Cursor is a code editor that looks and feels exactly like VS Code (because it is built on top of it), but it has a "brain" built inside. While standard tools like GitHub Copilot just finish your sentences, Cursor can write entire features, fix bugs by scanning your whole project, and answer questions like "Where is the login logic?"
Cursor is giving away its Pro plan free to students for a full year, and you can renew it later as long as you’re still a student.
How to Avail the Offer:
- Download: Go to the Cursor website and download the editor for your Mac/Windows/Linux.
- Sign Up and Verify: Visit the Student Verification Page and start signup process.
- Input Email: Enter your official school email address (e.g., ending in
.edu,.ac.uk,.edu.in, etc.) - very important.
- Note: If you have a school email, verification is usually instant.
- If you don't have a school email: You can upload a photo of your Student ID card or a tuition receipt manually. - Activation: Once verified, your account in the app will automatically upgrade to "Pro." You can check this by clicking the "Settings" gear icon > "General" > "Account".
Enjoy Cursor Pro plan with $240 USD Value per year. You get the full "Pro" plan which includes:
- 500 "Fast" Premium Uses per month (access to the smartest models like Gemini 3 Pro and Claude 4.5 Opus).
- Unlimited "Slow" Uses (if you use up your 500 fast credits, you can still use the AI, it just takes a few seconds longer).
Note: if you don't signup with your official student email address, you will still be given 7 days of Cursor Pro plan trial. However, it requires credit card.
Cursor Supported Models (as per Jan 2026)
Key Benefits
- Access Top Models: Switch between Claude 3.5 Sonnet, GPT-4o, and o1-mini for free.
- Tab Autocomplete: It predicts your next logic step, not just the next word (e.g., it can write a whole function if you press Tab).
- Chat with Codebase: You can ask questions about your entire project, not just the open file.
- Instant Migration: One-click import brings all your VS Code themes, extensions, and keybindings over.
- Privacy Mode: You can toggle "Privacy Mode" so your code is never stored or trained on by the AI.
Eligibility
| Requirements | • Student Email Address
• Valid Student ID
• No Credit Card Required
|
|---|---|
| Criteria |
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