Cursor vs PlayCode: Which One Should You Use in 2026?

TL;DR - Quick Answer

What is Cursor?

Cursor is an AI-enhanced code editor built on top of VS Code. It launched in 2023 and quickly became popular among developers who wanted AI assistance without leaving their familiar coding environment.

The core idea is simple: you write code, and AI helps you write it faster. You can:

• Ask the AI to explain code you don't understand
• Get autocomplete suggestions that understand your entire codebase
• Use natural language to edit multiple files at once
• Chat with AI about your code and get contextual help

Cursor is genuinely impressive for what it does. I've used it for months on real projects, and it can feel like having a knowledgeable colleague looking over your shoulder. The AI understands context remarkably well.

Cursor's Strengths

• Deep codebase understanding - It reads your entire project and gives contextual suggestions
• Familiar environment - If you know VS Code, you already know how to use Cursor
• Powerful for refactoring - Can make changes across multiple files intelligently
• Active development - New features ship regularly

Cursor's Limitations

• You still need to know how to code - It helps you code faster, but you need to understand what it's doing
• Desktop only - Requires downloading and installing an app
• No deployment - You get code, but hosting and deployment is your problem
• Setup required - Projects need configuration, dependencies, environment setup

What is PlayCode?

PlayCode is an AI website builder that works entirely in your browser. Instead of writing code, you describe what you want in plain English, and the AI builds it for you.

The key difference from tools like Cursor: PlayCode is designed for people who don't want to code. You're not asking AI to help you write code faster. You're asking AI to build something for you while you focus on what it should do, not how it should work.

Here's what a typical PlayCode session looks like:

1. You describe your website: "I need a bakery website with online ordering"
2. The AI asks clarifying questions and suggests approaches
3. You see a working preview in seconds
4. You refine by describing changes: "Make the header more colorful"
5. One click to publish with hosting included

Over 1.1 million people have used PlayCode. Most are entrepreneurs, small business owners, and creators who need websites but don't have time (or interest) to learn coding.

PlayCode's Strengths

• No coding required - Genuinely none. Describe what you want in plain English
• Works on any device - Full editor on phone, tablet, or computer
• Hosting included - One-click publish with CDN, SSL, and custom domains
• Code access when needed - Unlike some builders, you can see and edit the actual code
• Best AI models - Uses Claude, GPT-4, and Gemini depending on the task

PlayCode's Limitations

• Not for complex applications - Great for websites, landing pages, and simple apps. Not for enterprise software
• Less control for developers - If you want to micromanage every line of code, Cursor gives more control
• Internet required - It's a web app, so you need to be online

The Key Differences

Let me be clear about something: comparing Cursor and PlayCode directly is a bit like comparing a professional camera to a smartphone camera. They're both "cameras" but designed for completely different users.

Different Users, Different Goals

Cursor's user is a developer who already knows how to code. They want to be more productive. They understand React, know what a dependency is, and can debug errors when they appear. Cursor makes their existing workflow faster.

PlayCode's user is someone who needs a website but doesn't want to become a developer. They might be a coach launching an online course, a restaurant owner who needs an ordering system, or a founder validating a business idea. They care about the outcome, not the code.

Different Outputs

When you use Cursor, you get code. Good code, written faster than you could write it alone, but still just code. You then need to deploy it somewhere, set up hosting, configure domains, handle SSL certificates.

When you use PlayCode, you get a working website. It's live, hosted, and shareable immediately. The code exists (and you can export it), but most users never look at it.

Different Mental Models

With Cursor, you're thinking: "How do I implement this feature? What library should I use? How do I structure this component?"

With PlayCode, you're thinking: "What should this page do? What should visitors see first? How should the booking flow work?"

This is the fundamental difference. One tool helps you build code. The other helps you build a product.

Side-by-Side Comparison

When Cursor is the Better Choice

I want to be fair here. Cursor is an excellent tool, and there are scenarios where it's clearly the better option:

You're Already a Developer

If you write code professionally and enjoy it, Cursor is fantastic. It speeds up your existing workflow without changing how you work. You keep full control, can use any framework or library, and the AI becomes a powerful assistant rather than a replacement.

You're Building Complex Software

For enterprise applications, complex backends, or software with intricate business logic, you need the precision that comes from writing code directly. Cursor helps you do this faster while maintaining control over architecture decisions.

You Want Maximum Control

Some developers want to decide every detail: which state management library, how components are structured, exact API patterns. Cursor gives you this control while still providing AI assistance.

You Need to Work with Existing Codebases

If you're joining an existing project with established patterns and conventions, Cursor excels at understanding that context and helping you contribute effectively.

When PlayCode is the Better Choice

PlayCode shines in different scenarios. Here's when it makes more sense:

You Don't Know How to Code (and Don't Want to Learn)

This is the biggest one. If you're a business owner, marketer, coach, or creator who needs a website but has no interest in learning JavaScript, PlayCode lets you skip that entirely. You describe what you want, see it built, and refine until it's right.

You Need Results Fast

With Cursor, "fast" means writing code faster than you would without AI. With PlayCode, "fast" means going from idea to live website in an hour. No setup, no deployment configuration, no hosting decisions. Just describe and publish.

You Want Everything in One Place

With Cursor, building a website means: write code, choose hosting provider, configure deployment, set up domain, handle SSL. With PlayCode: describe website, click publish. Everything is included.

You Work from Multiple Devices

I edit client sites from my phone while traveling. Try doing that with Cursor. Being browser-based means your work is accessible anywhere, on any device.

You're Validating a Business Idea

Need to test if people will sign up for your service? Build a landing page in 20 minutes with PlayCode, start collecting emails, and validate before investing weeks into development.

Pricing Comparison

Both tools have similar pricing, but what you get is different:

The $5 difference gets you a complete solution vs. just the coding tool. If you're a developer, that $5 doesn't matter because you'd need to handle hosting anyway. If you're not, PlayCode's all-inclusive approach saves significant time and hassle.

My Verdict

After using both tools extensively, here's my honest take:

Cursor is better if you're a developer who loves coding and wants AI to make you faster. It's one of the best AI coding assistants available and genuinely improves productivity.

PlayCode is better if you want a website without becoming a developer. It's not trying to help you code better. It's trying to eliminate the need for you to code at all.

The mistake people make is treating these as competitors. They're not. They serve different people with different needs. A professional photographer doesn't need "iPhone vs Canon" comparisons. They need both for different situations.

My recommendation: If you're reading this trying to decide which to use, ask yourself one question: Do you want to learn to code?

• If yes (or you already know) → Cursor
• If no → PlayCode

It really is that simple.