Cursor vs Devin
Cursor
Quick Verdict
Cursor excels at ai-native development and code refactoring with a score of 94/100. Cursor delivers the most polished AI-native IDE experience, with seamless integration of frontier models directly into the editing workflow.
Devin
Quick Verdict
Devin excels at autonomous development and junior developer tasks with a score of 82/100. Devin pioneered the autonomous AI software engineer category, demonstrating that AI can independently complete complex development tasks from start to finish.
📊 Visual Score Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of key performance metrics across six evaluation criteria
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Cursor | Devin |
|---|---|---|
| Core AI Model(s) | Supports frontier models including Claude Sonnet 4, OpenAI o3-pro, OpenAI GPT-4.1, Gemini 2.5 Pro, and Claude Opus 4. It also utilizes custom, purpose-built models for features like its native autocomplete, 'Tab'. | Proprietary models optimized for autonomous coding with in-context reasoning capabilities. |
| Context Window | The Pro plan provides access to maximum context windows. | Large context with codebase analysis, pattern recognition, and code reuse detection. |
| Deployment Options | Cursor is a downloadable desktop application for macOS, Windows, and Linux. For teams, it offers an Enterprise plan with SAML/OIDC SSO and SCIM seat management for centralized administration. | Cloud-based platform with web interface. Enterprise deployment options with VPC and SSO support. |
| Offline Mode | Cursor has offline capabilities. A GitHub repository provides a guide for offline activation, enabling all features to work without a cloud or login requirement in airgapped systems. However, some users have reported difficulty using agent mode specifically in an offline setting. | Cloud-based only, requires internet connection for all operations. |
Core Features Comparison
Cursor Features
- AI-powered code completion and generation
- Multi-file code editing with AI chat
- Advanced code understanding and refactoring
- Integrated terminal and debugging tools
- Native Docker and deployment integration
- Multiple frontier model support (Claude, GPT-4, Gemini)
Devin Features
- Fully autonomous end-to-end software development
- Interactive planning with collaborative task scoping
- Multi-Devin parallel task execution
- Cloud-based IDE with VSCode-style interface
- Devin Wiki for auto-generated documentation
- Voice command integration for hands-free coding
- Git integration with PR creation and code review
Pricing & Value Analysis
| Aspect | Cursor | Devin |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing URL | View Cursor Pricing | View Devin Pricing |
| Overall Score | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| Best For | AI-Native Development, Code Refactoring, Multi-file Projects, Rapid Prototyping | Autonomous Development, Junior Developer Tasks, Parallel Task Execution, Enterprise Automation, Code Migration |
Best Use Cases
Cursor Excels At
- Large-scale refactoring across multiple files with AI understanding the full codebase context
- Building complex features by describing functionality in natural language and letting AI generate the implementation
- Code reviews and debugging with AI analyzing relationships between files and suggesting improvements
Devin Excels At
- Autonomous feature implementation from natural language descriptions—Devin plans, codes, tests, and deploys with minimal oversight
- Code migration projects like Ember to React or Ruby to Kotlin, handling large-scale rewrites autonomously
- Parallel task execution by spinning up multiple Devin instances to tackle different features simultaneously
- Junior developer task automation for bug fixes, documentation, and routine maintenance work
Performance & Integration
| Category | Cursor | Devin | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDE Support | Cursor is a standalone code editor that is a fork of VS Code. This allows users to import their existing VS Code extensions, themes, and keybindings with a single click. | Cloud-based VSCode-style IDE accessible via browser. No local installation required. | Tie |
| Community | Active community | Active community | Tie |
| Data Richness | Comprehensive | Comprehensive | Tie |
| Overall Score | 94/100 | 82/100 | Cursor |
The Bottom Line
Both Cursor and Devin are capable AI coding tools, but they serve different needs. Cursor scores higher (94/100 vs 82/100) and excels in ai-native development and code refactoring. The choice depends on your specific workflow, team size, and technical requirements.
Choose Cursor if: you prioritize ai-native development and code refactoring and want the higher-rated option (94/100).
Choose Devin if: you prioritize autonomous development and junior developer tasks and don't mind a slightly lower score for specialized features.