Your web developer just quoted you £8,000 for a business website that should cost £3,000. Sound familiar?
Here's the thing - most small businesses overpay for web development because developers are still coding the old way. While AI coding assistants like Cursor AI and GitHub Copilot can slash development time by 40-60%, many developers haven't adapted.
We've spent six months testing both tools on real client projects. The results surprised us.
What Are AI Coding Assistants?
Think of them as incredibly smart autocomplete for programmers. Instead of typing every line of code manually, developers describe what they want, and the AI writes most of the code automatically.
But here's where it gets interesting for business owners: different AI assistants have dramatically different impacts on project timelines and costs.
Real Example: A Manchester accountancy firm needed a client portal. Traditional development: 3 weeks, £4,500. With AI assistance: 8 days, £2,200. Same functionality, better code quality.
Cursor AI vs GitHub Copilot: The Key Differences
Most business owners think all AI coding tools are the same. They're not.
GitHub Copilot suggests code line by line as developers type. It's like having a coding buddy making suggestions.
Cursor AI goes much further. It understands entire projects, edits multiple files simultaneously, and can even debug existing code automatically.
Real-World Performance: Our 6-Month Test
We tracked both tools across 15 client projects, from simple WordPress sites to complex web applications.
Project Speed Comparison
| Project Type | Traditional Dev | GitHub Copilot | Cursor AI | |--------------|----------------|----------------|-----------| | Business Website | 2-3 weeks | 1-2 weeks | 1 week | | E-commerce Store | 4-6 weeks | 3-4 weeks | 2-3 weeks | | Custom Web App | 8-12 weeks | 6-8 weeks | 4-6 weeks |
The winner? Cursor AI consistently delivered faster results, but with a catch.
Code Quality Results
GitHub Copilot produced more bugs initially. We spent extra time fixing issues, especially on complex projects.
Cursor AI generated cleaner code from the start, but occasionally made architectural decisions we had to reverse.
"GitHub Copilot feels like pair programming with a junior developer. Cursor AI is like having a senior developer who sometimes goes off on tangents."
Which Tool Saves You More Money?
Let's talk numbers that matter to business owners.
For Simple Business Websites
GitHub Copilot wins for straightforward sites. The learning curve is gentler, and most developers can become productive within days.
Typical savings: £800-1,500 per project
For Complex Applications
Cursor AI dominates when building customer portals, booking systems, or automation workflows integrated into websites.
The multi-file editing capabilities mean developers can implement complex features in hours instead of days.
Typical savings: £2,000-5,000 per project
The Hidden Costs
GitHub Copilot: £8/month per developer Cursor AI: £15/month per developer
But here's what most agencies won't tell you - the subscription cost is irrelevant compared to the time savings.
Initial Development
Both tools speed up initial coding, but Cursor AI handles complex features better
Bug Fixing
Cursor AI's debugging capabilities save 2-3 hours per week on ongoing maintenance
Feature Updates
Cursor AI understands your entire codebase, making updates 50% faster
When GitHub Copilot Makes Sense
Choose GitHub Copilot if you're working with:
- Simple brochure websites
- WordPress customisations
- Developers new to AI coding tools
- Projects under £3,000 budget
The gentler learning curve means your developer becomes productive immediately.
When Cursor AI Delivers Better ROI
Cursor AI shines for:
- E-commerce platforms
- Custom web applications
- Integration-heavy projects
- Ongoing maintenance and updates
Case Study: A Leeds manufacturing company needed a complex quote system integrated with their website. GitHub Copilot estimate: 4 weeks. Cursor AI delivery: 2.5 weeks, with better error handling and automated testing.
The Integration Reality Check
Both tools integrate differently with popular web development stacks.
Next.js Projects: Cursor AI understands the framework better, generating proper React components and API routes automatically.
WordPress Development: GitHub Copilot handles PHP customisations more reliably.
Database Integration: Cursor AI excels at generating database queries and handling multiple file updates simultaneously.
What This Means for Your Business
Stop paying traditional development rates for projects where AI could cut costs in half.
But here's the crucial bit - not all developers use these tools effectively. Some resist change, others use them poorly.
When interviewing web developers or agencies, ask:
- Which AI coding assistant do you use?
- Can you show examples of time savings on similar projects?
- How do you pass those savings on to clients?
Bottom Line: Cursor AI typically delivers 20-30% better ROI for complex projects, while GitHub Copilot offers easier adoption for simple websites.
Making the Right Choice for Your Project
The tool matters less than the developer using it. We've seen excellent results with both, depending on project complexity.
For most UK SMEs, the bigger question isn't which AI tool your developer uses - it's whether they're using any AI tool at all.
If you're planning a web project and want to understand how modern development practices can save you money, our web applications team can provide realistic timelines and costs for your specific requirements.
The AI coding revolution is here. Make sure you're benefiting from it, not paying traditional prices for AI-accelerated work.