Quick Verdict: Devin vs Cursor
Bottom Line
Devin and Cursor are complementary, not competing. Devin is a fully autonomous agent for tasks you can hand off entirely. Cursor is an AI-assisted IDE for tasks where you stay in the loop. Use Devin for large-scale migrations, standardized refactoring, and overnight work. Use Cursor for debugging, exploration, and interactive coding.
Feature Comparison: Devin vs Cursor
| Feature | Devin | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fully autonomous agent | AI-assisted IDE |
| Interface | Slack, web app, REST API | Desktop IDE (VS Code fork) |
| Autonomy level | Full: plans, codes, debugs, deploys | Assisted: you drive, AI helps |
| Sandbox | Cloud sandbox with shell, browser, editor | Local machine (background agents have remote env) |
| Autocomplete | Not applicable | Real-time, sub-second |
| Background execution | Always (cloud-based) | Background agents (early preview) |
| Code review | Proposes PRs for review | Inline diffs in editor |
| Integrations | Slack, Teams, GitHub, GitLab, Jira, Linear | GitHub, limited integrations |
| Multi-model | Proprietary models | GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok + custom |
| Self-healing | Yes, reads errors and fixes autonomously | Requires developer intervention |
The Autonomy Spectrum: Delegation vs Collaboration
The fundamental difference is how much you stay involved.
Devin: Full Delegation
You write a task description. Devin breaks it into steps, writes code, runs tests, reads error logs, fixes issues, and proposes a PR. You review the result. The developer steps out of the critical path and re-enters at defined checkpoints.
Cursor: Active Collaboration
You stay in the editor. Agent mode can plan and execute multi-file changes, but you observe results immediately and steer direction in real-time. The feedback loop is tight. You and the AI co-create the solution.
Trust Models
Cursor builds trust through exposure. You see every change as it happens. Devin builds trust through delegation and results. You see the finished output. Neither approach is universally better, but the difference has real consequences for code quality, understanding, and developer skill development.
With Cursor, you understand every line because you watched it being written. With Devin, you review the PR but may not understand every decision made along the way. For codebases where deep understanding matters, Cursor keeps you closer to the code.
Devin Interactive Planning (v3.0)
Devin 3.0 added Interactive Planning to address the trust gap. Before executing, Devin researches your codebase and builds a detailed plan that you can modify. This gives you a review checkpoint without requiring you to stay involved during execution. Dynamic re-planning means if Devin hits a roadblock, it adjusts its strategy without manual intervention.
Cursor Background Agents
Cursor's background agents (early preview) move it slightly toward Devin's autonomous model. Agents run in isolated remote environments while you continue working. You can view status, send follow-ups, or take over at any time. This narrows the gap, but Cursor still assumes more developer involvement than Devin.
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Devin | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $20/mo minimum (Core) | $0 (Hobby, limited) |
| Standard | $2.25/ACU pay-as-you-go | $20/mo (Pro) |
| Teams | $500/mo (250 ACUs included) | $40/user/mo |
| Heavy usage | Scales with ACUs ($2-2.25/each) | $60/mo (Pro+) or $200/mo (Ultra) |
| Background/autonomous | All tasks are autonomous | Background agents billed at API pricing |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
Cost for Typical Usage
A solo developer using Cursor Pro at $20/month gets unlimited AI-assisted coding within their credit pool. The same developer using Devin for 4 hours of autonomous work per month (16 ACUs) would pay $20 base + $36 in ACUs = $56/month. For light autonomous work, the costs are comparable. For heavy delegation, Devin scales quickly.
Small teams (1-3 developers) typically get better ROI from Cursor. Devin's $500/month Teams plan is hard to justify unless the autonomous tasks generate clear, measurable time savings. Larger teams with repetitive migration or maintenance work see stronger returns from Devin.
Agent Capabilities
Devin's Autonomous Toolchain
Devin operates in a sandboxed cloud environment with its own shell, browser, and code editor. It can install dependencies, run test suites, browse documentation, access APIs, and deploy code. The sandbox prevents it from affecting your production environment while giving it the tools a human developer would use.
Devin Search
Codebase exploration tool that lets Devin understand large repositories before making changes. Maps dependencies, identifies patterns, and builds context autonomously.
Devin Wiki
Automatic documentation generation. Devin reads your codebase and produces structured documentation. Useful for onboarding and knowledge preservation.
Self-Healing
When code fails, Devin reads error logs, diagnoses the issue, and fixes it autonomously. Dynamic re-planning in v3.0 means it adjusts strategy without human help.
Cursor's Agent Mode
Cursor's agent mode (formerly Composer) plans multi-file changes, runs terminal commands, and iterates on errors. Up to 8 parallel subagents work in isolated worktrees with recursive nesting. Background agents run remotely. But the developer stays involved: reviewing diffs, approving changes, and steering direction.
| Capability | Devin | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Execution environment | Cloud sandbox (isolated) | Local + remote (background) |
| Internet access | Yes (browsing, APIs) | Local only (no browsing) |
| Self-healing on errors | Autonomous | Requires developer action |
| Parallel agents | Multiple simultaneous tasks | Up to 8 subagents |
| Task duration | Hours (72% of tasks >10 min) | Minutes (interactive) |
| PR creation | Autonomous PR proposals | Manual or via agent command |
When Devin Wins
Large-Scale Migrations
Applying standardized logging patterns across 200 files. Migrating from one framework to another. Enforcing new error handling conventions. Tasks with clear rules that span many files are Devin's sweet spot.
Overnight/Async Work
Assign a task before leaving for the day. Review the PR in the morning. Devin works when you don't, which is time you cannot replicate with an interactive IDE.
Non-IDE Workflows
Project managers, CTOs, and team leads who assign work through Slack without opening an IDE. Devin's conversational interface makes coding tasks accessible to non-developers for well-defined requests.
Repetitive Maintenance
Dependency updates, security patches, boilerplate generation, and documentation updates. Tasks that are well-defined but time-consuming for humans. Devin handles them without context-switching costs.
When Cursor Wins
Exploratory Coding
Prototyping, debugging, and building features where the requirements aren't fully defined. Cursor's tight feedback loop lets you adjust direction in real-time. Devin needs clear instructions upfront.
Small, Focused Changes
Quick bug fixes, function refactoring, and focused edits. Cursor's inline suggestions and agent mode handle these faster than Devin's full autonomous pipeline, which has more overhead per task.
UI Development
Frontend work requires visual feedback. Cursor lets you see changes instantly. Devin works in a headless environment and cannot give you the same iterative visual feedback loop.
Cost-Sensitive Solo Developers
$20/month for Cursor Pro gives you all-day AI assistance. The equivalent Devin usage would cost significantly more. For individual developers, Cursor is a better value for daily work.
The Hybrid Approach
Most productive teams use both. Cursor for daily interactive coding (80% of tasks). Devin for well-defined autonomous work (20% of tasks). The tools do not overlap significantly in practice. The question is not "which one" but "which tasks go where."
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Devin better than Cursor?
For autonomous tasks, yes. Devin works independently on large migrations, standardized refactoring, and overnight tasks. For interactive coding, no. Cursor's real-time AI assistance, autocomplete, and visual diffs are better for daily development work. Most teams use both tools for different task types.
How much does Devin cost compared to Cursor?
Devin Core starts at $20/month with $2.25 per ACU (about 15 minutes of work). Devin Teams is $500/month with 250 ACUs. Cursor Pro is $20/month. For equivalent coding time, Cursor is significantly cheaper. Devin's value comes from autonomous execution while you work on other things, not from dollar-per-hour comparison.
Can Devin replace a developer?
No. Devin handles well-defined, repetitive tasks autonomously but requires human oversight for planning, architecture decisions, and quality review. Think of it as a junior developer who can execute clearly-specified tasks independently, not a replacement for senior engineering judgment.
Does Devin work through Slack?
Yes. Devin integrates with Slack, Microsoft Teams, GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Jira, and Linear. You assign tasks conversationally. Devin reports progress in the same thread and creates PRs for review.
What is an ACU?
An Agent Compute Unit (ACU) measures Devin's compute resources: VM time, model inference, and network bandwidth. 1 ACU = about 15 minutes of active work. Core plan charges $2.25/ACU; Teams plan charges $2.00/ACU with 250 included in the $500/month subscription.
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