VS Code vs Windsurf
type: Article
description: VS Code is a lightweight, highly customizable general-purpose code editor with 20+ million monthly users, while Windsurf is a specialized AI-first IDE built on VS Code's foundation that integrates advanced language models for autonomous coding tasks. Windsurf focuses on AI-assisted development with 40% faster code generation, whereas VS Code prioritizes flexibility and ecosystem breadth.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-07T15:57:24.644Z
date created: 2026-07-07T15:57:24.644Z
date modified: 2026-07-07T15:57:24.709Z
content reference time: 2026-07-07T15:57:24.709Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Visual Studio Code
about: Windsurf
abstract: VS Code is a lightweight, highly customizable general-purpose code editor with 20+ million monthly users, while Windsurf is a specialized AI-first IDE built on VS Code's foundation that integrates advanced language models for autonomous coding tasks. Windsurf focuses on AI-assisted development with 40% faster code generation, whereas VS Code prioritizes flexibility and ecosystem breadth.
text: AI Integration Level. Monthly Active Users. Base Download Size. Extension Marketplace. Autonomous Code Generation. Price (Base Version). AI Context Window
conclusion text: Choose VS Code if you need a lightweight, universally compatible editor with maximum customization through 50,000+ extensions and zero cost. Choose Windsurf if you're focused on AI-accelerated development, autonomous code generation, and want built-in advanced language models without manual configuration.
additional property: Monthly Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: Free | Windsurf: $15
  value reference: Visual Studio Code
additional property: AI Context Window
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: Varies by extension (typically 4,000-8,000) | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Startup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 2-3 seconds | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Available Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 55,000+ | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Memory Usage (Idle)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: ~150 MB | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Built-in AI Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: None (requires extensions) | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Data Privacy Model
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: Local-first, no telemetry by default | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Multi-line Tab Autocomplete
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: Requires extension + config | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Annual License Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: Free | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Memory Usage at Startup
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: ~80MB | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Time to Productive Setup (Python Development)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 3-4 hours (Pylance, Pytest, Linter config) | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Built-in Refactoring Accuracy
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 92% (with Pylance extension) | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: $0 | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Installation Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 50 MB | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Supported Programming Languages
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 80+ built-in | Windsurf: 90+ languages
  value reference: Windsurf
additional property: Global Developer Adoption
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 74% of professional developers | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Average Code Suggestion Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: N/A (manual) | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Available Extensions/Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 50,000+ extensions | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Development Time Reduction
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: N/A (baseline) | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Free Tier Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: Yes, fully featured | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Available Extensions/Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 50,000+ | Windsurf: <500
  value reference: Visual Studio Code
additional property: Native Language Support (Without Extensions)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 8 languages (JS, TS, Python basics, JSON, HTML, CSS, Markdown, XML) | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Development Team Size for Optimal Experience
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 1-50 (lightweight, customizable) | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Issues Detected Pre-Runtime (Java Code Analysis)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: ~65% (with extensions) | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Extension Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 50,000+ | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Initial Learning Time (Keyboard Shortcuts)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 2-4 hours | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Supported Languages (Built-in Syntax Highlighting)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 200+ | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Native Debugging Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: Yes (20+ languages) | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Developer Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 76% | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: GitHub Stars
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 165,000+ | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Default Memory Usage (Idle)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 150-250 MB | Windsurf: 400-600 MB
  value reference: Visual Studio Code
additional property: AI Multi-File Context
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: Extension-limited; manual file selection required | Windsurf: Automatic across entire codebase
additional property: Latest AI Assistant Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: Free basic + $10 Copilot Pro | Windsurf: Freemium with credit system
additional property: Initial Release Year
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 2015 | Windsurf: 2024
  value reference: Visual Studio Code
additional property: GitHub Stars (as of 2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 160,000+ | Windsurf: 10,000+
  value reference: Visual Studio Code
additional property: Supported Languages (Official)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 40+ via built-in and extensions | Windsurf: 30+ via built-in support
  value reference: Visual Studio Code
additional property: Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 20 million | Windsurf: 0.35 million
  value reference: Visual Studio Code
additional property: Idle Memory Usage
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 300-500 MB | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Supported Languages (Native)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: Generic (extension-based) | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Real-Time Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: Via paid Live Share ext. ($4/mo) | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Base License Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: Free (open-source) | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: GPU-Accelerated Rendering
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: No (Electron-based) | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Annual Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: Free | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Built-in Refactoring Operations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 5-15 (extension dependent) | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Code Completion Accuracy
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 70-80% | Windsurf: N/A
additional property: Extension/Plugin Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 50,000+ | Windsurf: Inherits all VS Code extensions
additional property: Base Install Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: 95 MB | Windsurf: 180 MB
  value reference: Visual Studio Code
additional property: AI Context Window Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: Varies by extension (typically 4K-8K) | Windsurf: 128,000 tokens
  value reference: Windsurf
additional property: Base License Cost (Annual)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Visual Studio Code: $0 (free) | Windsurf: $120 (Pro tier)
  value reference: Visual Studio Code
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/visual-studio-code
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/visual-studio-code
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/windsurf
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/windsurf
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/vs-code-vs-windsurf)
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/vs-code-vs-windsurf)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/vs-code-vs-windsurf
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cursor-vs-windsurf
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cursor-vs-vs-code
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/windsurf-vs-github-copilot
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/windsurf-vs-cline
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/vs-code-vs-github-copilot
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/vs-code-vs-jetbrains
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/vs-code-vs-neovim
teaches: How to choose between Visual Studio Code and Windsurf
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: VS Code vs Windsurf — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Visual Studio Code
type: SoftwareApplication
alternate name: VSC
language: en-US
description: Lightweight open-source code editor by Microsoft with extensive language support and plugin ecosystem
image: ImageObject
  caption: Visual Studio Code
subject of: VS Code vs Windsurf
image: ImageObject
  caption: Visual Studio Code

Windsurf
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: AI-first IDE built on VS Code foundation with integrated Cascade autonomous coding engine
image: ImageObject
  caption: Windsurf
subject of: VS Code vs Windsurf
image: ImageObject
  caption: Windsurf

VS Code vs Windsurf — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for VS Code vs Windsurf. Contains 90 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Monthly Subscription Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: AI Context Window
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI Features
variable measured: Startup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Available Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Memory Usage (Idle)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Resource Efficiency
variable measured: Built-in AI Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Data Privacy Model
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Multi-line Tab Autocomplete
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI Features
variable measured: Annual License Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Memory Usage at Startup
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Time to Productive Setup (Python Development)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Built-in Refactoring Accuracy
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Code Intelligence
variable measured: Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Installation Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: System Requirements
variable measured: Supported Programming Languages
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compatibility
variable measured: Global Developer Adoption
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market
variable measured: Average Code Suggestion Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Available Extensions/Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Development Time Reduction
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Productivity
variable measured: Free Tier Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Available Extensions/Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: Native Language Support (Without Extensions)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Language Support
variable measured: Development Team Size for Optimal Experience
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Issues Detected Pre-Runtime (Java Code Analysis)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Code Quality
variable measured: Extension Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Initial Learning Time (Keyboard Shortcuts)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Supported Languages (Built-in Syntax Highlighting)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Native Debugging Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Developer Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: GitHub Stars
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community
variable measured: Default Memory Usage (Idle)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: AI Multi-File Context
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI Features
variable measured: Latest AI Assistant Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Initial Release Year
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Maturity
variable measured: GitHub Stars (as of 2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community Adoption
variable measured: Supported Languages (Official)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Language Support
variable measured: Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community
variable measured: Idle Memory Usage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Resource Efficiency
variable measured: Supported Languages (Native)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Language Support
variable measured: Real-Time Collaboration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Base License Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: GPU-Accelerated Rendering
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Technology
variable measured: Annual Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Built-in Refactoring Operations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Code Intelligence
variable measured: Code Completion Accuracy
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Code Intelligence
variable measured: Extension/Plugin Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customization
variable measured: Base Install Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: AI Context Window Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI Capabilities
variable measured: Base License Cost (Annual)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Code Generation Speed (vs baseline)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI Performance
variable measured: GitHub Repository Stars
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community Engagement
variable measured: Supported Languages
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Accessibility
variable measured: Active Users (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Daily Code Lines Generated
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Fortune 500 Adoption Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Enterprise
variable measured: Security Certifications
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Base Technology
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Architecture
variable measured: Agent Autonomy Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI Features
variable measured: Control Determinism
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI Features
variable measured: Interface Learning Curve
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: UX
variable measured: Pro Plan Price
variable measured: Free tier
variable measured: Agent name
variable measured: Autocomplete engine
variable measured: Editor base
variable measured: Codebase indexing
variable measured: Frontier models available
variable measured: Enterprise / self-hosting
variable measured: Platform Support
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/vs-code-vs-windsurf)

VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for VS Code vs Windsurf.
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: AI Features
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Resource Efficiency
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Code Intelligence
has defined term: System Requirements
has defined term: Compatibility
has defined term: Market
has defined term: Productivity
has defined term: Extensibility
has defined term: Language Support
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Code Quality
has defined term: Usability
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Community
has defined term: Maturity
has defined term: Community Adoption
has defined term: Technology
has defined term: Customization
has defined term: AI Capabilities
has defined term: AI Performance
has defined term: Community Engagement
has defined term: Accessibility
has defined term: Enterprise
has defined term: Architecture
has defined term: UX
has defined term: Agent
has defined term: Editor
has defined term: Models
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: AI Backend
has defined term: Capability
has defined term: Development Model
has defined term: Market Position

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-features
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Resource Efficiency
type: DefinedTerm
term code: resource-efficiency
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ease of Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ease-of-use
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Code Intelligence
type: DefinedTerm
term code: code-intelligence
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

System Requirements
type: DefinedTerm
term code: system-requirements
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Compatibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: compatibility
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Productivity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: productivity
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Extensibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: extensibility
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Language Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: language-support
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scalability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scalability
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Code Quality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: code-quality
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Usability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: usability
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Maturity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: maturity
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community-adoption
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technology
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technology
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customization
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customization
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI Capabilities
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-capabilities
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-performance
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community Engagement
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community-engagement
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Accessibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: accessibility
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Enterprise
type: DefinedTerm
term code: enterprise
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Architecture
type: DefinedTerm
term code: architecture
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

UX
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ux
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Agent
type: DefinedTerm
term code: agent
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Editor
type: DefinedTerm
term code: editor
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Models
type: DefinedTerm
term code: models
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI Backend
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-backend
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Capability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capability
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Development Model
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development-model
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: VS Code vs Windsurf — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-07T15:57:24.709Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: vs-code-vs-windsurf)
main entity: Is Windsurf just VS Code with AI added?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Windsurf is built on VS Code's foundation but is a distinct IDE with a proprietary Cascade AI engine for autonomous coding. It inherits all 50,000+ VS Code extensions while adding built-in language model integration, autonomous multi-file refactoring, and error-driven development workflows. However, it requires separate configuration and paid subscriptions for advanced AI features.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I use VS Code extensions in Windsurf?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes, Windsurf maintains full compatibility with the VS Code extension marketplace. All 50,000+ extensions work in Windsurf, giving you access to the same ecosystem while adding AI-specific features on top.
    language: en-US
main entity: How much does Windsurf cost compared to VS Code?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: VS Code is completely free and open-source. Windsurf's base version is free but premium AI features (advanced models, higher usage limits) require a Pro subscription at $10/month ($120/year). VS Code's AI capabilities depend on choosing and purchasing separate AI extensions individually.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which is better for beginners?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: VS Code is significantly better for beginners due to its 20+ million user base, massive community support, countless tutorials, and zero cost. Windsurf's AI-first approach may overwhelm beginners unfamiliar with language models, though it can accelerate learning once fundamentals are understood.
    language: en-US
main entity: Does Windsurf's 40% speed improvement mean faster development?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Windsurf's 40% faster code generation speed (via 128K token context window) refers to the AI completing code suggestions faster, not necessarily making you develop faster overall. Benefits depend on your workflow—it excels at multi-file refactoring and autonomous implementation but requires prompt engineering skill to maximize value.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Visual Studio Code and Windsurf
type: HowTo
description: VS Code is a lightweight, highly customizable general-purpose code editor with 20+ million monthly users, while Windsurf is a specialized AI-first IDE built on VS Code's foundation that integrates advanced language models for autonomous coding tasks. Windsurf focuses on AI-assisted development with 40% faster code generation, whereas VS Code prioritizes flexibility and ecosystem breadth.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: AI Integration Level
step: Consider: Monthly Active Users
step: Consider: Base Download Size
step: Consider: Extension Marketplace
step: Consider: Autonomous Code Generation
step: Consider: Price (Base Version)
step: Consider: AI Context Window
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose VS Code if you need a lightweight, universally compatible editor with maximum customization through 50,000+ extensions and zero cost. Choose Windsurf if you're focused on AI-accelerated development, autonomous code generation, and want built-in advanced language models without manual configuration.

Consider: AI Integration Level
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: AI Integration Level: Visual Studio Code has Optional via extensions, while Windsurf has Built-in with Cascade AI engine.

Consider: Monthly Active Users
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Monthly Active Users: Visual Studio Code has 20+ million, while Windsurf has 350,000+ (early adoption).

Consider: Base Download Size
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Base Download Size: Visual Studio Code has 95 MB, while Windsurf has 180 MB.

Consider: Extension Marketplace
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Extension Marketplace: Visual Studio Code has 50,000+ extensions, while Windsurf has Limited ecosystem (newer).

Consider: Autonomous Code Generation
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Autonomous Code Generation: Visual Studio Code has Not primary feature, while Windsurf has Core differentiator.

Consider: Price (Base Version)
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Price (Base Version): Visual Studio Code has Free, while Windsurf has Free (Pro tier: $10/month).

Consider: AI Context Window
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: AI Context Window: Visual Studio Code has Varies by extension, while Windsurf has Up to 128K tokens (Claude integration).

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: VS Code vs Windsurf
review body: VS Code is a lightweight, highly customizable general-purpose code editor with 20+ million monthly users, while Windsurf is a specialized AI-first IDE built on VS Code's foundation that integrates advanced language models for autonomous coding tasks. Windsurf focuses on AI-assisted development with 40% faster code generation, whereas VS Code prioritizes flexibility and ecosystem breadth.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: VS Code vs Windsurf

Code Generation Speed (vs baseline)
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: Baseline (100%) | Windsurf: 140% faster (40% improvement)
value reference: Windsurf

GitHub Repository Stars
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: 160K stars | Windsurf: 12K stars
value reference: Visual Studio Code

Supported Languages
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: 200+ | Windsurf: 200+ (via VS Code compatibility)

Active Users (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: 1M+

Daily Code Lines Generated
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: 70M+

Fortune 500 Adoption Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: 59%

Security Certifications
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: FedRAMP High, DoD IL5, ITA

Base Technology
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Native IDE

Agent Autonomy Level
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: 9

Control Determinism
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: 6

Interface Learning Curve
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: 7 (novel)

Pro Plan Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: ~$15/mo

Free tier
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Yes — generous free tier with limited premium credits

Agent name
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Cascade

Autocomplete engine
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Supercomplete (Codeium-tuned)

Editor base
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: VS Code fork

Codebase indexing
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Riptide retrieval indexing

Frontier models available
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Claude, GPT, Gemini families + Codeium models

Enterprise / self-hosting
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Enterprise tier with SSO + self-hosting heritage

Platform Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: macOS, Windows, Linux + JetBrains plugin

Community size / momentum
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Growing since the Windsurf rebrand

Free Tier Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: 10 agent tasks

Compatible Editors/IDEs
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Windsurf IDE only

Agentic Task Execution
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Full multi-step autonomous execution with state tracking

AI Model Provider
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Codeium (proprietary)

Response Latency (P50)
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: ~800ms average completion

Max Context Window
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: 8,000 tokens

Supported Languages/Environments
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Web-only (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React)

Base Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: API subscription required (Claude API)

AI Model Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Claude 3.5 Sonnet only

Availability Status
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Early access/Beta (2024-2025)

Primary Use Case Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Multi-step browser workflows (3-10+ steps)

Code File Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Web files only (.html, .js, .css)

Open Source
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Closed/Proprietary

Context Window Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: 200K tokens

Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: ~0.5 million (estimated)

Years Since Launch
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: 0.2 years (late 2024)

Standalone IDE Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Full standalone IDE included

Multi-file Project Editing
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: Native multi-file support

Supported IDEs/Platforms
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: 1 (Windsurf proprietary IDE only)

Free Trial Duration
type: PropertyValue
value: Visual Studio Code: N/A | Windsurf: 30 days unlimited

SpeakableSpecification
css selector: #short-answer
css selector: #verdict
css selector: #key-differences
css selector: #faq
xpath: //*[@id='short-answer']
xpath: //*[@id='verdict']

Visual Studio Code — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Windsurf — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Visual Studio Code vs Windsurf
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/vs-code-vs-windsurf)
object: Visual Studio Code
object: Windsurf

Pro Plan Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free tier
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Agent name
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Agent

Autocomplete engine
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Editor

Editor base
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Editor

Codebase indexing
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Models

Frontier models available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Models

Enterprise / self-hosting
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Enterprise

Platform Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Accessibility

Community size / momentum
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Editor

Free Tier Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Compatible Editors/IDEs
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Agentic Task Execution
type: PropertyValue
value reference: AI Capabilities

AI Model Provider
type: PropertyValue
value reference: AI Backend

Response Latency (P50)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Max Context Window
type: PropertyValue
value reference: AI Capabilities

Supported Languages/Environments
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Capability

Base Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

AI Model Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Availability Status
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Accessibility

Primary Use Case Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Capability

Code File Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Capability

Open Source
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Development Model

Context Window Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Capability

Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Position

Years Since Launch
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Maturity

Standalone IDE Capability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Architecture

Multi-file Project Editing
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Supported IDEs/Platforms
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Free Trial Duration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing