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Forkbench vs Cursor
Cursor is an AI-first code editor (a VS Code fork) with bundled model access and cloud agents, billed per seat.
Updated
Cursor is an AI editor with its own agents and a bundled bill. Forkbench sits beside whatever editor you already use and runs Claude Code, Codex or Cursor's own CLI side by side, locking each job to its folders, keeping keys out of their reach, and showing instantly which one needs you.
You should not have to change editors to get your agents under control. Forkbench sits next to the editor you already love.
| Forkbench | Cursor | |
|---|---|---|
| Agents locked to your project folders | Yes. The macOS kernel seals off the rest of your home folder, per Thread | Local agents run with your access |
| API keys the agent never sees | Yes. The Vault runs the command and the agent only gets the result | Secrets for cloud agents; local agents run with your access |
| Every agent at a glance | Yes. A live pulse on every tab and the task each agent claimed | Agent panel inside the editor |
| Know when an agent is stuck | Instantly. It turns red and the Thread counts who needs you | Inside the editor |
| Share one job with a teammate or client | Yes. Invite them to one Thread, never your machine | Team plans |
| Human sign-off before work counts as done | Always. Agents report, only you accept | Accept or reject diffs |
| Works with | Any CLI agent: Claude Code, Codex, Cursor CLI, Gemini CLI, Aider, your own scripts | Cursor's own agent and models |
| Price | Free | Free; Pro $20; Pro+ $60; Ultra $200; Teams $40 per user |
Why developers pick Forkbench
- Keep your editor; Forkbench does not replace it.
- No second AI bill: agents run on the subscriptions you already have.
- Folder lock, Vault, live supervision and sign-off for every agent, including Cursor's CLI.
- Your code stays on your machine.
What Cursor does well
- A full AI IDE with inline edits and tab completion.
- One subscription covers the model usage.
The verdict
Cursor earns its subscription as an editor, with inline edits and tab completion a terminal has no business trying to copy. What it does not answer is what happens once Claude Code, Codex or Cursor's own CLI are actually running, and that is the job Forkbench does, locking each one to its folders and its keys without asking you to give up the editor you already have.
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Comparison based on publicly available information, checked on the date above. Spot something out of date? Tell us.