Price: Free plan available with limits. Pro from $20/month. Max $200/month for heavy users. Teams from $40/user/month.
Platforms: Web · Windows · Mac · Linux
Free plan: yes
API available: yes
Open source: no
Available in Spanish: no
What is Windsurf?
Windsurf is an AI-powered IDE built by Cognition AI that integrates the Cascade agent to automate complex programming tasks. It is a fork of VS Code, available on Windows, macOS and Linux, and supports 70+ programming languages. Aimed at individual developers and teams looking to speed up their workflow with autonomous AI inside the editor.
Pros
- Deeply integrated Cascade agent with strong codebase awareness and visualised multi-file changes
- Aggressive pricing ($20/month) against competitors such as Cursor, which costs the same but with less agency
- Support for SWE-1.5, a proprietary model optimised for software engineering that does not consume credits
- Integration with Devin to delegate long tasks to cloud agents
Cons
- Interface available only in English, with no Spanish localisation
- Turbulent brand history (Codeium → Windsurf → Devin Desktop) confuses users
- Very limited public API, mainly for teams; there is no clear REST API for individual developers
- Handoff to Devin requires an additional subscription ($20+ more), raising total cost
Frequently asked questions
Is Windsurf free?
Yes, there is a free plan with limited usage (5 Cascade sessions/day). Paid plans start at $20/month.
What is the difference between Windsurf and Cursor?
Both cost $20/month, but Windsurf stands out for its more integrated Cascade agent and the free-to-use SWE-1.5 model. Cursor offers more model choice.
Does Windsurf work in my favourite IDE?
Windsurf is a standalone IDE (a VS Code fork) but it is also available as an extension for VS Code, JetBrains, Vim, Emacs and others.