Cursor vs Windsurf
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings
At a glance
| Dimension | Cursor | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Freemium (free tier + paid plans for premium AI usage) | Likely enterprise-tier (not explicitly listed, but paid with 'unlimited access' to SWE-1.6) |
| Best For | Individual devs and teams wanting AI to handle end-to-end feature creation | Engineering teams managing multiple concurrent AI agents, cloud and local orchestration |
| Key Feature | Autonomous agent mode that builds, tests, and demos features end-to-end | Agent Client Protocol (ACP) for multi-model support, unified local/cloud agent management |
| Integrations | Slack, GitHub | None listed (focus on ACP for model integration) |
| Unique Selling Point | Multi-surface AI (editor, terminal, Slack, PRs), reinforcement learning for improvement | Unlimited access to fastest coding model SWE-1.6, background agents, session sharing |
| Platform | Cross-platform (not explicitly stated but implied as IDE) | macOS only (downloaded on Mac) |
For teams managing fleets of coding agents with cloud/local handoffs, Windsurf (Devin Desktop) offers a unified IDE with multi-model support via ACP. For individual developers wanting an autonomous coding agent that builds features end-to-end, Cursor provides deeper integration into existing workflows (Slack, GitHub, terminal) with a freemium model. Choose Windsurf for agent orchestration at scale; choose Cursor for AI-first personal productivity.
Dev-in Desktop: orchestrate fleets of local and cloud coding agents from one IDE
Visit WebsiteWho should pick which
- Solo developer wanting AI to build features autonomouslyPick: Cursor
Cursor's agent mode builds, tests, and demos features end-to-end, with a freemium model that reduces upfront cost.
- Engineering team managing multiple AI agents across cloud and localPick: Windsurf
Windsurf's unified surface, ACP for multi-model, and session sharing are ideal for orchestrating fleets of agents.
- Developer needing AI across editor, terminal, Slack, and PRsPick: Cursor
Cursor integrates with Slack and GitHub, and offers a CLI agent, reducing context switching.
- Team wanting to leverage the fastest coding model (SWE-1.6)Pick: Windsurf
Windsurf provides unlimited access to SWE-1.6, which is claimed to be the fastest coding model.
- Individual on a tight budgetPick: Cursor
Cursor offers a freemium tier, while Windsurf's pricing is likely enterprise-tier and not free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cursor vs Windsurf: which should you choose?
For teams managing fleets of coding agents with cloud/local handoffs, Windsurf (Devin Desktop) offers a unified IDE with multi-model support via ACP. For individual developers wanting an autonomous coding agent that builds features end-to-end, Cursor provides deeper integration into existing workflows (Slack, GitHub, terminal) with a freemium model. Choose Windsurf for agent orchestration at scale; choose Cursor for AI-first personal productivity.
Can I use Windsurf on Windows or Linux?
No, the provided data indicates Windsurf is only available for macOS download.
Does Cursor support cloud agents?
Yes, Cursor has cloud agents that run in their own compute environment.
Which tool is better for team collaboration?
Windsurf's Session/Spaces allow sharing context and Git worktrees across agents, ideal for teams. Cursor offers multi-agent collaboration in shadow workspaces and Slack integration.
Can I use my own AI model with Windsurf?
Yes, through the Agent Client Protocol (ACP), Windsurf supports multiple models like Claude Agent, Codex, etc.
Is Cursor free?
Cursor has a freemium model; basic features are free, but premium AI usage requires a paid plan.
Which tool has better code autocomplete?
Cursor boasts a specialized Tab model for ultra-fast autocomplete, while Windsurf has Supercomplete for predicting next edits.
Does Windsurf support PR review?
The provided data does not mention PR review; Cursor offers in-tool code review and PR review on GitHub.
Which is better for autonomous feature development?
Cursor's agent mode is designed to build, test, and demo features autonomously, while Windsurf focuses more on agent orchestration.
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Last reviewed: May 12, 2026