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It's a split decision.
Choose Cursor if you want agents to plan, write and test software, and you’re comfortable reviewing their work and tracking usage. Choose IntelliJ IDEA if you want a Java and Kotlin IDE with code-aware navigation and built-in tools to run, debug and test applications. These tools serve different workflows: Cursor emphasizes agent handoffs and model choice, while IntelliJ IDEA is an IDE built around working directly in a codebase.
01Side by side
| Cursor | IntelliJ IDEA | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly tiers; Teams per user; Enterprise custom | Free Core; Ultimate per user or individual |
| Free tier | Limited agent and Chat requests | Free commercial use; AI Free has 3 credits per 30 days |
| APIs and SDKs | Grok API access; multiple model providers | No public IDE API or SDK described |
| CLI and docs | Cursor CLI installs via curl | No CLI specified; built-in IDE tools |
| Integrations | Slack, GitHub, terminal, model providers | Kotlin ecosystem; no IDEA-specific integrations named |
| Deployment model | Desktop app, CLI, cloud agents | IDE with built-in run, debug and test tools |
| Platforms | macOS, web, CLI, Slack | IDE; JetBrains homepage lists web |
| Limits and scaling | Usage pools, top-ups, parallel cloud agents | AI Free: 3 credits per 30 days |
Cursor Choose Cursor if
- Choose Cursor if agents should plan, write and test code.
- Choose Cursor if you want to select among listed model providers.
- Choose Cursor if Slack and GitHub workflows fit your team.
IntelliJ IDEA Choose IntelliJ IDEA if
- Choose IntelliJ IDEA if Java or Kotlin is your main focus.
- Choose IntelliJ IDEA if you want built-in run, debug and test tools.
- Choose IntelliJ IDEA if a free commercial-use Core edition fits.
02Pricing at real usage
Cursor has a free tier with limited agent and Chat requests. Its paid monthly plans start at Plus ($8), then Premium ($30), Super ($100) and Ultra ($200); Teams starts at $30 per user, and Enterprise is custom-priced. Higher tiers offer more usage, but the pricing page does not give a fixed request allowance. Third-party models are billed separately at API list price, and usage top-offs are available. The page also lists Grok API charges separately.
IntelliJ IDEA’s Core edition is free for commercial and non-commercial use; AI Free includes three credits per 30 days. Ultimate individual is $19.90 monthly or $199 for the first year billed annually, with continuity discounts later. Organization Ultimate is $71.90 per user monthly or $59.92 per user monthly on annual billing. Both include a 30-day trial; AI credit top-ups cost $1 per credit.
03API, SDKs and integration
Cursor is an agent workflow available in a desktop app, CLI and integrations such as Slack and GitHub. Its homepage says agents can plan, write and test work, and cloud agents can run in parallel for hours or days. The homepage names models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, SpaceXAI and Cursor’s Composer. Cursor CLI installs through a curl command. The listed API access is Grok API on paid plans; the product pages do not describe a general-purpose Cursor API or SDK for embedding agents in another application.
IntelliJ IDEA is an IDE for Java and Kotlin. JetBrains describes code-aware navigation and suggestions, plus built-in tools to run, debug and test applications. The homepage says its IDEs support a wide range of languages and frameworks and highlights a Kotlin ecosystem of tools, libraries and integrations. It does not name IntelliJ IDEA-specific integrations. The product pages do not describe a public IDE API or SDK. For teams choosing between them, the key distinction is agent handoff versus direct work in an IDE.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
Neither product page identifies an open-source licence or a self-hosted edition. Teams that require source-level control or on-premises deployment should ask each vendor before adopting either tool.
Cursor offers a choice of listed model providers, but that is not the same as a documented export or migration path for agent work. IntelliJ IDEA’s homepage describes an IDE and its code tools, not a data-export workflow. Neither product page describes how to export account data or move persistent tool state between products. Treat project files and tool-specific context as separate migration questions, and verify what can be exported before relying on persistent agent or IDE state. The published product pages do not establish a migration procedure or estimate the effort involved.
Questions people ask
Does Cursor work with IntelliJ IDEA?
The product pages do not identify a direct IntelliJ IDEA integration for Cursor. Cursor is described as a separate desktop app and CLI, with Slack and GitHub workflows. If you plan to use both, confirm current plugin support and how your team would hand work between them.
Which IDE is better than Cursor?
That depends on the workflow. IntelliJ IDEA is the clearer fit for Java and Kotlin development with code-aware navigation and built-in run, debug and test tools. Cursor is an agent-led coding tool for handing off tasks and reviewing results. They are not direct substitutes for every team.
Is JetBrains Czech or Russian?
JetBrains is the vendor behind IntelliJ IDEA, but its product homepage does not state whether the company is Czech or Russian. The IDE’s language support and features do not establish corporate nationality. Check JetBrains’ current corporate disclosures for its headquarters and legal entities.
Is Cursor the best AI coder?
There is no universal best choice in these product descriptions. Cursor emphasizes autonomous agents, parallel cloud work and model selection. IntelliJ IDEA emphasizes code navigation and built-in development tools for Java and Kotlin. Compare the workflow, usage costs and integrations your team needs before choosing.