Cursor vs Devin Desktop — Feature Comparison
Quick answer: Cursor supports 15 of 18 tracked features; Devin Desktop supports 18 of 18. Matrix last updated September 8, 2026.
Verdict: Cursor vs Devin Desktop
Devin Desktop is the more feature-complete tool for most developers, but Cursor remains a compelling choice for those already embedded in its ecosystem. Devin Desktop covers all 18 tracked features compared to Cursor's 15, and the three gaps — MCP Server support, JetBrains IDE integration, and Vim/Neovim compatibility — are meaningful for developers who rely on those workflows. Beyond feature breadth, Devin Desktop's release cadence is dramatically faster: 133 tracked releases versus Cursor's 21, with 17 releases in the recent 90-day window compared to Cursor's 5. That pace signals a team iterating aggressively on user feedback and shipping fixes and capabilities at a rate that suggests stronger operational momentum. Cursor, however, is far from a weak option — 15 of 18 tracked features is still a strong coverage ratio, and its more measured release cadence may actually appeal to teams that prioritize stability over cutting-edge additions. Cursor's established reputation and polished VS Code-native experience mean developers already comfortable in that environment will face little friction. The choice ultimately hinges on your toolchain: if you use JetBrains IDEs, Vim, or want MCP Server integration, Devin Desktop is the clear fit. If you are deeply invested in the VS Code ecosystem and value a stable, well-known tool, Cursor holds its own. Neither is a bad choice, but Devin Desktop holds the edge on breadth and velocity.
Choose Cursor if: Choose Cursor if you work primarily in VS Code and prefer a stable, mature tool with a proven track record and a more deliberate release cadence.
Choose Devin Desktop if: Choose Devin Desktop if you need broader editor support — especially JetBrains or Vim/Neovim — or want MCP Server integration and a team that ships updates at a high frequency.
Key differences
- Devin Desktop supports all 18 tracked features; Cursor supports 15, missing MCP Server, JetBrains, and Vim/Neovim
- Devin Desktop has a far higher release cadence (133 total, 17 recent) versus Cursor's more measured pace (21 total, 5 recent)
- Cursor is tightly optimized for the VS Code ecosystem; Devin Desktop spans a wider range of editors and environments
- Cursor offers a more stable, predictable update rhythm that may suit enterprise or risk-averse teams
- Devin Desktop's MCP Server support enables extensibility scenarios that Cursor does not currently cover
At a glance
| Tool | Latest version | Release date | Releases tracked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cursor | v3.11 | July 10, 2026 | 21 |
| Devin Desktop | v3.8.20 | August 21, 2026 | 133 |
Core Editing
Multi-file editing, streaming, undo capabilities
| Feature | Cursor | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-file Editing — Edit multiple files in a single operation | ✓ (Core Cursor functionality; multi-root workspaces and worktrees support in v3.2 implies multi-file editing capability) | ✓ since 1.0.2 |
| Streaming Output — Real-time streaming of AI responses | ✓ (Standard AI chat interface feature inherent to Cursor's design) | ✓ since 3.8.20 |
| Undo/Redo — Ability to undo and redo changes | ✓ (Standard editor functionality inherent to VS Code-based Cursor) | ✓ since 3.7.16 |
| Diff View — Visual comparison of changes | ✓ (Standard Cursor/VS Code feature for reviewing AI-suggested changes) | ✓ since 3.7.16 |
Terminal Integration
Shell and command execution support
| Feature | Cursor | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Command Execution — Run shell commands | ✓ since 1.6 | ✓ since 3.8.20 |
| Shell Integration — Integration with user shell environment | ✓ (Development environments for cloud agents (v3.4) and Automations imply shell integration) | ✓ since 1.13.3 |
| Background Tasks — Run tasks in background | ✓ since 2.5 | ✓ since 3.6.21 |
MCP Support
Model Context Protocol server and client capabilities
| Feature | Cursor | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| MCP Client — Connect to MCP servers | ✓ since 3.10 | ✓ since 3.8.20 |
| MCP Server — Expose as MCP server | — | ✓ since 3.7.25 |
| Custom Tools — Define and use custom tools | ✓ (MCP support in v3.10 and customization features in v3.9 suggest custom tool definitions) | ✓ since 3.7.16 |
IDE Integrations
VS Code, JetBrains, and other editor support
| Feature | Cursor | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| VS Code — Visual Studio Code integration | ✓ (Cursor is built on VS Code, core integration) | ✓ since 3.6.21 |
| JetBrains — IntelliJ/WebStorm integration | — | ✓ since 1.11.0 |
| Vim/Neovim — Vim or Neovim integration | — | ✓ since 1.12.31 |
| Web UI — Browser-based interface | ✓ since 1.7 | ✓ since 3.7.16 |
Agentic Features
Planning, tool use, and autonomous capabilities
| Feature | Cursor | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Planning Mode — Plan before executing changes | ✓ since 2.2 | ✓ since 3.8.20 |
| Autonomous Mode — Extended autonomous operation | ✓ since 3.8 | ✓ since 3.7.16 |
| Task Decomposition — Break complex tasks into steps | ✓ since 3.2 | ✓ since 2.2.17 |
| Context Management — Manage context across conversations | ✓ since 3.7 | ✓ since 3.6.21 |
Feature timeline: who shipped first
First release where Cursor and Devin Desktop each shipped a notable feature, and which tool led.
| Feature | Cursor | Devin Desktop | Who led |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Slash Commands | September 12, 2025 | May 6, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 129d ahead |
| Subagents / Parallel Agents | January 22, 2026 | October 16, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 98d ahead |
| Sandboxing / Permission Modes | February 17, 2026 | June 16, 2026 | Cursor first, 119d ahead |
| Hooks | September 29, 2025 | December 10, 2025 | Cursor first, 72d ahead |
| Skills / Plugins | February 17, 2026 | January 12, 2026 | Devin Desktop first, 36d ahead |
| MCP Support | March 3, 2026 | February 13, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 383d ahead |
| Extended Thinking | — | February 25, 2025 | only Devin Desktop |
| Voice Input | April 13, 2026 | July 17, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 270d ahead |
| Planning Mode | September 29, 2025 | June 10, 2025 | Devin Desktop first, 111d ahead |
| Project Memory Files | — | December 11, 2024 | only Devin Desktop |
| Image / Vision Input | — | November 27, 2024 | only Devin Desktop |
| Headless / Non-interactive Mode | — | April 28, 2026 | only Devin Desktop |
| Background Tasks | April 24, 2026 | April 15, 2026 | Devin Desktop first, 9d ahead |
| Web Search / Fetch | — | January 17, 2025 | only Devin Desktop |
| Git / PR Integration | — | April 2, 2025 | only Devin Desktop |
| JetBrains Support | — | November 13, 2024 | only Devin Desktop |
Release velocity
Havoptic tracks 21 Cursor releases and 133 Devin Desktop releases. See release frequency charts for side-by-side velocity analysis, or browse the Cursor changelog and Devin Desktop changelog.
Data source
Feature data is maintained in feature-matrix.json under a CC-BY-4.0 license. Release data comes from releases.json. Both are updated daily. See the methodology page for details on sourcing and human review.