Is Windsurf better than Cursor?
TL;DR. Cursor is great for solo developers who prioritize speed, local context, and fast prototyping within VS Code. Windsurf is built for large, complex codebases, with deeper multi-file understanding, better team collaboration, and cross-IDE support. In short, Copilot thrives when paired with your existing VS Code setup and is fantastic for fast, in-line support — but it’s still a step behind Cursor and Windsurf when it comes to managing complex projects or generating full applications.Choose Cursor if you want an AI pair programmer that works like Copilot but smarter. Choose Windsurf if you’re building apps or internal tools with repeatable UI or logic patterns. Choose Cline if your focus is on code quality, debugging, and automating development tasks with multiple AI agents.TL;DR. Cursor is great for solo developers who prioritize speed, local context, and fast prototyping within VS Code. Windsurf is built for large, complex codebases, with deeper multi-file understanding, better team collaboration, and cross-IDE support.Cursor is now free for students! If you’re a student and haven’t tried Cursor yet, now’s the time. They just made their AI coding editor completely free for students. It’s like VS Code with an AI pair programmer built in and it actually understands your codebase (better than Copilot in my opinion!
Is Windsurf more expensive than Cursor?
For individual developers, Windsurf delivers better value at $15/month versus Cursor’s $20/month. The deployment feature alone saves configuration time worth more than the $5 difference. Windsurf is the second-largest AI-assisted software development platform behind Cursor (aka Anysphere). The company is estimated to have revenue of $100M, so this valuation represents an insanely high 30x revenue.OpenAI buys Windsurf, a VS Code fork, for $3B. Entertainment is the future of AI, not productivity and Blockchain is the future of civilization and tech, not AI. This acquisition landscape is fascinating and indicative of industry trends.OpenAI was pursuing Windsurf competitor Cursor, which did not materialize after the companies did not reach an agreed-upon price. Cursor closed an impressive $9 billion valuation funding round of $900 million, announced on May 5, 2025.OpenAI has agreed to buy Windsurf, an artificial intelligence-assisted coding tool formerly known as Codeium, for about $3 billion, according to people familiar with the matter, marking the ChatGPT maker’s largest acquisition to date.
Why Windsurf over Cursor?
In Cursor, you usually have to add the context manually or tag the codebase, but Windsurf will automatically analyze the codebase and choose the right file to work on. Windsurf has the edge here because it also offers a Chrome plugin that allows you to pull its IDE into other popular editors, like as Google Colab and Visual Studio Code—that makes it an even more flexible tool.Windsurf is a new name for Codeium IDE for programming based on VSCode. What makes it special is that it has built-in AI features (VSCode does too btw).
What is the difference between bolt vs Windsurf and Cursor?
In the case of cursor vs bolt vs windsurf, you’re looking at three tools solving three very different problems. Use Cursor if you want deep AI code assistance in real projects. Use Bolt if you want to turn an idea into a working full-stack app in minutes. Use Windsurf if your focus is UI logic and visual interaction. Cursor can be helpful for beginners due to its AI-assisted suggestions and guidance. It explains code, auto-generates snippets, and helps navigate large projects faster. However, the learning curve for AI-driven tools may feel overwhelming at first.Other interesting open source alternatives to Cursor are: Pythagora, Aider, Tabby and Void. Cursor alternatives are mainly AI Coding Assistants Tools but may also be AI-Powered Editors or General Purpose Editors.For teams looking for lightweight, in-editor help with fast autocomplete and refactoring, Cursor delivers solid results, especially for small to mid-sized projects. For larger projects demanding deeper architecture awareness, cross-file intelligence, and stronger refactoring capabilities, Cline takes the lead.Cursor AI is the better choice for developers who want cutting-edge AI assistance, deep project-wide modifications, and flexibility. Copilot remains the safer option for enterprise teams needing compliance and stability. If you prioritize speed, automation, and AI-driven workflow improvements, go with Cursor.Cursor AI is a powerful AI-assisted coding tool, but its Pro version can be expensive. Fortunately, you can use Cursor AI for free by: Using Cursor AI’s free 14-day pro trial.
Is Cursor and Windsurf free?
Windsurf’s pricing for Pro currently starts at $15/month, which includes 500 prompt credits. Per a recent pricing change, tool calls—like reading a file—no longer consume additional credits. Cursor also offers a limited free plan that includes a Pro two-week trial. Is windsurf AI free? Windsurf AI has a limited free plan with 5 AI requests per day and a two-week trial of premium features. For unlimited use, you need the paid plan at $15 per month.
What is the difference between Cursor agent and Windsurf cascade?
Cursor’s Agent mode will autonomously create or edit all necessary files (then show you each change for review). Windsurf’s Cascade Write mode similarly applies changes across files and even creates new files without additional prompts. Cursor stands out for its packed feature set—everything from advanced context management to multi-tab iterative updates. However, some folks might prefer the simpler interface of Windsurf, which automatically writes code to disk and doesn’t crowd you with buttons or chat tabs.But the biggest difference between the two is how Windsurf handles context and writing your code. In Cursor, you usually have to add the context manually or tag the codebase, but Windsurf will automatically analyze the codebase and choose the right file to work on.