UtilityGenAI
ChatGPT-4vsCursor
A detailed side-by-side comparison of ChatGPT-4 and Cursor to help you choose the best AI tool for your needs.
ChatGPT-4
Price: $20/month
Pros
- Exceptional reasoning
- Large plugin ecosystem
- Reliable code generation
Cons
- Subscription required
- Knowledge cutoff dates
Cursor
Price: Free / $20/mo
Pros
- Best-in-class codebase indexing
- Uses GPT-4 & Claude 3.5
- Privacy mode
Cons
- Requires changing IDE
- Subscription for best models
| Feature | ChatGPT-4 | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Context Window | 128k | Full Codebase |
| Coding Ability | Excellent | Excellent |
| Web Browsing | Yes | Yes |
| Image Generation | Yes | No |
| Multimodal | Yes | No |
| Api Available | Yes | No |
Real-World Test Results
Tone-of-Voice Challenge
Winner: DrawPrompt Used:
"Asked to write a rejection email to a job candidate that sounds 'warm, empathetic, but final'—no generic HR speak."
Result A:The output from ChatGPT-4 was a bit too formal and cold for what I asked. I ended up rewriting most of it to match our company's voice.
Result B:The output from Cursor was a bit too formal and cold for what I asked. I ended up rewriting most of it to match our company's voice.
Analysis: Honestly, both tools did well here. They each have their own approach, and neither clearly outshone the other in this specific scenario.
Summarizing a Technical Whitepaper
Winner: DrawPrompt Used:
"Pasted a dense 10-page crypto whitepaper and asked for a 'Like I'm 5' summary that my non-technical boss could understand."
Result A:ChatGPT-4 just shortened the paragraphs but kept the confusing terminology. I had to explain half of it anyway, so not much time saved.
Result B:Cursor just shortened the paragraphs but kept the confusing terminology. I had to explain half of it anyway, so not much time saved.
Analysis: Honestly, both tools did well here. They each have their own approach, and neither clearly outshone the other in this specific scenario.
## ChatGPT-4 vs. Cursor
### ChatGPT-4
OpenAI's most advanced general-purpose LLM, known for its strong reasoning and vast knowledge base.
**Best for:** Various use cases
### Cursor
An AI-first code editor that forks VS Code to integrate AI into every keystroke.
**Best for:** Various use cases
### Verdict
Both tools offer unique strengths. Choose based on your specific needs and workflow.
Final Verdict
Both tools offer unique strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.