Windsurf is Codeium's AI-first code editor, positioning itself as a Cursor alternative with a generous free tier and "Cascade" agentic features. At $15/month for Pro, it's the budget-friendly option for developers who want multi-file AI editing without Cursor's price tag.
Windsurf is an AI-first code editor from Codeium, the company behind the popular free AI coding extension. Released in late 2024, Windsurf is Codeium's answer to Cursor—a full IDE with AI baked in from the ground up, not just bolted on as an extension.
Like Cursor, Windsurf is built on VS Code's open-source foundation, meaning you get a familiar interface with all your extensions. The key differentiator is Cascade, Windsurf's agentic AI feature that can autonomously plan and execute multi-step coding tasks.
Codeium's strategy is clear: undercut Cursor on price while matching or exceeding features. The free tier is remarkably generous, and Pro at $15/month is 25% cheaper than Cursor. For a newer product, Windsurf has matured rapidly.
Codeium started as a free GitHub Copilot alternative, gaining millions of users with its browser-based AI autocomplete. Windsurf is their graduation to a full IDE, leveraging that user base and AI expertise. They've been refining AI coding longer than most competitors.
| Tier | Price | What You Get | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Generous autocomplete, limited Cascade actions, basic chat Best Free Tier | Trying it out, light use |
| Pro | $15/month | Unlimited Cascade, priority models, advanced features | Individual developers |
| Pro Ultimate | $60/month | Maximum Cascade actions, enterprise models, priority support | Power users |
| Enterprise | Custom | Self-hosted, SSO, admin controls, dedicated support | Large organizations |
| Factor | Windsurf | Cursor | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | Generous, usable daily | Limited to 2 weeks | Windsurf |
| Pro Price | $15/month | $20/month | Windsurf |
| Multi-File Editing | Cascade | Composer | Tie |
| Polish/Stability | Good, improving | Excellent | Cursor |
| Community/Docs | Growing | Large, established | Cursor |
Unlike most "free tiers" that are really trials, Windsurf's free plan is genuinely usable for daily coding. You get real AI autocomplete and limited Cascade actions. For hobbyists or developers evaluating options, this is a major win.
Agentic AI that plans and executes multi-step tasks across files. Similar to Cursor's Composer but with its own approach.
Codeium's bread and butter. Snappy suggestions that feel faster than competitors in our testing.
Context-aware chat that understands your codebase. Ask questions, get explanations, generate code.
Full compatibility with VS Code extensions. Bring your theme, keybindings, and tools.
Indexes your project for context-aware suggestions. Understands your patterns and conventions.
Enterprise tier supports self-hosting. Clear data policies for security-conscious teams.
Cascade is Windsurf's answer to Cursor's Composer. It's an agentic AI feature that can:
In practice, Cascade feels similar to Composer—both handle multi-file edits well. The implementations differ in details, but for most tasks, either will serve you well.
Windsurf is newer, and it shows in small ways. Edge cases that Cursor handles gracefully might trip up Windsurf. The product is improving rapidly, but today, Cursor is more polished.
Cursor has been around longer and has a larger community sharing tips, workflows, and troubleshooting. Finding Windsurf-specific guidance can be harder. This is changing as the product grows.
For teams considering Windsurf at scale, the enterprise features are less proven than Cursor's. SSO, audit logs, and admin controls exist but have less real-world battle-testing.
Windsurf is betting it can outpace Cursor on development velocity. So far, it's working—updates are frequent and features are shipping. But Cursor isn't standing still either. The winner isn't decided yet.
You want Cursor-like capabilities without Cursor's price, or you want a genuinely usable free tier to evaluate AI coding. Windsurf delivers real value at every price point.
You need the most polished experience, have complex enterprise requirements, or depend on features where Cursor has an edge. The $5/month difference buys more stability today.
| Tool | Price | Best For | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cursor | $20/month | Maximum polish | More mature, larger community |
| GitHub Copilot | $10/month | Any IDE users | Works everywhere, simpler |
| Claude Code | ~$3/hour | Terminal power users | Maximum AI capability |
| VS Code + Codeium | Free | Free tier fans | Extension, not full IDE |
Windsurf is the value play in AI coding. It delivers 90% of Cursor's capabilities at 75% of the price, with the best free tier in the market. For developers who want multi-file AI editing without premium pricing, Windsurf is the smart choice.
The recommendation:
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