The Claude + Cursor + Obsidian Workflow Comparison: $800/Month of AI Tools Tested
TL;DR: I spent $800 on AI tools last month. Claude, Cursor, Lovable, Obsidian and more. Here is the workflow that 3xed my shipping velocity. Research: 6 months testing every combination.
I spent $800 on AI tools last month.
Claude. Cursor. Lovable. Obsidian. And more.
Here is what actually works and what does not. No affiliate links. Just what I learned.
The Tools
Tool 1: Obsidian
Not a coding tool. It is your second brain.
Capture context BEFORE you code. Without this, you are building without a blueprint.
Tool 2: Claude
The thinking partner. Use it for architecture, design, complex debugging.
It will argue with you about the right approach. That is a feature.
Tool 3: Cursor
The implementer. Not just autocomplete.
It is an agent that can handle entire features.
This is where you spend most of your time.
The Workflow
Think in Obsidian (capture context) Plan with Claude (architecture) Build in Cursor (execute)
15 min + 15 min + hours = shipped.
Real Numbers
- 3x more features shipped
- 70% faster time to prototype
- 50% less rework
- Tool cost: ~$60/month
The ROI is obvious.
The Mistake Most People Make
Using Claude to write code (too slow) or Cursor to think (wrong tool).
Each excels at different things.
Apply This Today
- Install Obsidian and start capturing your project context
- Use Claude for architecture sessions, not code writing
- Use Cursor for implementation, not planning
- Track your shipping velocity for two weeks
The workflow replaces scattered tools with focused execution.
