Want to Use Claude 3 in Cursor IDE? Here’s How I Made It Work

I rely on AI daily to code faster and smarter. When Claude 3 launched with its massive 200,000-token context and impressive Next.js capabilities, I got excited. But my enthusiasm faded when I couldn’t find Claude in Cursor IDE—my primary editor. After some trial and error, I discovered a simple setup that works. Let me show you how I added Claude 3 to my Cursor workflow.

The Problem: No Claude 3 in Cursor

Cursor’s AI features are fantastic, but they focus mainly on OpenAI models. That meant no access to Claude 3’s Haiku, Sonnet, or Opus—models I wanted to use for complex framework work and budget-friendly coding. Without native support, I was constantly switching windows and copying code between tools. It broke my flow and slowed me down.

How I Fixed It: Openrouter.ai

During my search, I found Openrouter.ai—a service that connects multiple AI models through one API. This became my bridge to Claude 3 within Cursor. While it occasionally struggles with image inputs, it reliably handles code. Best part? I control my spending with my own API key.

Step-by-Step Guide to Integration

• Create a free account at Openrouter.ai and copy your API key from the dashboard
• In Cursor, open Settings > AI Models and click “Add Custom Provider”
• Paste the Openrouter API endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1 and your API key
• Select your Claude 3 model—I use claude-3-haiku for quick tasks and claude-3-opus for complex debugging
• Save and restart Cursor—now you can toggle between models instantly

Costs: Is Claude 3 Worth the Price?

Claude 3 Opus costs more than GPT-4 ($0.015 per 1K input tokens vs $0.01). But Haiku? It’s incredibly affordable at $0.00025 per 1K input tokens. For me, Opus’s precision on tough Next.js issues justifies the cost on professional projects. If you’re watching expenses, start with Haiku—it outperforms GPT-4 in benchmarks and handles large files beautifully.

Final Thoughts

This Openrouter setup brought Claude 3 into my daily coding without waiting for official support. While image inputs sometimes glitch, the productivity gains are undeniable. Give it a shot—you might find Claude 3 becomes your new coding partner like it did for me.