Cursor IDE is a free download from cursor.com, available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. It installs like any other app and imports your VS Code settings, extensions, and keybindings automatically, so there's no rebuild from scratch. But the real setup -- the part most people skip -- is writing a.cursorrules file and configuring the AI model settings for your use case. Without this, Cursor behaves like a generic assistant that doesn't know your stack. With it, every prompt lands closer to what you want. At aidowith.me, the Reusable Prompt System route starts with Cursor installation and moves through 10 steps in about 1h 15min to help you finish with a working prompt system tailored to your projects. You download once, configure right, and have a tool that saves time from day one rather than after 3 weeks of trial and error.
Last updated: April 2026
The Problem and the Fix
Without a route
- You downloaded Cursor but it feels the same as VS Code because you skipped the 20-minute configuration that makes it different.
- Cursor's default AI model isn't always the best choice for your stack -- and most people never change the setting.
- Your VS Code extensions didn't carry over correctly and now you're missing key tools you rely on.
With aidowith.me
- The route walks you through import settings, model selection, and extension checks in the first 2 steps -- no configuration guesswork.
- You'll write a.cursorrules file in step 3 that makes Cursor's AI aware of your stack and conventions from that session forward.
- Model configuration recommendations for different project types are included so you pick the right AI for your use case.
Who Uses This Tool
Marketers
Content, campaigns, and briefs done in hours instead of days.
Sales & BizDev
Prep calls, draft outreach, research prospects in minutes.
Managers & Leads
Reports, presentations, and team comms handled faster.
How It Works
Download and install Cursor
Download from cursor.com, run the installer, and import your VS Code settings and extensions -- takes under 10 minutes.
Configure AI model and privacy settings
Choose between GPT-4o and Claude models based on your task type, and set privacy mode if you work with sensitive code.
Write your first.cursorrules file
Define your stack, libraries, and coding conventions so Cursor's AI follows your patterns from the first prompt.
Start Your First Cursor AI Project
10 steps, ~1h 15min. You install Cursor, configure it for your stack, and finish with a prompt system that works on every project.
Start This Route →What You Walk Away With
Download and install Cursor
Configure AI model and privacy settings
Write your first.cursorrules file
Model configuration recommendations for different project types are included so you pick the right AI for your use case.
"I thought setup would take a day. It took an hour, and by the end Cursor already knew my stack. I wish I'd done this months ago."- Backend developer, fintech startup
Questions
Yes. Cursor has a free plan that includes 2,000 AI completions per month and limited Composer uses. The free tier is enough for most individual projects and side builds. Paid plans start at $20/month and remove usage limits. You can download and start using Cursor without entering payment information. The aidowith.me route is built to run entirely within the free tier.
Yes, Cursor is available for all three operating systems. The installer is on cursor.com and the process is the same on each platform. Mac and Windows users get native app installers. Linux users can download an AppImage or use the official Linux package. VS Code settings import automatically on all platforms.
Import your VS Code settings, check that your key extensions transferred correctly, choose your default AI model in Settings > AI, and write a.cursorrules file in your main project folder. That 20-minute setup makes Cursor's output accurate and consistent instead of generic. The aidowith.me Reusable Prompt System route walks you through each step.