.