Amazon Q Developer vs Cursor
Two of the most-asked-about agents in the coding space. Here's how they actually stack up.
Amazon Q Developer
AWS-native AI coding assistant with deep cloud integration
Free + $19/mo
Read full review →Cursor
AI-first code editor built on top of VS Code
Free + $20/mo
Read full review →Side-by-side comparison
| Amazon Q Developer | Cursor | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | AWS-native AI coding assistant with deep cloud integration | AI-first code editor built on top of VS Code |
| Pricing | Free + $19/mo | Free + $20/mo |
| Categories | coding, vscode-extension, jetbrains, enterprise | coding, ide |
| Made by | Amazon Web Services | Anysphere |
| Launched | 2024-04 | 2023-03 |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux, AWS Console | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Status | active | active |
Amazon Q Developer highlights
- + Inline code completions with AWS API and service awareness built in
- + Agentic chat in VS Code, JetBrains, Visual Studio, Eclipse, and the AWS Console
- + Code Transformation for Java 8/11 to 17 upgrades and .NET Windows-to-Linux migration
- + CLI completions with natural-language-to-bash translation
- + Security scanning for OWASP Top 10 and AWS-specific misconfigurations
Cursor highlights
- + Inline AI completions with project-wide context
- + Composer mode for multi-file edits from a single prompt
- + Agent mode for autonomous task execution
- + Tab completion that learns your patterns
- + Built-in chat with codebase indexing
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Amazon Q Developer or Cursor?
Neither is universally better. Amazon Q Developer (Free + $19/mo) leans into coding, while Cursor (Free + $20/mo) is closer to coding. Pick based on which workflow you actually do every day.
What is the price difference between Amazon Q Developer and Cursor?
Amazon Q Developer is free + $19/mo. Cursor is free + $20/mo. See the pricing row in the comparison table.
Can I use Amazon Q Developer and Cursor together?
In most cases, yes. They serve overlapping but distinct needs, so running them side by side is common until you decide which fits your workflow.