Last updated: March 18, 2026

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Table of Contents

Understanding Cursor Pro’s Privacy Features

Cursor Pro offers several privacy features designed to address developer concerns about data security. These features are particularly relevant for developers working with sensitive codebases, proprietary algorithms, or in industries with strict data handling requirements.

What Is Privacy Mode in Cursor Pro?

Privacy mode in Cursor Pro is a configuration setting that controls how your code and code context are processed when using AI features. When enabled, privacy mode minimizes or eliminates the transmission of your code to external AI servers for processing.

The primary privacy features include:

What Is Zero Retention?

Zero retention is a specific privacy commitment where AI service providers do not store or use your code data for model training purposes. When a service has zero retention:

Does Privacy Mode Cost Extra in Cursor Pro?

The straightforward answer is no—privacy mode in Cursor Pro does not cost extra. All privacy features, including privacy mode and zero retention, are included in the standard Cursor Pro subscription price.

Cursor Pro Pricing Structure

Cursor Pro is available at a monthly or annual subscription:

Plan Monthly Cost Annual Cost (Billed Annually)

|——|————-|——————————|

Cursor Pro $19/month $190/year

The privacy features are part of the Pro plan and do not require any additional payments or premium add-ons. This is important because some competing AI coding tools charge extra for enhanced privacy features.

What’s Included in Cursor Pro

The Cursor Pro subscription includes:

  1. Full AI Assistance: Access to advanced AI models for code completion, generation, and refactoring

  2. Privacy Mode: Built-in privacy controls for limiting data transmission

  3. Zero Retention: Commitment that your code won’t be used for AI training

  4. Priority Support: Faster response times for customer service

  5. Advanced Features: Composer, context limits, and other Pro-tier features

How Zero Retention Works in Cursor Pro

Understanding how zero retention functions helps clarify what protection you actually have when using Cursor Pro’s privacy features.

The Zero Retention Promise

When you use Cursor Pro with zero retention enabled:

  1. Temporary Processing: Your code is sent to AI servers for processing during your session

  2. No Storage: After the request is fulfilled, the code is not stored on any server

  3. No Training Data: Your code is never used to train or improve AI models

  4. Session Isolation: Each session processes your code independently without historical context from previous sessions

What This Means Practically

For developers concerned about intellectual property:

Limitations to Understand

While zero retention provides meaningful privacy protection, it’s important to understand its limitations:

Enabling Privacy Mode in Cursor Pro

To activate privacy features in Cursor Pro:

  1. Open Cursor and navigate to Settings (Cmd+, on Mac or Ctrl+, on Windows)

  2. Click on the Privacy & Security tab

  3. Enable privacy-related options:

Comparing Privacy Features Across Plans

One of the advantages of Cursor Pro is that privacy features aren’t locked behind a higher price tier:

Feature Free Plan Cursor Pro

|———|———–|————|

Basic AI Completion ✓ ✓
Privacy Mode Limited Full
Zero Retention Not guaranteed Guaranteed
Priority Processing ✗ ✓
Advanced AI Models ✗ ✓

The privacy features in Cursor Pro represent a meaningful investment by the developers to address enterprise and security-conscious users’ needs without charging premium prices.

Who Should Use Privacy Mode?

While all Cursor Pro users benefit from zero retention, privacy mode is particularly important for:

Enterprise Developers

If you’re working on enterprise codebases, you likely have strict security policies. Privacy mode helps you comply with:

Open Source Maintainers

If you maintain popular open source projects, privacy mode prevents your code from potentially being used to train competitors or create derivative works.

Freelancers and Consultants

When working on client projects, privacy mode demonstrates professional responsibility regarding client intellectual property.

Regulated Industries

Developers in healthcare (HIPAA), finance (SOX), or government sectors often require documented privacy controls that privacy mode provides.

Common Misconceptions About Privacy Mode Cost

“Privacy Features Require Enterprise Pricing”

Some developers assume that privacy features require expensive enterprise plans. This is not the case with Cursor Pro—privacy mode is included at the standard Pro price.

“Zero Retention Is Only for Paying Customers”

While some tools restrict zero retention to enterprise tiers, Cursor Pro provides this commitment to all Pro subscribers.

“Privacy Mode Reduces AI Capability”

A common concern is that enabling privacy mode degrades AI assistance quality. While some advanced features may work differently with privacy mode enabled, core functionality remains.

Best Practices for Maximum Privacy

To get the most out of Cursor Pro’s privacy features:

  1. Enable Privacy Mode: Don’t just rely on default settings—actively enable privacy mode in settings

  2. Review Settings Regularly: Cursor updates may change default privacy configurations

  3. Understand Your Toolchain: Remember that privacy extends beyond Cursor to your entire development environment

  4. Combine with VPN: For sensitive work, consider using a VPN for an additional layer of network security

  5. Review Third-Party Integrations: Privacy mode in Cursor doesn’t extend to other tools you connect

Verifying Cursor Network Connections

Use lsof to inspect active outbound connections from the Cursor process while Privacy Mode is enabled, confirming no unexpected telemetry endpoints:

# List all TCP connections from Cursor processes
lsof -i TCP -n -P | grep -i cursor

# Show unique remote hosts Cursor is connecting to
lsof -i TCP -n -P | grep -i cursor | awk '{print $9}' | sort -u

# Monitor new connections in real time (requires sudo)
sudo lsof -r 2 -i TCP -n -P | grep -i cursor

# Privacy Mode should show: api.anthropic.com (inference), cursor.sh (auth)
# Red flag: connections to analytics.cursor.sh or segment.io while in Privacy Mode

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any hidden costs I should know about?

Watch for overage charges, API rate limit fees, and costs for premium features not included in base plans. Some tools charge extra for storage, team seats, or advanced integrations. Read the full pricing page including footnotes before signing up.

Is the annual plan worth it over monthly billing?

Annual plans typically save 15-30% compared to monthly billing. If you have used the tool for at least 3 months and plan to continue, the annual discount usually makes sense. Avoid committing annually before you have validated the tool fits your needs.

Can I change plans later without losing my data?

Most tools allow plan changes at any time. Upgrading takes effect immediately, while downgrades typically apply at the next billing cycle. Your data and settings are preserved across plan changes in most cases, but verify this with the specific tool.

Do student or nonprofit discounts exist?

Many AI tools and software platforms offer reduced pricing for students, educators, and nonprofits. Check the tool’s pricing page for a discount section, or contact their sales team directly. Discounts of 25-50% are common for qualifying organizations.

What happens to my work if I cancel my subscription?

Policies vary widely. Some tools let you access your data for a grace period after cancellation, while others lock you out immediately. Export your important work before canceling, and check the terms of service for data retention policies.