Model Comparison
Claude Code vs Cursor
Claude Code: StandardCursor: Standard
Side-by-side environmental impact comparison. Claude Code uses 67% more energy per query.
Claude Code uses 67% more energy than Cursor
2.0 Wh vs 1.2 Wh per query · 0.70 g vs 0.50 g CO₂ · 4 mL vs 5 mL water
Claude Code
Anthropic
Energy per query2.0 Wh
CO₂ per query0.70 g
Water per query4 mL
VS
Cursor
Anysphere
Energy per query1.2 Wh
CO₂ per query0.50 g
Water per query5 mL
Claude Code
ProviderAnthropic
CategoryCode Assistant
Inference LocationAWS / GCP
Confidenceestimated
Efficiency TierStandard
Cursor
ProviderAnysphere
CategoryCode Assistant
Inference LocationMulti-cloud (Azure, AWS)
Confidenceestimated
Efficiency TierStandard
Frequently Asked Questions
Which uses more energy, Claude Code or Cursor?
Claude Code uses 67% more energy per query than Cursor. Claude Code uses 2.0 Wh per query, while Cursor uses 1.2 Wh.
What is the carbon footprint difference between Claude Code and Cursor?
Claude Code uses 40% more CO₂ per query than Cursor. Claude Code emits 0.70 g of CO₂ per query compared to Cursor's 0.50 g.
Which is more environmentally friendly, Claude Code or Cursor?
Cursor is the more environmentally friendly option, using 1.2 Wh per query compared to Claude Code's 2.0 Wh. That makes Claude Code roughly 1.7x more energy-intensive.
Calculate your footprint with these models
See how your daily usage of Claude Code and Cursor adds up over time. Our calculator estimates energy, carbon, and water impact.
Calculate My Compute