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Roo Code vs Cursor (2026): Roo Code Is Archived, What to Use Instead
Roo Code (Agentdex profile) and Cursor (Agentdex profile) used to be a common head-to-head: a free, open-source agent inside VS Code versus a paid AI-first editor. The comparison changed in 2026. The Roo Code team archived the project to focus on Roomote, and the GitHub repository was archived on May 15, 2026, so Roo Code no longer gets updates or fixes. This guide explains what that means if you are choosing between the two as of October 24, 2026, how Cursor compares, and which actively maintained alternatives fill the gap Roo Code left.
Key Takeaways
- Roo Code's repository was archived on May 15, 2026. An installed copy can keep running with your own keys, but there are no new features, model updates or security fixes.
- Cursor is an actively developed AI code editor built on VS Code, with a free plan, Plus at $8/month (Grok models only), Premium at $30/month and higher tiers at $100 and $200.
- If you liked Roo Code's free, bring-your-own-key model, the closest maintained options are Zoo Code (a community fork), Cline (Agentdex profile) and Kilo Code.
- If you want an all-in-one editor with cloud agents and AI code review, Cursor is the stronger pick, at the cost of a subscription and less model freedom on lower tiers.
Roo Code vs Cursor at a glance
Roo Code | Cursor | |
|---|---|---|
Status (Oct 2026) | Archived on GitHub (May 15, 2026) | Actively developed |
What it is | Open-source extension for VS Code | Standalone AI code editor built on VS Code |
License | Apache 2.0 | Proprietary |
Models | Your own API keys or local models | Grok models on Plus; third-party models at API list price on Premium and above |
Cost | Free; you pay your model provider | Free plan; Plus $8, Premium $30, Super $100, Ultra $200 per month |
Workflow | Code, Architect, Ask, Debug and custom modes | Agent, tab completion, cloud agents, Bugbot code review |
What happened to Roo Code
Roo Code began as a fork of Cline and became popular for its custom modes: separate setups for writing code, planning, answering questions and debugging, each with its own instructions and tool permissions. In 2026 its team shifted to Roomote, a source-available cloud coding agent, and archived the extension's repository on May 15, 2026. We cover the full story in Cline vs Roo Code.
For anyone comparing it with Cursor today, the practical point is simple: picking an archived tool for new work means accepting that it will fall behind as models, VS Code and provider APIs change. Existing users can keep going for a while, but should plan a move.
What Cursor offers
Cursor is a desktop editor built on VS Code, so your themes, keybindings and most extensions carry over. It indexes your project so the AI understands the codebase, predicts your next edit with tab completion, and runs an agent that plans and applies changes across multiple files, runs terminal commands and shows diffs for you to accept or reject.
Paid tiers add more. Premium ($30/month) includes four times the usage of Plus, cloud agents and automations, code hosting through Origin, AI code reviews through Bugbot, and access to third-party models billed at API list price. Super ($100) and Ultra ($200) raise usage to 15x and 50x Plus. Teams starts at $30 per user per month. Usage is a pool shared across Cursor and Grok that refreshes weekly. With privacy mode on, Cursor says code data is not used for training by Cursor or its model providers.
The trade-off is model freedom and cost control. Roo Code let you plug in any provider, including local models, and pay exactly what that provider charged. On Cursor's Plus plan you get Grok models only; for Claude, GPT or Gemini models you need Premium or higher and pay per use on top.
Maintained alternatives to Roo Code
- Zoo Code: a community fork that continues Roo Code with the same features, settings structure and Apache 2.0 license. It is the smallest change for existing Roo Code users.
- Cline: the project Roo Code was forked from. Free and open source, with Plan and Act modes, checkpoints, a CLI and an optional ClinePass subscription at $9.99/month. See Cline vs Cursor.
- Kilo Code: an open-source agent with Code, Plan and Debug agents that runs in VS Code, JetBrains IDEs and the terminal.
All three keep the bring-your-own-key approach, so you can use local models through Ollama or LM Studio, or pay a provider directly.
Which should you choose?
- You want the Roo Code experience with updates: Zoo Code, or Kilo Code if you also use JetBrains.
- You want a free agent with a large community: Cline.
- You want one polished editor with agents, cloud runs and PR reviews built in: Cursor Premium.
- You are on a tight budget: an open-source agent with a low-cost or local model, or Cursor's free plan to try the editor.
Whichever you pick, written rules files make agents more predictable. Our Cursor rules guide covers the basics, and Cursor alternatives compares more editors.
FAQ
Is Roo Code still maintained?
No. The Roo Code GitHub repository was archived on May 15, 2026, after the team moved to Roomote. It no longer receives updates.
Is Cursor better than Roo Code?
For new projects, Cursor is the safer choice of the two because it is actively developed. If you prefer a free, open-source agent with your own model keys, look at Zoo Code, Cline or Kilo Code instead.
How much does Cursor cost compared with Roo Code?
Roo Code is free and you pay your model provider. Cursor has a free plan, Plus at $8/month with Grok models only, Premium at $30/month, Super at $100 and Ultra at $200. Third-party models on Premium and above are billed at API list price.
Can I move my Roo Code setup to another tool?
Zoo Code says Roo Code settings can be exported and imported. For Cline, Kilo Code or Cursor, you will need to recreate custom modes as rules or instructions.
Can I use local models with Cursor?
Cursor's plans are built around Grok models and third-party models billed through Cursor. If running models locally matters to you, open-source agents such as Cline, Kilo Code and Zoo Code support local models through tools like Ollama and LM Studio.
Written by Agentdex Editorial. Agentdex is an independent directory reviewing AI coding tools; we are not affiliated with the companies mentioned. Prices and features are as of October 24, 2026, from official sources linked above. Always confirm on the vendor's site.