Verified migration vs generation
Cursor writes the migration.
Refactyl proves it compiles.
Cursor and Claude Code are brilliant at generating a migration. Neither guarantees the result builds, so you find the broken files, the silent anys, and the @ts-ignore shortcuts yourself, in code review. Refactyl runs every file through the real compiler and repairs until the build is clean. 0 files shipped unverified.
No credit card · Docker-sandboxed · Deleted on handoff · How we handle your code →
The honest read
Cursor is a genuinely great AI editor, and for a small migration you can drive it agent-mode and get there. The difference isn't generation. Cursor generates fine. It's verification. Cursor hands you a diff and trusts you to notice what didn't compile. Refactyl runs tsc/next build on every file and won't hand off until the build is clean, or flags what it couldn't safely touch.
An AI editor's job is done when it stops typing. A migration's job is done when it compiles. That gap (between “looks migrated” and “actually builds”) is where migrations go to die. Cursor will silence a type error with any because that makes the red squiggle disappear; it has no reason not to. Refactyl treats the real compiler as the only judge that matters. Use Cursor to explore. Use Refactyl to ship.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Refactyl | Cursor / Claude Code |
|---|---|---|
| Compiler-gated handoff | Yes | No |
| Verify & Repair loop until build is clean | Yes | No, you re-prompt manually |
| Silences errors with `any` / `@ts-ignore` | Never. Policy enforced | Often, unless you police it |
| Public benchmark vs raw LLMs | Yes, 3–30× less `any` | — |
| Already in your editor | No | Yes |
| General coding beyond migrations | No | Yes |
| Price | $0–$299/mo, or project quote | $20–$120/user/mo |
Where each tool wins, honestly
Where Refactyl wins
- Compiler-gate guarantee on every file, not just the ones you re-prompt
- Verify & Repair loop: automated, not manual
- Never-`any` policy, enforced by the engine
- Falsifiable public benchmark: 3–30× less `any` on 5 real OSS repos
- Migration audit trail: which files verified, which flagged, and why
- Whole-repo consistency across files that reference each other
Where Cursor / Claude Code wins
- Already installed and paid for, no new tool to adopt
- Does everything else, not just migrations
- Excellent raw reasoning for gnarly refactors
- Ideal for small, low-stakes changes where you can check every file yourself
- Immediate in-editor feedback loop
“If your migration is small and you enjoy being the compiler, an agent in your editor is fine. If it's big, scary, or shipping to production, you want a real gate.”
Who Refactyl is for
Teams shipping a migration to production who can't afford “it looked done but didn't build.”
If the migration is one file and you'll personally review every line, Cursor is fine. If it's a real repo (50 files, 500 files, or 5,000) and it needs to build clean on the other side, that's the job Refactyl was built for.
Try it now
Paste Express. Get Fastify. Right here.
The same engine that migrates whole repos, scoped to a single file. Free, in your browser, no signup.
// public demo model · never paste secrets, API keys, or .env values
// fastify output appears here
// run transform to see the conversion
// free preview · 2 transforms per hour
FAQ
Should I use Cursor or Refactyl?
Honest answers to the questions every developer asks before choosing.
Ready to try it?
Run your migration through the real compiler.
One free migration per month, up to 100 files. No credit card. Compiler-verified output or a clear flag on every file that needed manual attention.
No credit card · Docker-sandboxed · Deleted on handoff · Never used for training