OpenCursor / Cursor alternative
A free, open source alternative to Cursor
OpenCursor gives you the way of working people like in Cursor, an agent in the editor, edits you review as diffs, Tab completion, without a subscription to the editor itself. You bring the model: an API key, a plan you already pay for, a local model, or a free one. It is open source under the MIT license.
Updated October 29, 2026
What carries over from Cursor
- Agent chat in a side panel, with Agent, Plan, Debug and Ask modes.
Cmd+Lsends your selection to it. Cmd+Kto edit code in place, with the diff streamed into the file.- Tab completion over several lines.
@context for files, folders, symbols, git changes, docs, the web and earlier chats.- Project rules,
AGENTS.mdandCLAUDE.md, slash commands and MCP servers. Cursor projects work as they are. - Your settings and keybindings import from Cursor or VS Code in one step.
What is different
| OpenCursor | Cursor | |
|---|---|---|
| Price of the editor | Free | Free plan with limited AI, paid plans for more |
| Source code | Open, MIT license | Closed |
| Your own API key | Used for everything: chat, agent, Cmd+K and Tab | Supported with restrictions |
| Claude or ChatGPT plan you already pay for | Yes, through Claude Code or Codex | Not as the editor's model |
| Local models (Ollama, LM Studio) | Yes | Not documented |
| Free models | OpenCode free models and 18 free tier models | Limited free usage on the free plan |
| Account | None | Required |
| Server in between | None; requests go straight to your provider | Requests go through Cursor's service |
Checked October 29, 2026, from each project's own site or repository. Tell us if something changed: github.com/noah-thing/open-cursor/issues
Where Cursor is ahead
Cursor is a company with a large team. It trains its own models for Tab and fast edits, has team management, cloud agents and years of polish. If those matter to you and the subscription is fine, Cursor is a good editor. OpenCursor is for people who want the same core workflow on their own terms: their own model, their own bill, open code.
Switching takes a minute
- Install OpenCursor from opencursor.org.
- Import your settings and keybindings from Cursor when it asks.
- Pick a model: a subscription you are signed in to, an API key, a local model, or Free (auto).
- Open your project.
.cursorrules and MCP settings are picked up.
Questions
Is OpenCursor made by Cursor?
No. It is an independent open source project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Anysphere, the company behind Cursor.
Is it the same as the OpenCursor project by PawanOsman on GitHub?
No. That is a separate VS Code extension. This OpenCursor is a full editor at opencursor.org, with its source at github.com/noah-thing/open-cursor.
Can I keep using Cursor too?
Yes. They install side by side, and your projects work in both.
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