Developers want a fast, native editor with a built-in agent panel and BYOK model choice instead of a VS Code fork. This guide maps your config files, walks a 4-step migration checklist and prices the seat delta for a 10-dev team.
01Migration brief
Developers want a fast, native editor with a built-in agent panel and BYOK model choice instead of a VS Code fork. Costs $2/seat/mo more (+$240/yr for a 10-dev team).
Cursor
Anysphere $8 per month · FreemiumCursor is an AI-native code editor that functions as a coding agent capable of autonomously planning, building, and testing software features. It supports multi-agent collaboration, codebase indexing, and provides a unified workspace for managing complex development tasks.
Zed
Zed Industries $10 per month · FreemiumZed is a high-performance, open-source code editor built in Rust with GPU acceleration for speed and multiplayer collaboration. It natively integrates AI agents and edit predictions, allowing developers to choose between using Zed-hosted models, external agents, or their own API keys from various providers.
02Rules & cost
Convert Cursor rules to the Zed format, then review the output before committing.
Costs $2/seat/mo more (+$240/yr for a 10-dev team).
034-step checklist
- 01
Audit & export your Cursor rulesCursor reads repo-level rules from .cursor/rules/*.mdc. Convert them to AGENTS.md with the Rules Converter, then review the output before committing. Open →
- 02
Install & configure ZedInstall Zed with `curl -f https://zed.dev/install.sh | sh`. Pricing: Freemium — entry plan Pro at $10/mo. Open ↗
- 03
Adapt your daily workflow (AI IDEs → AI IDEs)You stay inside a full editor, but the agent surface moves — expect a short relearning curve for where edits, diffs and chat live. Zed is best for developers prioritizing raw editor performance, speed, and real-time collaboration who want the flexibility to toggle between built-in AI tools and their own preferred models.
- 04
Run a one-week parallel pilot, then reallocate seatsCosts $2/seat/mo more (+$240/yr for a 10-dev team). Keep Cursor active for one sprint while Zed handles new tasks; cancel seats only after velocity holds. Open →
04Trade-offs
What you gain
- Zed is best for developers prioritizing raw editor performance, speed, and real-time collaboration who want the flexibility to toggle between built-in AI tools and their own preferred models.
- GPU-accelerated performance.
- Real-time multiplayer collaboration.
- Native AI agent support and edit predictions.
What you give up
- Cursor is positioned for developers looking for a deep-integrated AI coding experience that can manage long-running tasks, codebase context, and autonomous feature building. — confirm Zed covers that before cancelling seats.
- Zed is not ideal for users who require advanced, platform-native integrated features like deeply developed Vim mode (currently a work-in-progress) or those who prefer a non-technical, all-in-one AI coding environment wit…
Running both together: Running both is mostly redundant — pilot Zed on one repo for a sprint, then pick one.
05Spec sheet
| Cursor | Zed | |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Anysphere | Zed Industries |
| Category | AI-Native IDEs & Editors | AI-Native IDEs & Editors |
| Pricing | Freemium Free tier available. Paid plans (The X Subscription) start at $8/month (Plus), with Premium ($30/mo), Super ($100/mo), and Ultra ($200/mo) tiers. Teams plans are available at $30+ per seat/month. | Freemium Free for personal use without hosted AI features. Pro plan is $10/month for hosted AI and unlimited edit predictions. Business plan is $30/seat/month for organizational controls and management. |
| Entry paid plan | Plus ($8/mo) | Pro ($10/mo) |
| Rules file | .cursor/rules/*.mdc | AGENTS.md |
| Key features |
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06FAQ
How do I convert my Cursor rules to Zed?+
Cursor reads .cursor/rules/*.mdc and Zed reads AGENTS.md. Run them through the Rules Converter (https://ai.dosa.dev/tools/rules-converter?from=cursor-mdc&to=agents-md) and review the output before committing.
Is Zed cheaper than Cursor?+
Cursor starts at Plus ($8/mo); Zed starts at Pro ($10/mo). Costs $2/seat/mo more (+$240/yr for a 10-dev team).
What do I lose when switching from Cursor to Zed?+
Cursor is positioned for developers looking for a deep-integrated AI coding experience that can manage long-running tasks, codebase context, and autonomous feature building. — confirm Zed covers that before cancelling seats. Zed is not ideal for users who require advanced, platform-native integrated features like deeply developed Vim mode (currently a work-in-progress) or those who prefer a non-technical, all-in-one AI coding environment wit…
Can I use Cursor and Zed together?+
Running both is mostly redundant — pilot Zed on one repo for a sprint, then pick one.