Cursor, the AI coding tool, has announced a $200/month ‘Ultra’ plan designed for power users, previously restricted by unpredictable usage caps. The plan promises 20x more usage than the Pro tier. The Ultra tier has been made possible by the company’s “multi-year partnerships” with companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and xAI.
Alongside the Ultra rollout, Cursor has also overhauled its Pro plan. It now defaults to an “unlimited-with-rate-limits” model, replacing the legacy 500-request allowance. Cursor described the shift as a response to user demand. As the developer of Cursor stated on Reddit, “This change was highly requested by power users seeking more predictability than usage-based pricing would offer.”
However, some long-time users aren’t celebrating. Early reactions point to confusion around what’s actually being offered and what’s being taken away. In the absence of clear documentation on actual limits, developers are finding the new changes puzzling.
Rate Limits and a Redefined ‘Pro’
Cursor’s documentation clarifies that rate limits are based on compute usage, not request count. Each request’s cost depends on the model selected, the message and file lengths, and the current session state.
“Rate limits reset every few hours,” Cursor notes, but there are two separate types, burst limits and local limits, each with its own refill frequency.
A Cursor developer posted in the community forum, “We’re able to offer limits high enough that very few people should ever see any rate limits to begin with.” However, they also added that “using more expensive models will get you close to that rate limit faster.”
Cursor is still allowing users to stick with the old Pro model for now. “You’re free to stick with legacy Pro Plan if you’d like!” the documentation reads.
The Ultra plan, meanwhile, offers far more breathing room. But it comes at a steep cost, and with many of the same caveats around opaque compute budgeting. Cursor’s promise of “predictable pricing” is only as strong as its transparency, something critics say is still lacking.
Toggling Trouble and User Backlash
For those who’ve already moved to the new Pro model, the transition hasn’t been smooth.
A Reddit user shared a story of unexpected limits: “I was automatically added to the new plan (rate-limits), and my 350 premium requests were gone in 20 Claude 4 prompts.”
The user reports exceeding their new request limit (660/500) and being forced into a slow mode. They express frustration at this situation and highlight their inability to revert to the previous plan.
Cursor acknowledges that toggling between plans is still being refined. One developer responded on the forum, saying, “We’re still working out the final details,” and confirmed that new users will eventually be moved entirely to the updated plan. For now, older users should be able to switch between models for some time.
Some users are also questioning the selective generosity in the Pro changes.
One community member in the forum interpreted this option less charitably, and said, “I think this is a downgrade, and a hidden one at that.”
The member highlighted that it seems counterintuitive to retain the option for the 500-request plan, as the new changes effectively diminish functionality, likely leading to user dissatisfaction. “I don’t believe in generous offers for Pro users,” wrote the forum member. “Especially when cheap models like DeepSeek are being limited to 60k context per request.”
Cursor’s approach may well be the start of a more structured future for AI-powered dev tools. However, transparency remains non-negotiable for users who value predictability. The company’s bet on flexible rate-limiting hinges on how well it communicates and enforces its invisible ceilings.
For now, the question isn’t whether Ultra is worth $200; it’s whether Pro still means what it used to.
Your reaction
Discussion
What's your take on this story?
No comments yet — be the first to share your view.