Cursor CLI Guide
Cursor’s agent in the terminal, with interactive work and scripted execution.
Last verified: · How we verifySuitable workflows
Cursor users who also work over SSH, in terminal editors or in automation.
Limitations and billing
The CLI is a separate working surface from the editor; account limits still apply.
Capabilities we verified
This is an evidence-based shortlist, not an exhaustive feature inventory. Omitted capabilities have not been checked for this record.
Pricing & usage
See official pricing
Cursor subscription and usage allowance. The cost of metered usage or an external agent can be separate from the subscription.
Check official pricing ↗Models & access
Model access follows your Cursor account and the CLI’s current model selector.
Official model information ↗Install and start the CLI
Use the shell installer on macOS/Linux/WSL, or the documented PowerShell installer on Windows.
Installation command · macOS / Linux
curl https://cursor.com/install -fsS | bashOpen your project folder in a terminal, then run:
agentAccount and authentication
Start agent and complete Cursor account authentication.
Project configuration and tools
Choose Agent, Plan or Ask mode for the task; inspect approvals before enabling unattended changes.
First task to try
Use a planning conversation to outline a change before applying it to the repository.
Official configuration reference ↗Related CLI tools
All AI CLI tools →
Project evaluation checklist
- Open a small, familiar project and confirm that your essential language tooling works.
- Give the agent one bounded change with an observable acceptance criterion.
- Review the diff, run the project’s checks and compare the result with your current workflow.
- Inspect usage after the task. Estimate a month of similar work, including any separate model or agent bill.