Cursor CLI is the terminal counterpart to the Cursor editor. Its strongest feature is the frontier-model menu - pick from Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, Cursor's Composer, and Grok per request. The wrinkle is the pricing: Cursor CLI is tied to your Cursor account, which means $20/month per seat once the Hobby trial ends. If you only use the CLI in CI or scripts, you're paying for an editor you don't open. cto CLI is the free-forever alternative - same frontier-model menu (and more), no Cursor seat, built on the open-source opencode TUI agent.
TL;DR. Both CLIs cover the multi-model space with a manual model menu. cto CLI is free forever (ad-supported, rolling 24h+7d limits), runs through opencode in your terminal, and uses the cto.new gateway so you don't bring API keys. Cursor CLI's strength is the Cursor-editor parity; cto CLI's is no seat fee and an open-source foundation.
What cto CLI is
cto ships as an opencode plugin + provider:
curl -fsSL https://cto.new/install | bash
The agent - file editing, plan mode, worktrees, hooks, skills, slash commands, LSP, native MCP - is all opencode (Apache 2.0), running in your terminal. cto's plugin adds the install/auth/upgrade layer; cto's provider is the cto.new gateway that handles LLM calls so you don't bring keys. Pick your model via opencode's /model slash command.
No seat fee. No API keys to manage. No editor coupling.
Models supported
Both CLIs cover the frontier:
| Provider | cto CLI (via cto.new gateway) | Cursor CLI |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropic | Opus 4.8, Sonnet 4.6 | Opus 4.7 |
| OpenAI | GPT-5.5, GPT-5.3 Codex | GPT-5.5 High Fast |
| Gemini 3.5 Flash, Gemini 3.1 Pro | Gemini 3.1 Pro | |
| Other | GLM 5.1, Grok 4.20, Kimi K2.6, MiniMax M2.7 | Composer 2.5, Grok 4.3 |
cto's wider open-frontier coverage (GLM 5.1, Kimi K2.6, MiniMax M2.7) is useful if you're benchmarking Chinese-frontier models or running cost-sensitive workloads on open weights.
Pricing reality
| cto CLI | Cursor CLI | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Free forever, ad-supported, rolling 24h+7d limits | Hobby trial, then required Pro plan |
| Pro tier | Premium raises limits + unlocks premium models | $20/month per seat |
| CI / scripts | Counts against your rolling window | Counts against your seat allowance |
| Credit card to start | No | Required after trial |
If you only use the CLI in CI and don't open the Cursor editor, you're paying $20/month for an IDE you don't use. cto CLI removes that line item.
MCP - both supported, configured differently
Cursor CLI configures MCP in .cursor/config.json (per project) or ~/.cursor/mcp.json (global). Cursor's MCP catalog grows alongside the editor.
cto CLI uses opencode's native MCP support. Configure your MCP servers in opencode's standard MCP config (stdio or streamable HTTP); the agent picks them up. Whatever opencode supports, cto CLI supports - same protocol, same config UX.
The open-source angle
cto CLI is an opencode plugin + provider, which means:
- The agent is open-source (github.com/opencode/opencode - Apache 2.0). You can audit it, fork it, contribute back.
- Your project rules, hooks, skills, and slash commands work in vanilla opencode too - nothing is locked into the cto wrapper.
- If cto disappeared tomorrow, you'd still have opencode and could BYOK your way back.
Cursor CLI is a proprietary product tied to the Cursor account. Both are valid; some teams want the open-source guarantee.
How to compare on your own workflow
Best test: pick the two coding tasks you do most often this week and run each one in both CLIs.
# In any project
cto # or: cursor-cli
# Then run the same prompt in both:
# "find and fix the failing tests in this repo"
# "refactor src/payments/ to use the new transaction model"
For most users the test reveals whether you want Cursor's editor-tight integration (Cursor) or the free + opencode-backed CLI (cto).
Other CLIs in the same space
If neither fits:
- Claude Code - best Claude-native UX if you're paying for Anthropic anyway. Paid only.
- Aider - open-source, BYOK, terminal-only. Best if you want direct provider connections.
- GitHub Copilot CLI - best GitHub-native CI integration; usage-based AI Credits billing.
- Codex CLI - OpenAI-only, open source (Apache 2.0), Rust-native.
- Gemini CLI - most generous bare-account free tier at 1,000 req/day on a Google account.
FAQ
What is Cursor CLI?
Cursor CLI is the terminal companion to the Cursor editor - same agent, same frontier-model menu, runs in the terminal, GitHub Actions, or scripts. Tied to your Cursor account and pricing tier.
Is Cursor CLI free?
Hobby trial only. Pro starts at $20/month per seat. cto CLI is the free-forever option in the same multi-model space.
Does Cursor CLI work without the Cursor editor?
Technically yes - the CLI installs independently. But you still need a Cursor account and pay the same Pro price even if you never open the editor.
How do I switch models in cto CLI?
Use opencode's /model slash command inside the TUI. The cto.new gateway exposes every frontier model in the menu.
Can I use Cursor CLI and cto CLI together?
Yes - they don't conflict. Some developers use Cursor (editor) + cto CLI (CI/scripting) because the per-seat fee doesn't make sense for non-editor usage.
Which has better MCP support?
Functionally equivalent - both have native MCP clients. Cursor configures per project; cto CLI uses opencode's standard MCP config. The MCP servers themselves work identically across clients.