Bye Bye, Cursor: Price, Quality, & Token Drain

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Bye Bye, Cursor? Why Developers Are Ditching Their Favorite AI Coding Tool
Cursor, an AI-powered coding assistant, was once a developer's dream. It promised to revolutionize how coders worked, making complex tasks simpler and faster. But a recent storm brewing on its community forums suggests that dream has turned into a nightmare for many. The overwhelming sentiment? "Bye Bye, Cursor!"
The core of the problem, as voiced by numerous frustrated users, boils down to a few key issues: unaffordable pricing, degraded AI quality, and suspicious "token" consumption.
The Price Tag Shock
For many, Cursor has simply become too expensive. What was once an inclusive and powerful tool is now behind a paywall that's out of reach for developers outside the U.S. or those not earning in dollars. Users report being forcefully migrated from their old, more generous "Pro" plans to new pricing models without their consent. When trying to switch to a "pay-as-you-go" system, the charges feel "unreasonably high," making users feel like they're being treated "like gold miners."
A Drop in Quality and Mysterious "Token" Drain
It's not just the price tag; it's the quality of the AI itself. Users claim Cursor has restricted access to its best AI models, pushing them towards lower-quality ones that waste time and effort. The "AUTO mode," meant to be helpful, is described as "rubbish" – deleting files, changing code without permission, and forgetting previous conversations.
Perhaps the most alarming complaint revolves around "token" consumption. Tokens are like the digital currency AI tools use to process requests. Developers are reporting "abnormal token consumption," with simple changes costing "millions or even tens of millions of tokens." Many suspect bugs in how Cursor calculates usage, feeling like their tokens are being "drained at will." One user even noted their token usage magically decreased after canceling their subscription, raising serious questions about transparency.
Betrayal and Exodus
The frustration is palpable. Developers are hitting usage limits within days or weeks, unable to continue their projects. Many loyal users, including early adopters who helped Cursor grow, feel betrayed. Attempts to reach customer service often go unanswered. It seems Cursor has shifted its focus to "high-end users," leaving others behind. Some even speculate that after receiving significant venture capital funding, the company decided to "whack" its existing customer base, perhaps in preparation for a sale or IPO.
The message from the community is clear: "Bye bye, Cursor!" Users are canceling subscriptions en masse and actively seeking alternatives. What was once a beloved tool has, for many, turned into a greedy, unreliable service. It remains to be seen if Cursor can win back the trust of its once-passionate user base.

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