Cursor vs JetBrains AI Assistant
Detailed comparison of features, performance, and use cases
95/100
Cursor
An AI-powered code editor built from the ground up for AI programming, offering advanced AI features with a VS Code-like interface.
Quick Verdict
Cursor excels at ai-native development and code refactoring with a score of 95/100. Cursor represents the future of coding environments, built specifically for AI-powered development.
90/100
JetBrains AI Assistant
Integrated AI coding assistant built into JetBrains IDEs, offering context-aware suggestions and explanations.
Quick Verdict
JetBrains AI Assistant excels at jetbrains ide users and enterprise development with a score of 90/100. JetBrains AI Assistant leverages the deep IDE integration and powerful static analysis capabilities of JetBrains tools.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Cursor | JetBrains AI Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| 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'. | JetBrains AI Assistant uses a combination of models. It leverages its own proprietary LLM, Mellum, which is optimized for coding. It also provides access to third-party cloud models from providers like OpenAI, Google (Gemini 2.5 Pro), and Anthropic (Claude 3.7 Sonnet). |
| Context Window | The Pro plan provides access to maximum context windows. | The assistant is deeply integrated into the IDE and is context-aware, using information from the current project, including language versions, libraries, and related files, to generate more accurate prompts and suggestions. |
| 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. | The AI Assistant is available as a plugin within JetBrains' commercial IDEs. For enterprise customers with strict data privacy needs, an on-premises solution is available through IDE Services, which can run in an air-gapped environment using local models like Llama 3.1 via Hugging Face. |
| 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. | Yes, JetBrains AI Assistant supports an offline mode. Users can connect to locally hosted models through tools like Ollama or LM Studio, allowing most AI features to function without an internet connection. However, some advanced features like multi-file edits are not available in offline mode. |
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
JetBrains AI Assistant Features
- Context-aware code completion within JetBrains IDEs
- Code explanation and documentation generation
- Refactoring suggestions based on best practices
- Integration with JetBrains' powerful development tools
Pricing & Value Analysis
| Aspect | Cursor | JetBrains AI Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing URL | View Cursor Pricing | View JetBrains AI Assistant Pricing |
| Overall Score | 95/100 | 90/100 |
| Best For | AI-Native Development, Code Refactoring, Multi-file Projects | JetBrains IDE Users, Enterprise Development, Code Refactoring |
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
JetBrains AI Assistant Excels At
- Automated commit message generation based on code changes and project context
- Complex refactoring operations with AI understanding of code dependencies and design patterns
- Code explanation and documentation for team knowledge sharing and onboarding new developers
Performance & Integration
| Category | Cursor | JetBrains AI Assistant | 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. | Fully integrated with the suite of JetBrains IDEs, including IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, CLion, ReSharper, and others. | Tie |
| Community | Active community | Active community | Tie |
| Data Richness | Comprehensive | Comprehensive | Tie |
| Overall Score | 95/100 | 90/100 | Cursor |
The Bottom Line
Both Cursor and JetBrains AI Assistant are capable AI coding tools, but they serve different needs. Cursor scores higher (95/100 vs 90/100) 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 (95/100).
Choose JetBrains AI Assistant if: you prioritize jetbrains ide users and enterprise development and don't mind a slightly lower score for specialized features.