AI coding startup Cursor has launched its first India-specific subscription plan, Cursor Start, priced at ₹649 per month (approximately $7), which is significantly lower than its global $20 Pro subscription. This move comes ahead of its anticipated acquisition by SpaceX for $60 billion in stock, expected to close in Q3 2026. India has become Cursor’s third-largest market globally, with its user base tripling in the past year and hosting its highest concentration of power users. The localized pricing is aimed at capturing the rapidly expanding developer base in India, which is home to over 27 million developers on GitHub, second only to the U.S.

The new subscription, Cursor Start, offers access to Cursor’s AI models like Composer 2.5 and Grok 4.5, along with features such as cloud agents, an iOS app, and integrations. However, it excludes some advanced tools found in the Pro subscription, like frontier AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic, as well as features like Bugbot and Autos Mode. This plan is tailored to developers seeking more robust AI coding assistance than the free tier but without the full Pro offering’s cost. Cursor ensures this India-specific subscription remains available only to individual users within the country by deploying payment methods and VPN deterrents.

Cursor is also expanding its local presence in India by hiring sales and technical support staff across major cities including Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. The company is focusing initially on individual developers, startups, and universities, with plans to grow enterprise adoption particularly in banking and large corporations. Cursor’s localized subscription is designed to be commercially sustainable, leveraging its proprietary AI models to minimize costs compared to offerings heavily reliant on third-party AI platforms.

The India expansion initiative was set in motion before SpaceX announced its acquisition deal but aligns well with the potential synergies SpaceX’s presence in India via Starlink might bring post-acquisition. Cursor will continue operating independently until the transaction finalizes. The success of localized pricing in India could pave the way for similar strategies in other markets, mirroring approaches taken by competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic as global AI companies intensify efforts to serve fast-growing AI user bases.