Choosing between Adalo and Cursor AI represents a fundamental decision about how you want to build apps. This comprehensive guide compares these two platforms to help you make the right choice for your app development journey.
Executive Summary: Different Tools for Different Builders
The verdict upfront: While Cursor AI offers impressive AI-powered coding assistance for developers, Adalo emerges as the superior choice for 99% of app builders who want to create real, publishable mobile and web applications without coding. Cursor requires programming knowledge and only accelerates the coding process, while Adalo enables anyone to build and publish native iOS and Android apps through an intuitive visual interface.
If you can't code, Cursor won't help you build an app. If you can code but want to build apps faster and more efficiently, Adalo still provides a better path from idea to app store. With UNLIMITED app actions on all plans, proven scalability, and true no-code development, Adalo delivers what most app builders actually need: a way to turn ideas into revenue-generating applications.
Understanding the fundamental difference
What is Adalo?
Adalo is a complete no-code app building platform that enables anyone to create native mobile and web applications without writing a single line of code. Since 2018, it has powered over 1 million apps with its visual drag-and-drop interface.
Core Purpose:
- Build complete apps visually
- Publish to iOS App Store and Google Play
- Create web applications
- No coding knowledge required
- Complete app development ecosystem
What is Cursor AI?
Cursor AI is an AI-enhanced code editor built on Visual Studio Code that helps developers write code faster. It's a tool for programmers who want to accelerate their coding workflow through AI assistance.
Core Purpose:
- Speed up coding for developers
- AI-powered code suggestions
- Debug and refactor existing code
- Requires programming knowledge
- Code editor, not app builder
The critical distinction: App Builder vs Code Editor
Adalo: Complete App Creation Platform
What You Can Do:
- Design apps visually: Drag and drop interface
- Build functionality: Database, logic, workflows without code
- Publish to app stores: Direct iOS and Android deployment
- Create web apps: Progressive web applications
- Manage users: Built-in authentication and permissions
- Scale your business: From prototype to production
Cursor: AI Coding Assistant
What It Actually Does:
- Suggests code completions while you type
- Helps debug existing code
- Generates code snippets from prompts
- Refactors code you've written
- Requires you to know programming
- Cannot create complete apps without coding knowledge
Pricing comparison: Predictable vs Complex
Adalo's transparent pricing (billed annually)
Adalo's pricing offers clear, predictable costs:
Free Plan:
- Build and test unlimited apps
- Free forever with hibernation after 60 days inactivity
- Perfect for learning the platform
- Cannot publish to app stores
Starter Plan ($36/month billed annually):
- 1 published app
- UNLIMITED app actions
- iOS and Android app store publishing
- Custom domain for web apps
- All core features included
Professional Plan ($52/month billed annually):
- 2 published apps
- UNLIMITED app actions
- Advanced features (geolocation, custom actions)
- Remove Adalo branding
- API access
Team Plan ($160/month billed annually):
- 5 published apps
- UNLIMITED app actions
- Team collaboration features
- Version history
- Priority support
Cursor's confusing pricing structure
Cursor's pricing has been controversial with frequent changes:
Hobby (Free):
- 2-week Pro trial
- 2,000 completions
- 50 slow requests
- Very limited for real development
Pro ($20/month):
- Entry-level paid plan
- 500 fast requests/month
- Users report running out quickly
- Additional usage costs extra
Pro Plus ($60/month):
- Mid-tier with expanded limits
- Still usage-based restrictions
- 3x the cost of Adalo Starter
Ultra ($200/month):
- Premium tier for heavy users
- 10x more expensive than Cursor Pro
- Still has usage limitations
Hidden Costs:
- API key requirements for advanced features
- Usage overages common
- Unpredictable monthly costs
- Recent pricing changes causing user frustration
App publishing capabilities: The dealbreaker
Adalo's comprehensive publishing
Native Mobile Apps:
- iOS App Store: Direct publishing with IPA files
- Google Play Store: Direct publishing with AAB files
- TestFlight: Beta testing support
- App updates: Push updates to published apps
- Store compliance: Built-in features meet requirements
Web Applications:
- Progressive Web Apps (PWA)
- Custom domain hosting
- Free Adalo subdomain included
- Responsive design automatic
- SEO optimization features
Cursor's non-existent publishing
What Cursor Can't Do:
- No app store publishing
- No built-in hosting
- No mobile app creation
- Requires separate deployment setup
- Need developer accounts and knowledge
- Additional costs for hosting
Reality Check: Even if you use Cursor to write code faster, you still need to:
- Set up development environments
- Configure build processes
- Handle app store submissions manually
- Manage hosting infrastructure
- Deal with certificates and provisioning
Learning curve and accessibility
Adalo's beginner-friendly approach
Zero coding required:
- Visual interface like PowerPoint or Canva
- Drag and drop components
- Click to configure functionality
- See results instantly
Learning Resources:
- Adalo App Academy: Free video courses
- Documentation: Comprehensive guides
- Community Forum: Active peer support
- Templates to start from
- YouTube tutorials
Time to First App: Hours or days
Cursor's developer requirement
Must know how to code:
- Requires understanding of programming languages
- Need to know frameworks (React, Node.js, etc.)
- Must understand deployment processes
- Debugging skills essential
- Command line knowledge needed
Learning Prerequisites:
- Programming fundamentals
- Web development concepts
- Framework knowledge
- DevOps basics
- Version control (Git)
Time to First App: Months of learning to code first
Feature comparison for app development
Database and backend capabilities
Adalo's integrated solution:
- Visual database designer
- Automatic API generation
- User authentication built-in
- File uploads and storage
- External database connections
- Real-time data updates
Cursor's code-based approach:
- Requires coding database connections
- Must write authentication logic
- Need to set up file storage separately
- Manual API development
- Requires backend knowledge
User interface design
Adalo's visual design:
- 50+ pre-built components
- Component marketplace
- Responsive design automatic
- Custom styling options
- Animation support
- Preview while building
Cursor's code requirement:
- Must code all UI elements
- Write CSS manually
- Handle responsive design in code
- Debug visual issues
- No visual preview while coding
Integration capabilities
Adalo's extensive integrations:
- Zapier: 5,000+ app connections
- Native Stripe payments
- Google Maps integration
- Push notifications
- Analytics tools
- Social login options
Cursor's manual integrations:
- Must code all integrations
- Handle API authentication
- Write integration logic
- Debug connection issues
- No pre-built connectors
Performance and scalability
Adalo's production infrastructure
Proven at scale:
- 20 million+ daily API requests handled
- Apps with thousands of active users
- 98% backend migration complete (Adalo 3.0)
- 33% image compression improvements
- Dedicated database isolation for paid plans
- Regional hosting options (US, Europe, Japan)
Real success stories:
- SPOTTO: First Adalo app acquired
- Covenant Connect: School management system
- Multiple marketplace apps generating revenue
Cursor's development-only focus
No production infrastructure:
- Just helps write code faster
- No hosting provided
- No scalability features
- Must handle infrastructure separately
- Additional DevOps required
Use case analysis
When Adalo excels
Perfect for:
- Entrepreneurs: Launch MVPs without technical co-founders
- Small businesses: Create custom apps for operations
- Agencies: Build client apps efficiently
- Students: Learn app development without coding
- Enterprises: Internal tools and prototypes
- Anyone with an app idea: No technical barriers
Successful app types built with Adalo:
- Marketplace platforms
- Social networks
- E-commerce apps
- Educational platforms
- Service booking apps
- Internal business tools
- Community platforms
- Content apps
When Cursor makes sense
Only suitable for:
- Professional developers who already code
- Programmers wanting to code faster
- Teams with existing codebases
- Complex custom development projects
- Those willing to handle all infrastructure
Limitations:
- Cannot help non-coders build apps
- Doesn't eliminate need for programming knowledge
- No app publishing capabilities
- Requires extensive technical expertise
Template and resource availability
Adalo's rich ecosystem
- Complete e-commerce stores
- Social media platforms
- Booking and scheduling apps
- Educational course platforms
- Marketplace templates
- Business management tools
- Industry-specific solutions
- Extended functionality
- Premium UI components
- Business logic modules
- Third-party integrations
- Custom components
Cursor's lack of app resources
What's available:
- Basic code snippets
- No complete app templates
- No component library
- Must build everything from scratch
- Limited to what you can code
Support and community comparison
Adalo's established support system
Direct Support:
- Email: hello@adalo.com
- Leadership contact: james.crennan@adalo.com
- Active forum with thousands of posts
- Priority support on paid plans
- Adalo Experts network
Community Resources:
- YouTube channels
- Facebook groups
- Discord communities
- Regular webinars
- Monthly updates via Canny changelog
Cursor's limited support
Available Support:
- GitHub issues
- Discord channel
- Limited documentation
- Community-driven help
- No professional services network
Real-world success metrics
Adalo's proven track record
By the numbers:
- 1 million+ apps created
- 2 million+ end users
- Apps generating real revenue
- Successful app acquisitions
- Active app stores presence
- Growing business ecosystem
Cursor's developer tool metrics
Usage statistics:
- 360,000+ paying users (developers only) as of June 2025
- $900 million Series C funding at $9.9 billion valuation
- Over $500 million ARR (annual recurring revenue)
- Fastest-growing SaaS company ever from $1M to $500M ARR
- Revenue doubling every 2 months
- No actual app publishing success stories
Making the strategic choice
Choose Adalo when you want to:
Actually build and publish apps without coding
Launch on iOS and Android app stores
Create web applications with custom domains
Start building today without learning to code
Scale from idea to revenue with one platform
Avoid unpredictable costs with unlimited usage
Focus on your business not technical complexity
Get professional support when needed
Only consider Cursor if you:
- Already know how to code proficiently
- Want to speed up existing development workflow
- Have budget for unpredictable usage costs
- Can handle all deployment and infrastructure
- Don't need app store publishing
- Prefer coding to visual development
The bottom line: Why Adalo wins for app builders
The comparison between Adalo and Cursor isn't really a fair fight—they're fundamentally different tools. Cursor is a code editor for developers, while Adalo is a complete app building platform for everyone.
For the 99% of people who want to build apps without becoming programmers, Adalo provides everything needed:
- True no-code development: Build without any programming knowledge
- Complete app lifecycle: From idea to app store in one platform
- Predictable pricing: No usage limits or surprise costs with UNLIMITED actions
- Native apps: Real iOS and Android applications, not just web apps
- Proven success: Thousands of profitable apps already built
- Professional ecosystem: Templates, components, and expert help available
While Cursor may help developers code faster, it still requires you to be a developer. Adalo eliminates that requirement entirely, democratizing app development for entrepreneurs, businesses, and creators worldwide.
Ready to build your app? Start with Adalo's free plan and join thousands who've turned their ideas into real applications. No coding required, no usage limits, just pure creative potential.
Helpful Resources:
Choose the platform built for app creators, not just code writers. Choose Adalo.
‍
