Cursor vs Windsurf vs Copilot: Best AI Code Editor 2025
Cursor vs Windsurf vs GitHub Copilot: AI Code Editors Compared
The AI code editor market exploded in 2025. Cursor, Windsurf (by Codeium), and GitHub Copilot represent three different approaches. Here is which one fits your workflow.
TL;DR: Cursor is the most powerful AI-first IDE. Windsurf offers the best free tier. GitHub Copilot has the widest editor support. For complex projects, pair any editor with Claude Code for agentic tasks.
Comparison
| Feature | Cursor | Windsurf | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Editor | VS Code fork | VS Code fork | Extension (any IDE) |
| AI Models | Claude, GPT-4o, custom | Cascade (proprietary) | GPT-4o, Claude |
| Inline Edit (Cmd+K) | Excellent | Good | Good |
| Multi-file Composer | Yes (excellent) | Yes (Cascade flows) | Limited |
| Autocomplete | Very Good | Good | Excellent |
| Free Tier | Limited | Generous | Limited |
| Price | $20/mo | Free/$15/mo | $10-19/mo |
Our Recommendation
- Best overall: Cursor ($20/mo) — most capable AI editing experience
- Best free: Windsurf — generous free tier with good AI features
- Best for existing IDEs: GitHub Copilot — works in VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim
- Best for complex tasks: Claude Code (CLI) + any editor above
See also: Cursor vs Claude Code and Gemini Code vs Copilot.
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