Cursor vs Trae: AI Coding Tool Comparison
Cursor and Trae are AI IDEs built on a VS Code base with agent modes for larger tasks.
- Verified 13 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this page
- 8 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
- No winner declaredFit depends on your criteria
- Not tested by Stack18Editorial summary of documented facts
Cursor vs Trae: the short answer
Cursor and Trae are AI IDEs built on a VS Code base with agent modes for larger tasks. Trae, from ByteDance, starts at $3 a month with a $10 Pro plan and token-based billing, while Cursor Pro is $20 a month with usage at API rates.
Trae's SOLO mode runs cloud tasks in parallel; Cursor has cloud agents and code review. Trae raises data-handling questions for some organisations. We compare what documentation supports and mark everything else Unknown. We declare no overall winner, because the better choice depends on workflow, model preferences, oversight needs and budget.
Choose Cursor if you- Developers who prefer an editor-centred workflow
- Teams that want to choose between several model vendors
- Organisations that want org-wide Privacy Mode and SSO
Choose Trae if you- Budget-conscious individual developers
- Students and hobby projects
- Developers who want a VS Code-style IDE with an agent mode
Cursor and Trae at a glance.
One card per product, drawn from each full profile. Open a profile for features, pricing plans, limits and sources.
Cursor
Anysphere · AI Coding Agents
Cursor is an AI-native code editor from Anysphere that combines an in-editor Agent, Tab autocomplete and cloud agents, with access to models from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google alongside Cursor's own models.
Agentic tool- Pricing
- Free Hobby plan; Pro $20 per month.
- Best for
- Developers who prefer an editor-centred workflow
Trae
ByteDance · AI Coding Agents
Trae is an AI-native IDE from ByteDance, built on a VS Code base, that combines code completion and chat with SOLO, an agent mode for larger autonomous tasks on desktop and web. Since February 2026 it uses token-based plans from Free and Lite at $3 to Ultra at $100 a month.
Agentic tool- Pricing
- Free plan; Lite $3, Pro $10, Pro+ $30 and Ultra $100 per month.
- Best for
- Budget-conscious individual developers
Cursor vs Trae: feature-by-feature comparison.
Every row is drawn from the sources listed below. Rows that differ are marked, and you can filter the table to show only those.
- YesDocumented
- PartialAvailable with limits or on some plans
- NoDocumented as unavailable
- UnknownNot documented in the sources reviewed
| Dimension |  Cursor |  Trae |
|---|---|---|
| Product | ||
| Primary interface | YesAI code editor (desktop app) with cloud agents. | YesAI IDE (VS Code base) with SOLO on desktop and web. |
| Model choice | YesModels from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google, plus Cursor's own models. | YesClaude, GPT and other premium models (reported). |
| Open-source statusDiffers | UnknownLicence not reviewed for this profile. | NoProprietary IDE. |
| Pricing | ||
| Free tier | YesFree Hobby plan with limited Agent requests and Tab completions. | YesYes (5,000 completions a month). |
| Pricing model | YesMonthly tiers with included usage at model API rates; on-demand usage after that. | YesToken-based subscriptions from $3. |
| Published plan prices reviewed | YesPro $20, Pro+ $60, Ultra $200 and Teams $40 per user per month, per Cursor's pages. | YesFree; Lite $3; Pro $10; Pro+ $30; Ultra $100. |
| Agents | ||
| Cloud or remote agents | YesCloud agents, charged at model API pricing. | YesConcurrent cloud tasks via SOLO. |
| Extensibility | ||
| MCP, skills and hooks | YesMCP servers, skills and hooks on Pro and above. | YesMCP support. |
| Control | ||
| Documented approval and oversight controls | UnknownNot documented in the sources reviewed. | UnknownNot documented in the sources reviewed. |
| Administration | ||
| Organisation and admin controlsDiffers | YesOrg-wide Privacy Mode, SAML or OIDC SSO and an admin dashboard on team plans. | UnknownEnterprise terms not public. |
Cursor vs Trae pricing.
Cursor pricing
Monthly subscription tiers with included usage priced at model API rates; on-demand usage billed in arrears after included usage is used.
- HobbyFree
- Pro$20 per month
- Pro+$60 per month
- Ultra$200 per month
- Teams$40 per user per month
Prices from a vendor-published source. Checked on the profile.
All Cursor plans and sources
Trae pricing
Monthly subscriptions with a dollar-denominated basic and bonus usage allowance, billed by tokens since February 2026.
- FreeFree
- Lite$3 per month
- Pro$10 per month
- Pro+$30 per month
- Ultra$100 per month
Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly. Checked 13 Nov 2026.
All Trae plans and sourcesCursor: Free Hobby plan; Pro $20 per month.
Trae: Free plan; Lite $3, Pro $10, Pro+ $30 and Ultra $100 per month. Prices and allowances change often, so confirm on each vendor's live page.
Prices and plans change. Confirm current terms with each vendor before you decide.
Cursor vs Trae: implementation, ecosystem, AI and security.
Ease of implementation and usability
We did not test setup or onboarding effort. Evaluate both tools on a real branch of your own repository, with your own tests and conventions.
Integrations and ecosystem
Cursor: MCP servers, Skills and hooks, OpenAI, Anthropic and Google models, Cloud agents, Bugbot. Trae: MCP servers, VS Code extensions, Git repositories, Web search, Claude, GPT and Gemini models (reported).
AI capabilities
Model choice: Cursor - Models from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google, plus Cursor's own models. Trae - Claude, GPT and other premium models (reported).
Security, deployment and administration
Approval and admin controls: Cursor - Org-wide Privacy Mode, SAML or OIDC SSO and an admin dashboard on team plans. Trae - Enterprise terms not public. Check each vendor's security documentation for certifications and data-retention terms.
Cursor and Trae: each option, in balance.
Cursor
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Offers models from several vendors in one product, so teams are not tied to a single model family.
- A free Hobby plan lets developers try the editor and agent before paying.
- Team plans document org-wide Privacy Mode enforcement, SAML or OIDC SSO and an admin dashboard.
- Usage is metered at model API prices against an included amount, so heavy agent users may incur on-demand charges.
- Tab and Apply from Chat run on custom models and cannot be billed to a user's own API key.
- The plan and price structure changes often, and versions of the pricing page have differed, so budgeting requires checking the live page.
Trae
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Entry prices of $3 and $10 a month undercut most AI IDEs.
- The free plan includes 5,000 autocompletions and limited SOLO use.
- SOLO runs on desktop and web with several concurrent cloud tasks.
- Token-based billing since February 2026 makes heavy agent sessions use allowances quickly.
- Data-handling questions about a ByteDance product may block use on sensitive code.
- Enterprise pricing is not public.
Cursor or Trae: which fits which situation?
No overall winner is declared. The better choice depends on the criteria that matter most to you, so test both against your own requirements.
Choose Cursor if you…
- Developers who prefer an editor-centred workflow
- Teams that want to choose between several model vendors
- Organisations that want org-wide Privacy Mode and SSO
Choose Trae if you…
- Budget-conscious individual developers
- Students and hobby projects
- Developers who want a VS Code-style IDE with an agent mode
Switching between Cursor and Trae.
Moving between Cursor and Trae means re-creating project instructions and rules, re-adding MCP servers or other tool connections, and adjusting how your team reviews agent output. Trying each on a separate branch before committing is a low-risk way to compare them.
- Export a sample of your data and test an import into the other product.
- List the automations, integrations and permissions you would need to rebuild.
- Pilot with one team before a full cut-over.
- Check contract terms and notice periods with both vendors.
General guidance, not specific to either vendor. Confirm migration options with the vendors.
Cursor vs Trae: questions and answers
Is Cursor or Trae better?
The sources reviewed do not support a single ranking. Trae, from ByteDance, starts at $3 a month with a $10 Pro plan and token-based billing, while Cursor Pro is $20 a month with usage at API rates. Test both on your own repository or project before choosing.
Does Cursor have a free plan?
Free Hobby plan with limited Agent requests and Tab completions.
Does Trae have a free plan?
Yes. Free includes 5,000 autocompletions a month, limited SOLO use and two concurrent cloud tasks.
Which is cheaper, Cursor or Trae?
Cursor: Free Hobby plan; Pro $20 per month. Trae: Free plan; Lite $3, Pro $10, Pro+ $30 and Ultra $100 per month. The cheaper option depends on seats, usage and which plan features you need.
Which supports more models, Cursor or Trae?
Cursor: Models from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google, plus Cursor's own models. Trae: Claude, GPT and other premium models (reported).
Where this comparison comes from.
- Cursor pricing Cursor (cursor.com) Official Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- Cursor pricing FAQ Cursor (cursor.com) Official Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- Cursor documentation: Pricing Cursor (cursor.com/docs) Official docs Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- Cursor AI review Aixploria Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026 Used only for a third-party description of agent mode behaviour.
- Trae AI Agent Index Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026 Used for plan figures and concurrency.
- Trae AI IDE Pricing 2026 AI IDE List Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- Trae AI guide 2026 AI Picks Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026 Used for models, billing change and privacy notes.
- Trae vs Cursor in 2026 Morph Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
Comparison rows summarise the sources listed and the two profiles. Confirm current details with each vendor. Stack18 has not tested either product.
Ready to test Cursor and Trae?
Check each vendor's current pricing and terms, run both against a real scenario from your business, or talk to Stack18 if off-the-shelf software is not the answer.
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