Windsurf
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About Windsurf
Windsurf is an AI-powered code editor developed by Codeium (now Windsurf), launched in 2024 as a competitor to Cursor. Windsurf is built on a fork of VS Code with deep AI agent capabilities — its 'Cascade' agent can autonomously plan, edit, and run code across multiple files in a single conversation, going beyond Cursor's autocomplete and chat. Windsurf launched as free (Codeium's free tier was generous) and added paid tiers in late 2024 ($15/month Pro, $30/month Pro Ultimate). The editor became one of the fastest-growing developer tools in early 2025. In April-May 2025, OpenAI explored acquiring Windsurf for $3 billion, though the deal ultimately fell through and Windsurf remained independent — but a portion of its team eventually joined Google. Windsurf is particularly known for excellent multi-file refactors, agent-driven implementations of features, and a less interruptive UX than Cursor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Windsurf vs Cursor: which is better?
Both are excellent AI code editors. Windsurf's Cascade agent is generally rated stronger for autonomous multi-file edits — it 'thinks longer' before acting and produces more cohesive changes. Cursor has a larger user base, more refined chat/composer UX, and faster autocomplete. Cursor pricing ($20/month Pro) vs Windsurf ($15/month Pro). For agentic workflows: Windsurf often wins. For day-to-day coding with chat assistance: Cursor wins. Many developers use both and pick whichever performs better for the specific task.
Is Windsurf still free?
Windsurf has a free tier with limited Cascade Plus actions per month. Pro tier ($15/month) provides unlimited use of the standard models and a generous allotment of premium model actions. Pro Ultimate ($30/month) provides the highest premium quota. The free tier is functional for casual use but power users typically need Pro. Codeium's original free autocomplete remains very generous and is sufficient for many developers who don't need full agent capabilities.
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