Keywords AI

Cursor vs Windsurf

Compare Cursor and Windsurf side by side. Both are tools in the Coding Agents category.

Quick Comparison

	Cursor	Windsurf
Category	Coding Agents	Coding Agents
Pricing	Freemium	Freemium
Best For	Developers who want the deepest AI integration in their code editor	Developers who want an AI-enhanced code editor with strong autocomplete
Website	cursor.com	codeium.com
Key Features	AI-native code editor (VS Code fork) Codebase-aware chat Multi-file editing with Composer Tab completion with context Built-in terminal AI	AI-powered code editor Flows for multi-file editing Supercomplete context-aware completion Built-in AI chat Extension marketplace
Use Cases	Codebase-aware code generation Multi-file feature implementation Refactoring with full project context Debugging with AI assistance Rapid prototyping and iteration	AI-assisted code writing Multi-file code changes Code explanation and debugging Rapid prototyping Learning new codebases

When to Choose Cursor vs Windsurf

Choose Cursor if you need

Codebase-aware code generation
Multi-file feature implementation
Refactoring with full project context

Pricing: Freemium

Choose Windsurf if you need

AI-assisted code writing
Multi-file code changes
Code explanation and debugging

Pricing: Freemium

How to Choose a Coding Agents Tool

Key criteria to evaluate when comparing Coding Agents solutions:

IDE integrationWhich editors and IDEs are supported — VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, etc.

Autonomy levelAutocomplete vs chat-assisted vs fully autonomous code generation and execution.

Codebase awarenessHow well the tool understands your full project context, not just the current file.

Language supportQuality of suggestions across your primary programming languages.

Privacy and securityWhether code leaves your machine, data retention policies, and enterprise controls.

About Cursor

Cursor is an AI-native code editor built as a fork of VS Code, designed from the ground up for AI-assisted development. It features intelligent code completion, multi-file editing, codebase-aware chat, and an agent mode that can autonomously plan and execute coding tasks. Cursor uses a combination of its own models and frontier LLMs (Claude, GPT-4) to provide the most context-aware coding assistance available. It has become the editor of choice for many AI-first developers.

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About Windsurf

Windsurf (by Codeium) is an AI-powered IDE that combines copilot-style code completion with agentic multi-file editing capabilities. It features Cascade, a deep context engine that understands your codebase and can autonomously plan and execute multi-step coding tasks. Windsurf supports all major programming languages and provides both inline suggestions and chat-based coding assistance.

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What is Coding Agents?

AI-powered developer tools that can write, review, debug, and refactor code—ranging from IDE copilots to fully autonomous software engineering agents.

Browse all Coding Agents tools →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a coding agent?▾

A coding agent is an AI tool that helps write, debug, review, and refactor code. They range from autocomplete tools to fully autonomous agents that can implement entire features, run tests, and submit pull requests.

Will coding agents replace developers?▾

No, but they significantly increase developer productivity. Coding agents handle routine implementation and debugging, freeing developers to focus on architecture, design decisions, and complex problem-solving.

How do I choose between GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and Claude Code?▾

GitHub Copilot is best for inline autocomplete and broad IDE support. Cursor provides the deepest codebase-aware chat experience. Claude Code excels at autonomous multi-file tasks from the terminal. Many developers use multiple tools.