Cursor vs Windsurf 2026: Honest Comparison

Overview

Cursor and Windsurf (formerly Codeium) are the two most talked-about AI code editors in 2026. Both are built on VS Code and add deep AI integration for code completion, chat, and multi-file editing. Cursor, created by Anysphere, focuses on agentic coding with features like Composer for multi-file edits and strong model flexibility (GPT-4o, Claude, custom models). Windsurf, from the team behind Codeium, emphasizes its Cascade feature for context-aware, flow-state coding and offers a more generous free tier.

Both editors represent the future of AI-assisted development, where the IDE understands your entire codebase and can make intelligent suggestions across multiple files.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Cursor	Windsurf	Winner
Code Completion	Fast, context-aware (Tab)	Fast, Supercomplete	Tie
AI Chat	Codebase-aware chat	Cascade context flow	Windsurf
Multi-File Editing	Composer (excellent)	Cascade multi-file	Cursor
Model Selection	GPT-4o, Claude, custom	Built-in models + options	Cursor
Codebase Indexing	Full repo indexing	Full repo indexing	Tie
Free Tier	Limited completions	Generous free usage	Windsurf
VS Code Extension Support	Full compatibility	Full compatibility	Tie
Pricing	$20/month Pro	$15/month Pro	Windsurf

Pricing

Cursor offers a free Hobby plan with 2,000 completions and 50 slow premium requests per month. The Pro plan is $20/month with 500 fast premium requests and unlimited completions. The Business plan is $40/user/month with admin features. Windsurf offers a free tier with generous daily usage limits. The Pro plan is $15/month with increased limits and priority access. The Team plan is $25/user/month.

Windsurf is more affordable at every tier and has a more generous free plan. Cursor costs more but offers more model flexibility.

Pros and Cons

Cursor Pros

• Composer is the best multi-file AI editing tool available
• Flexible model selection including custom API keys
• Strong community and rapid development
• Excellent at understanding large codebases

Cursor Cons

• More expensive than Windsurf
• Free tier is limited
• Can be resource-intensive on older machines
• Occasional model availability issues

Windsurf Pros

• Cascade provides excellent context-aware assistance
• More affordable at every price point
• Generous free tier for getting started
• Smooth, flow-state coding experience

Windsurf Cons

• Less model flexibility than Cursor
• Multi-file editing is newer and less mature
• Smaller community and ecosystem
• Company direction uncertain after acquisition talks

Who Should Use Which?

Choose Cursor if you want the most powerful AI coding assistant with maximum model flexibility and the best multi-file editing. Ideal for professional developers working on complex codebases who want to bring their own API keys or switch between models.

Choose Windsurf if you want an affordable AI code editor with a great free tier and smooth coding experience. Ideal for individual developers, students, and teams looking for AI-assisted coding without a significant investment.

Verdict

Cursor is the more powerful tool for professional developers who need maximum flexibility and multi-file editing capabilities. Windsurf offers better value and a smoother experience for developers who want AI assistance without high costs. Try both free tiers before committing — the best choice depends on your coding style and what feels more natural.