Reviewed by Zoran P — Editor, AI Agents List · Last verified: June 10, 2026 · How we test
Choose Cursor if you want to stay hands-on — Composer multi-file edits with diff review, model switching between Claude 4.x, Gemini 2.5 Pro, GPT-4o, and o1, and up to 8 parallel cloud background agents that return pull requests.
Choose Windsurf if you prefer delegating whole tasks — its agentic Flows plan, execute, and iterate with terminal access, its free tier includes unlimited Tab completions and inline edits, and Pro adds Devin Cloud agents at the same $20/month.
Last verified: June 10, 2026
Key facts
Cursor and Windsurf are both freemium desktop editors built on VS Code; the spec differences that matter are price, model choice, and how their agents run.
| Cursor AI Code Editor with Background Agents | Windsurf Agentic AI Code Editor | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing tiers | Hobby: Free · Pro: $20/mo · Pro+: $60/mo · Ultra: $200/mo · Teams: $40/user/mo | Free: $0 · Pro: $20/mo · Max: $200/mo · Teams: $80/mo + $40/mo per dev seat |
| Free plan | Yes — limited Agent requests and Tab completions, no credit card required | Yes — unlimited Tab completions and inline edits, light agent quota, limited model availability |
| Key capabilities | Composer multi-file edits with diff review, Agent mode, up to 8 parallel background agents returning PRs | Agentic Flows that plan, execute, and iterate with terminal access; cloud agents (Devin Cloud) on Pro |
| Model support | Claude 4.x, Gemini 2.5 Pro, GPT-4o, o1 — switchable per task | OpenAI, Claude, and Gemini frontier models on Pro; SWE 1.6 and leading open-source models included free |
| Platform / IDE | Desktop app (VS Code fork), VS Code extensions compatible | Desktop app (VS Code fork), VS Code extensions compatible |
| Deployment | Local editor, cloud AI — no offline mode | Local editor, cloud AI — internet required |
| Integrations | GitHub, Git, MCP servers, Jira and Notion via MCP | GitHub, Git, terminal |
| Notable limits | Free-tier limits are exhausted quickly; performance lags on very large projects | Free tier has a light agent quota and limited model availability; broad agent changes need review before accepting |
Cursor and Windsurf take documented but different approaches to the same job: Cursor keeps you in the loop reviewing diffs while its background agents work in the cloud, and Windsurf runs a plan–execute–iterate loop inside the editor until the task is done.
On a multi-file refactor, Cursor's Composer applies one instruction across the affected files and shows a unified diff before writing anything; its Agent mode can also run tests and fix failures in steps. Windsurf's Flows handle the same job by reading files, writing code, running terminal commands, and checking results in a continuous loop — broader autonomy per step, with review happening after the agent acts rather than before. For off-editor work, Cursor's background agents return pull requests, and Windsurf Pro includes access to cloud agents via Devin Cloud. We have not yet published side-by-side results from running both on an identical task.
Cursor and Windsurf cost the same at the entry paid tier — both Pro plans are $20/month — so the price difference shows up at the free tier and at team scale. Windsurf's free tier is more usable day to day: unlimited Tab completions and unlimited inline edits, with a light agent quota and limited model availability. Cursor's free Hobby tier caps both Tab completions and Agent requests. What $20 buys also differs: Cursor Pro includes $20 of monthly model credits, while Windsurf Pro includes free use of SWE 1.6 and leading open-source models, with extra usage purchasable at API pricing. At the top end both charge $200/month (Cursor Ultra, Windsurf Max). For teams, Cursor is the cheaper structure — $40/user/month flat versus Windsurf's $80/month team plan plus $40/month per full dev seat.
Cursor and Windsurf are equally easy to start with — both install as desktop apps, both are rated easy setup in our data, and both keep your VS Code extensions, themes, and keybindings. The difference is working style. Cursor suits beginners who want to learn from the changes: Composer shows a reviewable diff before anything is written, so you see exactly what the AI did. Windsurf suits beginners who care more about the outcome than the steps — you describe the goal and its Flows handle the implementation loop — and its free tier's unlimited Tab completions and inline edits make it the lower-commitment trial. If you are unsure, run the same small task in both free tiers and compare.
Neither Cursor nor Windsurf is a safe default — each has documented limitations worth weighing before you commit.
Most developers choosing between Cursor and Windsurf can decide on budget, how much control they want over each edit, and how many tasks they run at once.
Quick answers to the questions developers ask most when choosing between Cursor and Windsurf.
No — Cursor Pro and Windsurf Pro both cost $20/month, and their top tiers are both $200/month. Windsurf's free tier is more generous with unlimited Tab completions and inline edits, while Cursor's Pro includes $20 of monthly model credits.
Not in one window — Cursor and Windsurf are both full VS Code-fork editors, so you switch between apps rather than combine them. Running both free tiers on the same repository to compare results is practical.
No. Both Cursor and Windsurf require an internet connection for all AI features; neither offers an offline mode.
Yes — Cursor and Windsurf are both built on VS Code, so most existing extensions, themes, and keybindings carry over to either editor.
Cursor and Windsurf each have a full profile with pricing, limitations, and alternatives — start there if you are still deciding.
Cursor — full profile
AI Code Editor with Background Agents
Windsurf — full profile
Agentic AI Code Editor
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot
Full AI editor vs plugin for your existing IDE.
Browse all coding tools → /categories/coding