Cursor vs Devin: AI IDE vs Autonomous Agent (2026)
A practical comparison of Cursor and Devin: in-IDE AI assistance versus autonomous ticket-to-PR agent. Different paradigms, different use cases.
Editorial Team
The AI Coding Tools Directory editorial team researches and reviews AI-powered development tools to help developers find the best solutions for their workflows.
Cursor and Devin occupy different roles: Cursor is an in-IDE assistant you drive; Devin is an autonomous agent that turns tickets into PRs.
Quick Answer
Cursor for active coding—Composer, Agent mode, model choice inside your IDE. Devin for autonomous ticket-to-PR execution from Slack, Linear, or Jira. Hands-on coding? Cursor. Offload backlog to an agent? Devin. Many teams use both.
Feature Comparison Table
Paradigm and primary use at a glance:
| Feature | Cursor | Devin |
|---|---|---|
| Paradigm | IDE assistant (you drive) | Autonomous agent (ticket to PR) |
| Primary use | Day-to-day coding in editor | Backlog execution, ticket automation |
| Input | Your prompts, edits, commands | Slack, Linear, Jira tickets |
| Output | Diffs, completions, agent actions | Pull requests, validated changes |
| Pricing | Public: Hobby free; Pro $20; Teams $40 | Enterprise; contact sales |
| Form | Desktop IDE (VS Code fork) | Web platform, API |
| Integrations | Editor, terminal, extensions | Slack, Linear, Jira, Git |
| Hands-on | High (you approve, edit, iterate) | Low (agent runs; you review PRs) |
Pricing and Value
Cursor
| Plan | Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Hobby | $0 | Trial then limited |
| Pro | $20/month | Full IDE, all models |
| Pro+ | $60/month | Background agents |
| Teams | $40/user/month | SSO, admin |
Devin
- Enterprise product; pricing not public
- Contact sales for access
- Includes web IDE, agent sessions, Slack/Linear/Jira integration, repo indexing
Best For
| If you... | Choose... |
|---|---|
| Want an IDE for active coding | Cursor |
| Need autonomous ticket-to-PR execution | Devin |
| Prefer to approve every change | Cursor (Composer, Agent) |
| Want to offload backlog to an agent | Devin |
| Need predictable individual pricing | Cursor |
| Have enterprise ticket workflows (Slack, Linear, Jira) | Devin |
| Want both | Use Cursor for coding, Devin for automation |
Final Verdict
Cursor for hands-on coding with AI in the IDE. Devin for autonomous ticket-to-PR execution. They complement each other: Cursor for day-to-day work, Devin for backlog processing. Devin pricing is enterprise-only; Cursor has public tiers.
Further reading: Devin profile, Cursor profile, AI coding agents explained, competitive landscape.
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Tools Mentioned in This Article
Workflow Resources
Cookbook
AI-Powered Code Review & Quality
Automate code review and enforce quality standards using AI-powered tools and agentic workflows.
Cookbook
Building AI-Powered Applications
Build applications powered by LLMs, RAG, and AI agents using Claude Code, Cursor, and modern AI frameworks.
Cookbook
Building APIs & Backends with AI Agents
Design and build robust APIs and backend services with AI coding agents, from REST to GraphQL.
Cookbook
Debugging with AI Agents
Systematically debug complex issues using AI coding agents with structured workflows and MCP integrations.
Skill
Change risk triage
A systematic method for categorizing AI-generated code changes by blast radius and required verification depth, preventing high-risk changes from shipping without adequate review.
Skill
Configuring MCP servers
A cross-tool guide to setting up Model Context Protocol servers in Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, and VS Code, including server types, authentication, and common patterns.
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Local model quality loop
Improve code output quality when using local AI models by combining rules files, iterative retries with error feedback, and test-backed validation gates.
Skill
Plan-implement-verify loop
A structured execution pattern for safe AI-assisted coding changes that prevents scope creep and ensures every edit is backed by test evidence.
MCP Server
AWS MCP Server
Open source MCP servers from AWS Labs that give AI coding agents access to AWS documentation, best practices, and contextual guidance for building on AWS.
MCP Server
Docker MCP Server
Docker MCP Gateway orchestrates MCP servers in isolated containers, providing secure discovery and execution of Model Context Protocol servers across AI coding tools.
MCP Server
Figma MCP Server
Official Figma MCP server that brings design context, variables, components, and Code Connect data into AI coding sessions for design-to-code workflows.
MCP Server
Firebase MCP Server
Experimental Firebase MCP server that gives AI coding agents access to Firestore, Auth, security rules, Cloud Messaging, and project management through the Firebase CLI.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Devin?
Cursor vs Devin: can I use both?
Which is more autonomous?
How much does Devin cost?
Is Devin better than Cursor?
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