To get started with Cursor, install the desktop app for your operating system, sign in, open a project folder, ask Agent to explain the codebase, then make one small change and review the diff. Cursor’s Quickstart is designed to take you from installation to a first useful change. Before using AI features on sensitive or employer-owned code, check Privacy Mode and your organization’s rules.
Before you install Cursor
Cursor is a desktop code editor with AI features. The current Quickstart lists macOS 12 (Monterey) or later, Windows 10 or later, and Linux. Use Cursor’s official download flow to choose the installer for your system; the available downloads and supported versions can change.
On Linux, Cursor’s Quickstart describes Debian/Ubuntu and RHEL/Fedora package installs as well as an AppImage. It says package installation is preferred because it provides desktop icons, automatic updates, and CLI tools. Follow the current download page’s instructions for your distribution rather than copying commands from an older guide.
Choose a project you are permitted to use with the AI service configured in Cursor. For company code, check your organization’s policy or ask its administrator before opening it in an AI-enabled editor. Privacy settings matter, but they do not replace your employer’s approval requirements.
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Install Cursor and open your project
- Download Cursor: Use the official Cursor download flow and select the package for macOS, Windows, or Linux.
- Install and launch the app: Complete the operating-system installer steps, then open Cursor.
- Sign in: Follow the in-app sign-in flow. Cursor’s Quickstart directs new users to sign in before choosing a folder.
- Open a project folder: Select the root folder of an existing codebase you are allowed to share with the configured AI service. Starting at the project root gives Cursor context across relevant files, rather than only the file currently open.
- Wait for the project to be ready: Let the editor finish loading the folder before asking questions about its structure. If the folder is large, begin with a focused question rather than asking for a full rewrite.
What should you ask Cursor first?
Begin with orientation, not code generation. Cursor’s Quickstart suggests this exact prompt for Agent:
“Explain this codebase. Point me to the main entry points, key modules, and anything I should read before making changes.”
Read the answer as a map to verify, not as proof that every detail is correct. Open the files it identifies, compare its descriptions with the code, and note anything that seems inconsistent. A useful follow-up is to ask about one unfamiliar file or how a specific feature appears to connect to the rest of the project. This narrows the task and gives you an opportunity to check the explanation against the source.
Make one small change and review it
For a first edit, choose something with a clear, limited outcome: Cursor’s Quickstart gives improving copy or fixing a small UI issue as examples of low-risk tasks. Avoid beginning with a broad request to refactor the project, change its architecture, or modify many files. Small scope makes it easier to spot an incorrect assumption and decide whether the result is acceptable.
- Describe the requested outcome: Say what should change and, where helpful, what should stay unchanged. For example, ask for a particular piece of interface copy to be clearer without changing the page’s behavior.
- Ask about the trade-offs: If Cursor offers several approaches, ask what each one changes before choosing. The smallest implementation that meets the goal is usually easiest to review.
- Inspect the proposed change: When Agent finishes, review the diff file by file. Check that the edit matches the request and has not introduced unrelated changes.
- Verify the behavior: Use the project’s existing checks or run the relevant part of the application if you know how. The Quickstart calls for reviewing the diff; the appropriate test commands depend on the project and are not established by Cursor’s setup instructions.
- Keep, revise, or undo deliberately: If the result is wrong or broader than intended, ask for a targeted correction or revert it using your normal version-control workflow. Do not accept a change solely because the agent says it is complete.
When to use Plan Mode
For work spanning several files, requiring research, or needing agreement on the approach before edits begin, use Plan Mode rather than immediately asking Agent to implement everything. Cursor’s Quickstart describes Plan Mode as researching the codebase, clarifying requirements, producing a plan, and then waiting for approval.
A practical sequence is to explain the goal, answer any questions that clarify requirements, read the proposed plan, and approve it only when its scope and intended behavior make sense. If the plan misses a constraint, correct it before approval. Plan Mode helps structure a larger task; it does not remove the need to inspect the implementation and its diff afterward.
Is Cursor free, and when should you pay?
Cursor lists a free Hobby plan and paid plans. Its plan names, included usage, prices, and terms can change, so consult the current official pricing and Models & Pricing information before subscribing. As of Cursor’s published figures observed in 2026, its individual plans included Pro at $20/month, Pro Plus at $60/month, and Ultra at $200/month; the India-only Start plan was listed at ₹649/month including tax. These are plan prices shown by Cursor, not a recommendation for every developer or a guarantee that usage is unlimited.
| Plan or usage context | What Cursor’s published information says | How to use that information |
|---|---|---|
| Hobby | Listed as free by Cursor | A starting point if you want to try Cursor before paying; check the current page for included usage and limits. |
| Pro | $20/month in Cursor’s 2026 published figures | Compare included usage and model access with your actual workload before choosing. |
| Pro Plus | $60/month in Cursor’s 2026 published figures | Check Cursor’s current plan details; a higher price alone does not establish that you need it. |
| Ultra | $200/month in Cursor’s 2026 published figures | Assess whether your work justifies the current allowance and cost before subscribing. |
| Start | ₹649/month including tax; listed for India only in Cursor’s 2026 figures | Availability and tax treatment are specific to the region and may change. |
Cursor explains that plan-specific usage pools apply and that usage depends on plan and model choice. Its pricing page also gives its own estimates: “Daily Agent users: Typically $60–$100/mo total usage” and “Power users (multiple agents/automation): Often $200+/mo total usage.” Those are Cursor’s guidance, not an independent benchmark or a prediction of what an individual will spend. Actual costs depend on activity and the models used. Check the current usage terms before relying on an allowance or estimate.
If you do subscribe, Cursor says subscriptions are sold directly through cursor.com and that it does not authorize resellers or third-party sellers. Use official purchasing channels and verify the current plan details at checkout.
Should you turn on Privacy Mode?
Check Privacy Mode before using AI features with code you consider sensitive. Cursor states: “When it is enabled, we guarantee that code data is not used for training by us or our model providers.” This is Cursor’s statement about training use; it should not be read as a claim about retention, access controls, certifications, or data residency. Those details are not established here.
Review the current Cursor settings and privacy information to confirm the setting’s status. If you work with employer-owned or regulated code, ask your administrator what is permitted. Enabling Privacy Mode does not, by itself, establish that a particular codebase is approved for use.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Using Cursor on a web project: an optional screenshot workflow
If your first task involves a website, a browser screenshot can help you compare the current page with the result you intended. This is an optional companion to the Cursor workflow, not a requirement for installing the editor. For a manual check, run the project using its own instructions, open the relevant page in a browser, and inspect the rendered UI at the viewport or device size you care about. Compare that view with the code diff; a code change that looks plausible in the editor can still render incorrectly.
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Or skip the browser setup
For an API-based capture, make one GET request with the page URL. Replace the target URL with your own page and provide your API key:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webp
See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options. ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server: it removes cookie banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are never billed; and its MCP server lets AI agents take screenshots. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card, and paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Sign up free for ScreenshotNeo.
Common first-session problems
- The project explanation is vague: Make the question narrower. Ask about a named directory, file, or feature, then open the referenced code and verify the answer.
- The proposed edit touches too much: Stop before accepting it. Restate the desired outcome and constraints, or ask for a plan first if the work genuinely spans files.
- You cannot tell what changed: Review the diff rather than relying on the agent’s summary. If the changes are difficult to evaluate, reduce the scope to one file or one visible behavior.
- You are unsure whether code can be shared: Pause AI use on that project and check organizational policy. Privacy Mode’s training statement is not a substitute for authorization.
- You are unsure whether the free plan is enough: Check the current plan usage details and monitor how your own model choices and activity fit them before moving to a paid tier.
- The installation instructions do not match your system: Return to Cursor’s current official download flow and select the package for your operating system and Linux distribution, if applicable; supported systems and installer details can change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Cursor without opening a project folder?
You can launch the desktop app, but the setup workflow in Cursor’s Quickstart proceeds by choosing a folder so the editor can work with a codebase.
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That broader conclusion is not established by Cursor’s cited training-use statement. Check Cursor’s current privacy terms for details beyond training.
Can my company control which Cursor plan or settings I use?
The material here does not establish specific organization controls. Ask your administrator which account, settings, and code-sharing rules apply to your team.
Quick Recap
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