Coding comparison
Cursor vs Windsurf
Our pick: Cursor scores 9.4/10 against 8.7/10 for Windsurf. Here's how they differ and which one fits your needs.
VS
At a glance
| Cursor | Windsurf | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 9.4/10 | 8.7/10 |
| Best for | Professional developers, Startups, Vibe coders | Professional developers, Students |
| Type | AI IDEs | AI IDEs |
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starting price | $20/mo | $15/mo |
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, Linux | Mac, Windows, Linux |
| Launched | 2023 | 2024 |
Key features
Cursor
- Tab autocomplete
- Agent mode
- Codebase indexing
- Background agents
- Bugbot code review
- Rules and memories
Windsurf
- Cascade agent
- Supercomplete autocomplete
- Previews and deploys
- Memories
- JetBrains plugin
Cursor: pros and cons
Pros
- Excellent autocomplete quality
- Familiar VS Code experience and extensions
- Strong multi-file refactoring
Cons
- Usage-based limits on heavy agent use
- Pricing changes have frustrated some users
Windsurf: pros and cons
Pros
- Polished agent flow
- Generous free tier
- Competitive pricing
Cons
- Ownership changes created roadmap uncertainty
- Credit system can be confusing
Verdict: Cursor or Windsurf?
Choose Cursor if you're professional developers or startups or vibe coders and value excellent autocomplete quality.
Choose Windsurf if you're professional developers or students and value polished agent flow.
Overall we rate Cursor slightly higher. Both are worth trying, and at least one has a free plan or trial. See all Coding tools for more options.
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