Cursor alternative
Buildful vs Cursor
Cursor is an AI code editor: you work in it, and its agent edits your files. Its cloud agents can also take a task and open a pull request. Buildful is built only for that second job: describe a change, get back a tested pull request.
1,000 tasks for $10 a month.About a cent a task.
Your first 3 tasks are free. No card needed.
Stay with Cursor if
- You want AI help inside the editor you code in all day.
- You like accepting or rejecting each edit as it happens.
- Your project already runs on your machine.
Switch to Buildful if
- You'd rather describe the change than write it.
- You'd rather the agent worked in its own cloud machine than on your computer.
- You want your tests run on every change, and every UI change tried in a real browser and recorded.
- You want a set monthly price: 1,000 tasks for $10.
At a glance
How Cursor and Buildful compare
| Compared on | Cursor | Buildful |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Pro $20 a month. Pro+ $60 and Ultra $200 for heavier use. | Pro is $10 a month for 1,000 tasks. Team is $40 for 3,000. Free to try with 3 tasks. |
| Where it runs | In Cursor's editor on your computer. Cloud agents run in Cursor's cloud. | In a private cloud sandbox, one per task, deleted when the task ends. Nothing runs on your computer. |
| To get started | Download the editor and open your project. | Sign up and connect a GitHub repo. |
| Models | Pick from models by several AI providers. | Buildful picks the right open-weight model for each task. On Pro and Team, pick a frontier model yourself, like Claude or GPT, with prepaid credit or your own API key. |
| What you get back | Edits in your editor, which you accept and commit, or a pull request from a cloud agent. | A pull request on your GitHub repo, ready to review and merge. |
| Testing | Runs the commands you or its agent choose. Cloud agents can test in their own VM and attach videos. | Runs your repo's checks, then tests UI changes in a real browser and records it. |
Try it on your repoYour first 3 tasks are free. No card needed. |
Compare Buildful with other tools
Why we built Buildful
Great software shouldn't depend on who can afford a $200 subscription.
- A model chosen for each taskBuildful picks the right open-weight model for each one. Frontier models, whenever you choose.
- Your repos, your pull requestsEvery change is a pull request on your GitHub. One task can change several repos, one PR each. Nothing reaches main without you.
- Tested before you mergeYour checks run, and every UI change is tested in a real browser and recorded.
Tasks can also start from Slack or Linear
Switching from Cursor
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep using Cursor with Buildful?
Yes. Buildful opens pull requests on the same GitHub repo you open in Cursor. Pull the branch into Cursor whenever you want to keep working on it by hand.
Can I choose the model?
Yes, on Pro and Team: pick a frontier model yourself, like Claude or GPT, with prepaid credit, or bring your own API key. The tasks included in your plan run on the open-weight model Buildful picks for each one.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Buildful runs every task in a private cloud sandbox. You need a browser and a GitHub repo.
What happens to my repo?
Buildful works on a new branch and opens a pull request. Nothing reaches your main branch until you review the change and merge it.
Your first 3 tasks are free. No card needed.