Cursor vs Windsurf

A detailed comparison of Cursor and Windsurf. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and user ratings.

Quick Summary

Cursor leads with a 4.6/5 rating compared to Windsurf's 4.5/5. Both tools target solopreneur to enterprise companies. Both tools offer free plans, so you can try each before committing. Cursor provides a free trial while Windsurf does not.

Cursor

AI-native code editor with Composer multi-file editing, background agents, and credit-based pricing

Rating 4.6/5
Best for Solopreneur to Enterprise
Free trial Yes
Free plan Yes
Start Free Trial →

Windsurf

AI-native code editor with Cascade agentic engine, acquired by Cognition AI (Devin) in late 2025

Rating 4.5/5
Best for Solopreneur to Enterprise
Free trial No
Free plan Yes
Visit Windsurf →

Feature Comparison

Feature Cursor Windsurf
Bug Detection
Code Completion
Code Explanation
Code Generation
Code Review
IDE Integration
Multi-Language Coding
Terminal / CLI Integration
Natural Language Chat

Pricing Comparison

Cursor

Hobby/Free Free
Pro $20/mo
Pro+ $60/mo
Ultra $200/mo
Business Custom
Enterprise Custom

Windsurf

Free Free
Pro $15/mo
Teams $30/mo
Enterprise $60/mo

Pros & Cons

Cursor

Pros

  • +Codebase-aware context makes suggestions far more relevant
  • +Multi-file editing is a genuine productivity leap
  • +Familiar VS Code interface reduces switching friction
  • +Supports multiple AI models including Claude and GPT-4

Cons

  • -Requires switching from your existing editor
  • -Can be resource-heavy on older machines
  • -Relatively new company — long-term stability uncertain
  • -Privacy mode requires explicit configuration

Windsurf

Pros

  • +Generous free tier with unlimited basic completions
  • +Cascade agentic mode handles multi-step tasks autonomously
  • +Fast completions with low latency
  • +Trains on your codebase for personalised suggestions

Cons

  • -Less established than GitHub Copilot
  • -Agentic features can sometimes go off track
  • -Enterprise features still maturing
  • -Smaller community and fewer resources than Copilot

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Cursor if:

  • • Your company is Solopreneur to Enterprise size
  • • You want to start with a free plan
  • • You want to try before committing
  • • Codebase-aware context makes suggestions far more relevant
  • • Higher user ratings matter to you (4.6 vs 4.5)
Try Cursor Free

Choose Windsurf if:

  • • Your company is Solopreneur to Enterprise size
  • • You want to start with a free plan
  • • Generous free tier with unlimited basic completions
Visit Windsurf