Cursor AI 2026: The Complete Guide to the AI-Native IDE

Cursor AI is not a plugin — it's a full AI-native IDE. This 2026 guide covers Agent Mode, pricing, real-world use cases, and honest limitations. TD;LR Cursor AI is a full AI-native IDE built on VS Code that runs Claude, GPT, and Gemini directly inside your editor. It is not a plugin. Agent Mode handles autonomous multi-file editing, teams report 20–40% faster delivery, and it starts free. The honest caveat: it requires internet and every AI output still needs human review. What is Cursor AI? Cur