Comparisons
Cursor vs Windsurf
A side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right tool.
The bottom line
Cursor and Windsurf are both AI-first editors based on VS Code, with agents that edit across files and run commands. Cursor is the better-known option with a large community; Windsurf’s Cascade agent closely follows what you are doing. Both have free tiers, so try each on a real task before deciding.
At a glance
| Cursor | Windsurf | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Coding & App Builders | Coding & App Builders |
| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |
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| Our take | The most capable AI-first editor for people who code every day. | A strong alternative to Cursor for AI-first coding. |
Choose Windsurf if you need:
- Developers wanting an AI editor
- Multi-file changes
- Prototyping
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