Mel vs Cursor: an AI editor or an agentic terminal?

Cursor is a code editor built around AI. Mel – the agentic terminal (openmel.dev) is a team of agents that plans, builds, tests and ships your work from the terminal, with a VS Code extension too. Choose an AI editor when you write most of the code yourself with AI help; choose an agentic terminal when you want to hand off a whole task and review the result. Many developers use both.

What is the difference between an AI editor and an agentic terminal?

An AI editor helps you while you write code: it suggests, explains and edits inside the file you have open. An agentic terminal takes a goal, such as "make the failing login test pass", and works through the steps itself: it reads the project, edits files, runs the build and the tests, reads the errors and tries again.

Both use the same kinds of models. The difference is who drives each step.

When is Cursor the better pick?

Cursor is a good pick when most of your day is writing code by hand and you want AI help in the same window: a suggestion as you type, an explanation of a function, an edit to the file in front of you. If you like to see every line take shape, an AI editor keeps you closest to the code.

When is Mel the better pick?

Mel is the better pick when you want to hand off a task and come back to a result. You describe the work, and Mel's agents plan it, write the code, run the tests and fix what fails. You stay in control: configurable approvals keep you in control of commands and edits, and every change shows up as a diff you can review before you ship it.

Mel works with Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek and Qwen, so you are not tied to one model company. It runs on Mac, Windows and Linux, plus a VS Code extension.

Mel also suits teams: configurable approvals for everyone, and the Business plan gives a team shared credits and one invoice.

Tip: to compare the two fairly, give both the same small, real task with a test, such as "fix this failing test and keep the others green". Time how long you spend on it yourself, not only how long the tool takes.

Can you use Cursor and Mel together?

Yes. A common split is to write and shape code in your editor, and hand the longer jobs to an agentic terminal: a refactor across many files, a failing test suite, a dependency upgrade. Because Mel works in your project's folder and shows each change as a diff, its work lands in the same git history your editor sees.

How do you choose?

1. You write most code yourself and want help as you type? An AI editor such as Cursor.
2. You want to hand off whole tasks and review the result? An agentic terminal such as Mel.
3. You want both? Use the editor for hand edits and Mel for the jobs you hand off.
4. A team that wants several models, approvals and one bill? Try Mel Business.

What does Mel cost?

Mel is free with your own API key on Mac, Windows and Linux (your provider's usage charges apply). Pro is $20 a month and Max is $200 a month. Business is $50 a seat a month, two seats minimum, with shared credits and one invoice. See pricing.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mel a code editor? No. Mel is an agentic terminal: a multi-agent, multi-model AI terminal. It also has a VS Code extension, so you can use it next to your editor.

Does Mel replace Cursor? Not necessarily. Mel is built for handing off tasks; an AI editor is built for writing code with help. Many people use one of each.

Which models does Mel work with? Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek and Qwen.

Try Mel

Download Mel for free and give it one real task with a test. If you want to see it on your team's own repo, write to hello@openmel.dev and we will set up a short demo.

Mel – the agentic terminal · openmel.dev. The agentic team for coding.