BusyFirm
vs
Cursor
Cursor writes the code. We write the code, host it, give you a database, generate media, and connect your users — all in one tab.
The complete shipping platform. Same AI, 10x the surface area.
Three reasons engineers switch from Cursor to BusyFirm
Building experience
| Feature | Busy Firm | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
AI pair programming in-editor | Yes | Yes |
Runs locally vs in-browser | Browser-based (zero install) | Desktop app (download) |
Live preview of your shipped site | Yes | No |
AI sees live DOM + runtime errors | Yes | No |
One-click deploy with free subdomain | Yes | No |
Free hosted Postgres database per project | Yes | No |
Image / video / voice / 3D generation included | Yes | No |
BYOK Claude Max + OpenAI + DeepSeek + Gemini | All four | Claude only |
Teams + enterprise
| Feature | Busy Firm | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
Team workspaces with seat cap from tier | Yes | Yes |
White-label / reseller tier | Yes | No |
Platform CRM for your customers | Yes | No |
Virtual terminal (charge customer cards) | Yes | No |
Price per plan
Our $149 tier includes a full CRM, team workspaces, and white-label. Cursor's $40 tier includes… the same editor.
| Tier | Busy Firm | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 (30 credits) | $0 (2k completions) |
| Starter / Pro | $20 | $20 |
| Business | $149 (team + CRM + white-label) | $40 (business only, nothing else) |
Migrate in 15 minutes
- 1Push your Cursor project to GitHub (you likely already have).
- 2Click "Import from GitHub" on our Builder and paste the URL.
- 3Our persistent Claude Code engine mounts the repo and picks up where Cursor left off.
- 4Connect a free Supabase DB in one click — a feature Cursor never shipped.
- 5Deploy to a free subdomain or your custom domain.
When to choose Cursor instead
We're not right for everyone. Here's when Cursor is the better pick:
- •You only hack locally, never ship, never need a database or domain.
- •You live in the terminal and want a native macOS/Windows desktop experience with no browser tab.
- •You edit giant enterprise monorepos where a cloud editor isn't realistic.
Common questions
Can I keep using Cursor on my desktop?+
Yes — they're different tools. Cursor is a desktop IDE. We're a cloud platform that ships apps. Many users keep Cursor for local hacking and use us when they're ready to publish with a database, media assets, and a live domain.
Does your AI write as good code as Cursor?+
Same underlying model. We run the persistent Claude Code engine via stream-JSON — identical to Cursor's Claude integration. Where we differ is what surrounds the AI: live preview of the running site, DOM snapshots, error feeds, database panel, and a free domain.
What if I prefer a native editor?+
We ship Monaco (the VS Code editor core) inside the browser. Keybindings, multi-cursor, split panes, find-in-files — all there. No install, syncs across devices.
How does pricing actually compare?+
At $20 both tools match. At $40 Cursor is code-only; at $49 we add 500 image generations, 15 video clips, a free database, form submissions and more. At $149 we add a full CRM and team workspaces Cursor doesn't offer at any tier.
Can my Claude Max subscription carry over?+
Yes, BYOK via OAuth. If you're already paying Anthropic $200/mo, connect your account and platform usage runs on your existing quota.
Cursor edits. We ship.
Try BusyFirm free for 7 days. Keep Cursor running locally. See how much faster you move when the whole platform is on your side.
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Last verified: 2026-04-17 · Written by the Busy Firm product team · Have a correction? Tell us.