The verdict
Zed is the editor that proves "fast" isn't a solved problem — the Rust-native rendering means it stays responsive on codebases where VSCode lags, and the multi-buffer feature lets you edit several files literally simultaneously rather than tab-switching. The AI assistant panel and MCP support add modern AI capabilities to a fundamentally faster editor foundation. For performance-conscious developers (especially on Rust, systems work, or large monorepos where editor lag compounds), Zed earns the slot. The honest tradeoffs: AI feature set is smaller than Cursor's — no Composer-equivalent for cross-file refactors, smaller plugin ecosystem, and macOS-first development means Linux/Windows still trail. Real-time collaboration is built in, which is useful for pair programming. For users prioritizing speed and collaboration with AI as a complement, Zed fits. For users wanting the most capable AI coding assistant, Cursor's deeper feature set wins. Open source editor with optional paid AI is a good combination.