30. Claude Pro and Code - First Impressions

And how it compares to Cursor and ChatGPT

I've been using ChatGPT Pro and Cursor for a while, and Claude Pro (with Claude Code) for a few days. Here are my first impressions and thoughts.

Claude Code > Cursor

I thought I needed an AI-powered IDE like Cursor to build meaningful projects. I was wrong. VSCode + Claude Code in the terminal works just as well, with better code quality and more control. Both my wife and I cancelled our Cursor subscriptions.

There are areas where an integrated IDE might make some sense. But for most, I’d take the better code Claude writes. It feels safer.

Claude is a Better Designer

This was the biggest surprise. Claude consistently produces superior design outputs compared to Cursor. It feels like Claude examines what you're building rather than just following generic patterns.

The attention to detail is noticeable – Claude considers context, user experience, and visual hierarchy in ways that feel more thoughtful. Every redesign project I've tackled with Claude has significantly outperformed Cursor's results. It's not just about writing better CSS; it's about understanding design intent.

I asked it to redesign a SaaS app front-end in Next + Tailwind Typescript and a simple website in HTML and CSS. Both times, the results were significantly better.

Frontend Development is Changing Fast

All AI tools write decent CSS, but Claude has a slight edge. Basic frontend development feels increasingly automated – this trend will likely accelerate.

Artifacts Are Game-Changing

Claude's artifacts feature is my favourite part of Claude Pro. Unlike other AI tools that just give you code to copy-paste, artifacts create interactive, working applications directly in the chat interface.

I built a Dutch flashcard learning app in 10 minutes that perfectly fits my specific learning needs – complete with progress tracking and spaced repetition. No deployment hassles, no setup required. Just describe what you want and get a working prototype instantly.

This opens up entirely new workflows. Need a quick calculator for a specific use case? A data visualisation tool? A simple game for testing an idea? Artifacts make it trivial to create custom tools that would traditionally require setting up projects, dependencies, and hosting. The possibilities for rapid prototyping and personal productivity tools are endless.

Value Proposition

Claude Pro effectively replaces both Cursor and ChatGPT for technical work, making it excellent value for money. If you're already paying for Cursor, Claude Pro is worth considering.

ChatGPT vs Claude

The two tools excel in different areas, and I've found specific use cases where each shines:

Claude excels at:

• Technical tasks: Coding, debugging, technical specs, architecture discussions

• Development brainstorming: Breaking down complex technical problems, suggesting implementation approaches

• Code review and optimisation: Analysing existing code and suggesting improvements

• Technical writing: API documentation, technical blog posts, engineering specs

ChatGPT is better for:

• Creative writing: Blog posts, marketing copy, storytelling

• General conversation: More natural dialogue, better at understanding context and nuance

• Business strategy: Market analysis, business planning, competitive research

• Content ideation: Brainstorming topics, angles, and creative approaches

In practice, I find myself reaching for Claude when I'm in "building mode" and ChatGPT when I'm in "thinking mode." Claude feels more like a technical partner, while ChatGPT feels more like a creative collaborator.

I'll keep using both for now since they complement each other well, though Claude's technical superiority makes it my primary tool for development work.

What About Gemini?

Gemini works well for local file manipulation, but it's not close to replacing ChatGPT or Claude for my workflows. One of my favourite use cases with Gemini is to talk to my Obsidian notes. It’s like talking to my brain at different points in time. The free Gemini plan is pretty good to cover most cases.

Conclusion

The AI development landscape is moving fast, and tool consolidation is happening quicker than I expected. Claude Pro has become my primary development tool, effectively replacing Cursor while offering capabilities that complement ChatGPT.

If you're currently paying for multiple AI subscriptions, it's worth reassessing your stack. Claude Pro's combination of superior code quality, design capabilities, and the artifacts feature makes it an exceptional value – especially if you're doing any kind of technical work.

The future feels like it's heading toward specialised AI tools for different use cases, but for now, Claude + ChatGPT covers most of my needs. The question isn't whether AI will change how we build software, but how quickly we can adapt to these rapidly evolving capabilities.

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