Comparing Cursor and Trae: AI IDEs for Front-End Developers

Overview In 2025, AI-powered IDEs are rapidly changing how front-end developers work. Two of the most promising tools in this space are Cursor and Trae. Each brings unique strengths, from AI-assisted coding to streamlined development experiences. In this article, we’ll compare them in detail to help you decide which is the right choice for you. Cursor: The AI-Powered IDE Built on VS Code General Info Base: Built on Visual Studio Code AI Models: Supports Claude 3.5 Sonnet, GPT-4o, and others Pricing: Hobby: Free Pro: 20 USD/month Business: 40 USD/user/month Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux Key Features AI chat that understands your project structure Context-aware code generation and editing AI-powered multi-file refactors and pull request reviews Built-in version control interface Seamless GitHub integration Pros Mature, stable, and widely supported Deep AI integration Ideal for complex projects Review window for selective application of AI changes Cons Pro plan required for most AI features May be overkill for small or personal projects Trae: ByteDance’s Lightweight AI IDE General Info Created by: ByteDance (TikTok’s parent company) AI Models: Claude 3.5 Pricing: Free Platforms: Initially macOS only; Windows support added in 2025 Key Features Code generation and editing with Claude AI Lightweight and minimal interface Real-time web previews Automatic environment setup for projects Convert image mockups to code Pros 100% free to use Quick and easy for bootstrapping projects Impressive AI features for a free tool Image-to-code feature is innovative Cons Not as stable or full-featured as Cursor Still maturing as a daily-driver IDE Less ecosystem support Performance Feature Cursor Trae AI Accuracy Excellent Good Speed Fast Moderate Stability Very Stable Still Improving Refactor Support Advanced (multi-file) Basic Pricing Paid (Free tier limited) Free OS Compatibility All platforms macOS, Windows Verdict: Which One Is Better for Front-End Devs? If you’re a front-end developer working with large codebases and you need precise, context-aware AI tools, Cursor is the better option. Its feature set is polished and built for professional teams. On the other hand, if you’re experimenting, learning, or just need a quick AI-powered environment for smaller tasks, Trae offers some amazing capabilities at no cost. Sources Cursor AI Review — Engine Labs (2025) Trae vs Cursor Comparison — Builder.io Trae AI IDE Review — HelloBala

Apr 18, 2025 - 20:36

Comparing Cursor and Trae: AI IDEs for Front-End Developers

Overview

In 2025, AI-powered IDEs are rapidly changing how front-end developers work. Two of the most promising tools in this space are Cursor and Trae. Each brings unique strengths, from AI-assisted coding to streamlined development experiences. In this article, we’ll compare them in detail to help you decide which is the right choice for you.

Cursor: The AI-Powered IDE Built on VS Code

General Info

Base: Built on Visual Studio Code
AI Models: Supports Claude 3.5 Sonnet, GPT-4o, and others
Pricing:
- Hobby: Free
- Pro: 20 USD/month
- Business: 40 USD/user/month
Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux

Key Features

AI chat that understands your project structure
Context-aware code generation and editing
AI-powered multi-file refactors and pull request reviews
Built-in version control interface
Seamless GitHub integration

Pros

Mature, stable, and widely supported
Deep AI integration
Ideal for complex projects
Review window for selective application of AI changes

Cons

Pro plan required for most AI features
May be overkill for small or personal projects

Trae: ByteDance’s Lightweight AI IDE

General Info

Created by: ByteDance (TikTok’s parent company)
AI Models: Claude 3.5
Pricing: Free
Platforms: Initially macOS only; Windows support added in 2025

Key Features

Code generation and editing with Claude AI
Lightweight and minimal interface
Real-time web previews
Automatic environment setup for projects
Convert image mockups to code

Pros

100% free to use
Quick and easy for bootstrapping projects
Impressive AI features for a free tool
Image-to-code feature is innovative

Cons

Not as stable or full-featured as Cursor
Still maturing as a daily-driver IDE
Less ecosystem support

Performance

Feature	Cursor	Trae
AI Accuracy	Excellent	Good
Speed	Fast	Moderate
Stability	Very Stable	Still Improving
Refactor Support	Advanced (multi-file)	Basic
Pricing	Paid (Free tier limited)	Free
OS Compatibility	All platforms	macOS, Windows

Verdict: Which One Is Better for Front-End Devs?

If you’re a front-end developer working with large codebases and you need precise, context-aware AI tools, Cursor is the better option. Its feature set is polished and built for professional teams.

On the other hand, if you’re experimenting, learning, or just need a quick AI-powered environment for smaller tasks, Trae offers some amazing capabilities at no cost.