Cursor vs Windsurf
Last updated March 25, 2026
Cursor provides multi-file editing with Composer at $20 per month. Windsurf offers Cascade agentic AI at $15 per month. Both are VS Code forks with deep AI integration. Choose Cursor for proven Composer editing. Choose Windsurf for lower price and Cascade agent.
Cursor
AI-first code editor built on VS Code with deep AI integration for code generation, editing, and chat
4.5/5
Best for: Developers who want the deepest AI integration in their editor beyond what Copilot adds to VS Code
- Pricing
- Freemium
- Starting Price
- Free / $20/month (Pro)
Pros
- Deepest AI integration in an editor
- Multi-file editing is powerful
- Codebase-aware context
- Built on VS Code so familiar
Cons
- $20/mo is more than Copilot
- VS Code fork may lag behind updates
- Can be resource intensive
- Learning curve for AI features
Codeium / Windsurf
AI-powered IDE with Cascade agentic coding that plans and executes multi-step coding tasks
4.2/5
Best for: Developers who want an AI IDE with agentic capabilities that can plan and execute multi-step coding tasks
- Pricing
- Freemium
- Starting Price
- Free / $15/month (Pro)
Pros
- Agentic Cascade is powerful
- Free tier generous
- Good code completion
- Affordable Pro tier
Cons
- IDE fork may lag behind VS Code
- Cascade can be unpredictable
- Newer platform
- Resource intensive
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Cursor | Codeium / Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free / $20/month (Pro) | Free / $15/month (Pro) |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Key Features | 8 features | 8 features |
| Integrations | 4 integrations | 4 integrations |