A detailed comparison of Cursor and Windsurf to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
AI-native code editor by Codeium with deep codebase understanding and agentic coding.
| Plan | Cursor | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ Free tier (limited) | ✓ Generous free tier |
| Lowest Paid | $20/mo | $15/mo |
| Enterprise | $40/user/mo | Custom |
| Feature | Cursor | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| AI Code Completion | ✓ | — |
| Chat with Codebase | ✓ | — |
| AI Edit Mode | ✓ | — |
| Multi-File Edits | ✓ | — |
| VS Code Compatible | ✓ | — |
| Custom Models | ✓ | — |
| Agentic code editing | — | ✓ |
| Full codebase awareness | — | ✓ |
| Multi-file edits | — | ✓ |
| Terminal integration | — | ✓ |
| Web search | — | ✓ |
| Cascade AI model | — | ✓ |
| VS Code compatible | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✗ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.6 | ⭐ 4.4 |
Choose Cursor if: You need developers wanting the best ai-assisted coding experience. Cursor excels with its best ai coding experience and vs code extensions work.
Choose Windsurf if: You need developers wanting an ai coding partner with deep codebase understanding. Windsurf stands out with its more capable than cursor for complex tasks and free tier generous.
Best free option: Both Cursor and Windsurf offer free tiers. Cursor offers "Free tier (limited)" while Windsurf offers "Generous free tier".
It depends on your needs. Cursor is better for developers wanting the best ai-assisted coding experience, while Windsurf is better for developers wanting an ai coding partner with deep codebase understanding. Both are excellent tools rated 4.6 and 4.4 respectively.
Cursor starts at $20/mo while Windsurf starts at $15/mo. Both offer free tiers.
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying Windsurf's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
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