08/03/2026 9:50 pm
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Ive been looking at using DeepSeek since the API tokens are dirt cheap compared to Claude but I cant decide where to actually use it. Im stuck between sticking with VS Code using the Continue extension or maybe switching to Cursor—actually I looked at Roo Code too but it looks kinda messy.
My logic was that Cursor feels smoother for AI but I dont want to pay a $20 subscription if I can just use my own API key in VS Code for way less. Im on a tight deadline for a web project due next Friday and really need something that wont lag on me. Is Cursor actually better for DeepSeek or is the VS Code setup just as good?
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08/03/2026 10:05 pm
Re: "Honestly, just stick with Microsoft Visual Studio Code..."
- I totally get the appeal of staying with what you know, but I actually had a totally different experience! Just found this thread and had to chime in because I was in your shoes last week. My VS Code setup started feeling super sluggish with a bunch of extensions, so I switched to Zed Industries Zed Code Editor v0.150 and oh my god, it is fantastic! Since it is built in Rust, it is way faster than anything Electron-based like VS Code or Cursor.
- Performance is lightyears ahead when you are in the zone
- Super easy to plug in DeepSeek API keys directly
- The interface is beautiful and doesnt feel cluttered I know people love their old setups, but for real, the speed during a tight deadline is a massive game changer. It feels so much more like a native app and it havent lagged on me once. If you want that premium feel without the $20 hit, you should definitely give it a look!
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25/03/2026 3:50 am
Same setup here, love it
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08/03/2026 9:51 pm
Honestly, just stick with Microsoft Visual Studio Code IDE and the Continue VS Code Extension v0.8. Cursor is slick but paying $20 every month is a lot when DeepSeek tokens are basically free. It works well.
- zero subscription costs
- very stable setup
- easy API key integration I havent had any lag issues with it. Its the safer bet for a tight deadline. Way cheaper too.
