Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Cursor VS Zed

Compare Cursor VS Zed and see what are their differences

Cursor logo Cursor

The AI-first Code Editor. Build software faster in an editor designed for pair-programming with AI.

Zed logo Zed

Zed is a high-performance, multiplayer code editor from the creators of Atom and Tree-sitter.
  • Cursor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2025-02-04
  • Zed Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-06-20

Cursor features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Cursor offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for users of all tech backgrounds.
  • Comprehensive Analytics
    Provides robust analytics tools that allow users to gain insights and make data-driven decisions effectively.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Easily integrates with a wide range of third-party applications, enhancing its functionality and usability.
  • Customizability
    Offers customization options that allow users to tailor the platform to meet their specific needs and requirements.
  • Real-Time Collaboration
    Facilitates real-time collaboration among team members, improving communication and productivity.

Possible disadvantages of Cursor

  • Cost
    May be expensive for small businesses or individual users, which could limit accessibility.
  • Complex Setup
    Initial setup and configuration can be complex and time-consuming, requiring technical expertise.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, some advanced features may have a steep learning curve.
  • Dependence on Integrations
    While integrations are a strength, the platform's full potential might only be realized if used with specific third-party tools.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Users might have privacy concerns regarding data handling, especially when integrated with numerous external services.

Zed features and specs

  • Collaborative Editing
    Zed offers real-time collaborative editing features, allowing multiple developers to work on the same codebase simultaneously, enhancing team productivity and communication.
  • Minimalist Interface
    The interface is designed to be distraction-free and minimalist, which helps developers focus on coding without unnecessary clutter and distractions.
  • Speed and Performance
    Zed is built with performance in mind, offering fast loading times and a smooth user experience, making coding more efficient.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Zed is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide array of users regardless of their operating system.
  • Innovative Features
    Zed includes several innovative features such as advanced search and navigation capabilities, which can significantly enhance the coding experience.

Possible disadvantages of Zed

  • Limited Extensions
    Compared to more established editors like VS Code, Zed currently has a more limited library of extensions and plugins, which might restrict customization and functionality.
  • Learning Curve
    New users coming from other development environments may face a learning curve due to Zed's unique interface and features.
  • Early Development
    As a relatively new tool, Zed may still be in its early stages of development, with potential bugs and missing features that could affect stability and user experience.
  • Community Size
    The community and user base for Zed is still growing, which can mean less community support, tutorials, and shared resources compared to more mature editors.

Analysis of Cursor

Overall verdict

  • Cursor is a valuable tool for businesses seeking to streamline their customer management processes. It is particularly praised for its ease of use, flexible features, and ability to enhance productivity by automating repetitive tasks.

Why this product is good

  • Cursor (cursor.com) is considered a good platform because it offers users a robust framework for managing customer interactions and data. It integrates well with other software solutions, provides intuitive user interfaces, and comes with analytical tools that help in making informed business decisions.

Recommended for

    Cursor is recommended for small to medium-sized businesses looking for an efficient customer relationship management (CRM) solution. It's ideal for teams that need an integrated system to manage customer interactions, support operations, and sales tracking.

Analysis of Zed

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Zed is considered a good code editor by many developers.

Why this product is good

  • Zed offers a modern and efficient code editing experience with features such as real-time collaboration, a clean interface, and high performance. It is built to be fast and responsive, making it suitable for developers who value speed in their editing tools.

Recommended for

    Developers looking for a collaborative and fast code editor with a modern interface would benefit from using Zed. It is especially suited for teams that require real-time collaboration capabilities.

Cursor videos

Why I QUIT VS Code for Cursor AI (Honest Review + Beginner Tutorial)

More videos:

  • Review - I Finally Tried The AI-Powered VS Code Killer | Cursor IDE Review
  • Review - Github Copilot vs Cursor: which AI coding assistant is better?

Zed videos

Zed โ€œkillsโ€ VSCode

More videos:

  • Review - Zed - The 'Visual Studio Code Killer' - Now on Linux!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Cursor and Zed)
AI
100 100%
0% 0
Text Editors
0 0%
100% 100
Developer Tools
71 71%
29% 29
Coding
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Cursor and Zed. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Cursor and Zed

Cursor Reviews

Cursor vs Windsurf vs GitHub Copilot
The gap between Cursor and Windsurf is narrow and closing fast. While Cursor wins for now based on slightly better overall results and stability, Windsurf's rapid development and polished experience make it a compelling alternative that could easily take the lead with a few refinements. If you want to really push the boundaries of what AI can do for your coding, Cursor is...
Source: www.builder.io
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot
Cursor's tab completion is pretty wild. It'll suggest multiple lines of code, and it's looking at your whole project to make those suggestions. For TypeScript and Python files - when Tab suggests an unimported symbol, Cursor will auto-import it to your current file. Plus, it even tries to guess where you're going to edit next.
Source: www.builder.io

Zed Reviews

We have no reviews of Zed yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Zed seems to be a lot more popular than Cursor. While we know about 68 links to Zed, we've tracked only 5 mentions of Cursor. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Cursor mentions (5)

  • Use LLM for EDA licenses analysis
    Here is an example how to connect Prometheus DB to Cursor AI code editor. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Day 1 of experimenting with open source (and I'm already confused)
    What information do I need to give Cursor or any IDE to not completely mess things up? - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • AI user interface patterns
    In the wild: Code assistance plug-ins in IDEs (such as Genie AI, Amazon Q, CodeGPT, Codeium and Llama Coder) and dedicated IDEs (such as Cursor). Email and text message completion, as seen in Gmail, LinkedIn messaging and Apple Messages. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • TailwindCSS: A Game-Changer for AI-Driven Code Generation and Design Systems
    Tools like Cursor are taking this to the next level. Cursor is an AI-powered code editor that integrates seamlessly with frameworks like TailwindCSS, allowing developers to generate code snippets, refactor existing code, and even get explanations about complex codebases. When used in conjunction with TailwindCSS, Cursor can significantly speed up the development process, suggesting appropriate utility classes and... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • What is this reality where everyone can build an app
    Weโ€™ve been talking for a while about how neural networks will replace (and are replacing, to some extent) developers. This change is expected in the foreseeable future โ€” not tomorrow, as NVIDIAโ€™s CEO might hope, but I bet Iโ€™ll witness it in my lifetime. Twenty years ago, website creation required a skillset possessed by a small circle of people. Now, weโ€™re seeing that virtually anyone can build a basic app with... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago

Zed mentions (68)

  • Zed for Laravel - Complete Editor Setup in One Command
    Setting up a code editor for Laravel development can be time-consuming. After switching to Zed - the lightning-fast editor from Atom's creators - I spent weeks configuring it perfectly for Laravel. - Source: dev.to / about 20 hours ago
  • KDE is now my favorite desktop
    One thing I'm happy with in KDE is that the menu is still a thing. At least there is an option in many apps, such as the file manager, Dolphin to show the menu. Unlike Gnome which is very inconsistent about hamburger menus and open buttons, KDE just sticks to the old-fashioned menu bar. In this it is like MacOS, (although if you don't use a Mac you mightn't be aware of the universality of the main menu, because... - Source: Hacker News / 16 days ago
  • The Helix Text Editor
    You are looking for https://zed.dev. - Source: Hacker News / 26 days ago
  • Stop Treating Your Blade Files Like Trash Bins. Give Them Contracts And Structure
    This step does not require any code setup but requires installing plugin/extension in your IDE. I use VS Code for Laravel development. I found an excellent extension PHP Tools by DevSense for VS Code which I used to use in Visual Studio when working with .Net framework. This extension is available for Cursor, Zed ,Visual Studio and VS Code. But if you are using a different editor you need to find similar extension. - Source: dev.to / 24 days ago
  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (September 2025)
    Zed is a company for developers, by developers. All 3 of our founders have spent years in the trenches writing software and still do it almost every single day. We know the only way to build the world's best code editor is by equipping every single member of the team to do the best work of their career. We've raised $42M to support our ultimate vision, a new way to collaborate on software, where conversations... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Cursor and Zed, you can also consider the following products

GitHub Copilot - Your AI pair programmer. With GitHub Copilot, get suggestions for whole lines or entire functions right inside your editor.

VS Code - Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

Windsurf Editor - Tomorrow's editor, today. Windsurf Editor is the first AI agent-powered IDE that keeps developers in the flow. Available today on Mac, Windows, and Linux.

VSCodium - Binary releases of Visual Sudio Code without Microsoft branding, telemetry and licensing

PaletAI - Create, play, and share AI-generated mobile games, no coding required.

Sublime Text - Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor for code, html and prose - any kind of text file. You'll love the slick user interface and extraordinary features. Fully customizable with macros, and syntax highlighting for most major languages.