Choosing between Cursor and GitHub Copilot comes down to how each editor fits your Python workflow, not which one lists more features. Cursor is a standalone AI code editor, while GitHub Copilot brings AI into Visual Studio Code. You’ll build the same Markdown note manager in both and see where they diverge.
By the end of this tutorial, you’ll understand that:
- Both editors offer Agent, Plan, and Ask modes, so the differences show up in workflow rather than in feature lists.
- Cursor presents agent-generated changes as diffs and groups them in a dedicated review session, while Copilot applies the edits inline and lets you inspect them before keeping or undoing them.
- Pointing both editors at the same model is what separates editor differences from model differences.
- Project conventions live in
.cursor/rules/for Cursor and in.github/copilot-instructions.mdfor Copilot.
To see how the differences play out, you’ll set up both editors, build and debug the same application in each, and compare how they handle code completion, multi-file refactoring, and code review.
Before getting started, here’s a quick overview of which editor best fits different development workflows:
| If you want to… | Cursor | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Work in a dedicated AI development environment with reviewable edits | ✅ | — |
| Add AI to the VS Code workflow you already use | — | ✅ |
Choose Cursor if you want every AI edit staged for review before it touches your files. Choose GitHub Copilot if you’d rather add AI to your existing VS Code setup.
Get Your Code: Click here to download the free sample code for the Markdown note manager you’ll build with Cursor and GitHub Copilot in this tutorial.
Take the Quiz: Test your knowledge with our interactive “Cursor vs Copilot: Which AI Editor Is Better for Python?” quiz. You’ll receive a score upon completion to help you track your learning progress:
Interactive Quiz
Cursor vs Copilot: Which AI Editor Is Better for Python?Test your understanding of how Cursor and GitHub Copilot compare for Python across agent modes, code review, and project conventions.
Metrics Comparison: Cursor vs GitHub Copilot
The table below highlights some of the key differences between Cursor and GitHub Copilot before you start the hands-on comparison:
| Metric | Cursor | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| IDE support | Standalone AI-first editor built on VS Code | Extension for VS Code |
| VS Code extension compatibility | Supports most VS Code extensions, but some Microsoft-restricted ones, such as Pylance, aren’t available | Uses the VS Code extension ecosystem, including Microsoft extensions |
| Code review workflow | Ask mode, /review, and Bugbot for reviewing code, uncommitted changes, and pull requests |
Integrated Copilot code review for selected code, uncommitted changes, and pull requests |
| Pro plan pricing | $20/month, with usage-based Bugbot pricing | $10/month |
| Best suited for | Large, multi-file codebases and developers who frequently perform AI-assisted refactoring and project-wide changes | Developers who want a lightweight AI assistant integrated into their existing VS Code workflow |
The sections that follow focus on the practical experience of using each editor to build, validate, refactor, and review the same Python project.
Getting Started: Installation
You set up Cursor and GitHub Copilot in different ways, but the starting point is the same: you’ll need Python 3.12 or later installed on your system.
Cursor is a standalone editor, while Copilot integrates directly into VS Code. Both editors offer free plans. Cursor’s free plan is limited to its latest Composer model, while GitHub Copilot’s free plan uses automatic model selection only, with no manual model picker.
To keep the comparison focused on the editors rather than differences between AI models, you’ll configure both editors to use Claude Sonnet 5. Selecting the same model requires a Pro subscription for both Cursor and Copilot. You can follow this tutorial without Pro plans, but the two editors will then use different models, which adds another variable.
Installing Cursor
Head to the Cursor download page and download the installer for your operating system. When you launch Cursor for the first time, it can import your existing VS Code settings, extensions, themes, and keybindings, letting you get started without reconfiguring your environment.
However, not every VS Code extension is available in Cursor. Microsoft’s Pylance extension, for example, is licensed for use only with Microsoft products, so it won’t run in Cursor.
If you’re new to Cursor, Real Python’s video course on Tips for Using the AI Coding Editor Cursor covers the multi-agent interface, project-aware chat, and inline edits, all of which provide useful background before you compare it with Copilot.
Enabling GitHub Copilot in VS Code
GitHub Copilot adds AI assistance directly to VS Code, letting you build projects and speed up development without switching editors. Follow these steps to activate it:
- Open VS Code.
- Open the Extensions view and search for GitHub Copilot Chat.
- Select the GitHub Copilot Chat extension and click Enable AI Features.
The image below shows the extension page:
