cursor vs Windsurf
Comprehensive side-by-side comparison — features, pricing, performance, and more.
Updated March 2026
Trust & Reliability
cursor
Trusted by:Stripe, OpenAI, Datadog +7
GDPR
SOC 2
Windsurf
Users:1M-10M
Trusted by:JPMorgan Chase, Mercado Libre, athenahealth +4
SOC 2
HIPAA
Overall Winner: cursor
8.0/10 vs Windsurf at 7.5/10
Leads in:
Output Quality
Ease of Use
Value for Money
AI Comparison Summary
cursor
8.0
avg score
Windsurf
7.5
avg score
cursor leads overall.
Based on 6 dimensions
How scores are calculatedOverall Winner
cursor
8.0 / 10
cursor
Best For
Individual developers seeking AI-powered coding assistance
Engineering teams aiming to accelerate development cycles
Organizations needing advanced code review and debugging tools
Developers working with complex or large codebases
Not Ideal For
Beginner programmers who prefer a simpler, non-AI-assisted environment
Teams strictly requiring on-premise or fully self-hosted AI models for all operations
Users who prefer a lightweight text editor over a full-featured IDE
Windsurf
Best For
Accelerating software development for engineers
Automating boilerplate and menial coding tasks
Building applications with AI assistance
Improving developer productivity in large codebases
Not Ideal For
Developers who prefer to use only open-source tools
Teams requiring full control over all AI model training data
Users who need web search functionality with strict zero-data retention
* Verdict is based on our algorithmic scoring of publicly available data. Learn about our methodology
cursor is best for
💻Coding & Dev10.0🤖Automation & Agents7.0✍️Writing & Content3.0
Windsurf is best for
✍️Writing & Content9.0💬Chat & Conversation9.0🤖Automation & Agents7.0
Filter by your use case:
Pros & Cons
cursorPros
- Significantly boosts developer productivity
- Deep codebase understanding for accurate AI assistance
- Supports a wide range of cutting-edge AI models
- Integrates seamlessly into existing developer workflows (GitHub, Slack)
- Offers robust enterprise-grade security and compliance features
- Provides flexible deployment across desktop, CLI, web, and mobile
Cons
- Requires developers to adapt to an AI-first IDE workflow
- Advanced features and integrations are primarily for paid tiers
- Reliance on external LLM providers for core AI capabilities
- Potential for high switching costs due to deep integration into development environment
- No explicit mention of on-premise deployment for core product
WindsurfPros
- Offers powerful agentic AI (Cascade) for complex tasks
- Provides intelligent code completion (Tab) across various IDEs
- Supports multiple major AI models (GPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.)
- Strong security and compliance with SOC 2 Type II, FedRAMP High, HIPAA
- Flexible deployment options including Cloud, Hybrid, and Self-hosted
- Includes zero-data retention policies for enterprise customers
- Integrates with JetBrains IDEs and offers its own editor
- Free tier available with unlimited Tab completions
Cons
- Self-hosted tier does not support all cutting-edge products like Windsurf Editor or Cascade
- Web search tool (Bing API) does not have zero data retention agreement
- Turbo Mode auto-run commands are unavailable for Teams/Enterprise users by default
- Some advanced features like remote indexing require data retention opt-in for Cloud deployments
- The 'Windsurf Browser' feature was deprecated
Weighted Score — Adjust What Matters to You
Pick a profile or drag sliders — scores and radar update instantly on the right.
Quick profiles:
Ease of Use5
Output Quality5
Value for Money5
Customizability5
Support & Ecosystem5
Integration Power5
Dimension Comparison
cursor
8.0
/ 10
Your pick
Windsurf
7.5
/ 10
Dimension Breakdown
Ease of Use
AIHow easy it is to get started and use daily
cursor
8.0▲ +1.0
Windsurf
7.0
Output Quality
AIQuality and accuracy of generated results
cursor
9.0▲ +1.0
Windsurf
8.0
Value for Money
AICost vs. features and output quality
cursor
8.0▲ +1.0
Windsurf
7.0
Customizability
CalculatedAbility to tailor to specific needs
cursor
8.0
Windsurf
9.0▲ +1.0
Support & Ecosystem
AIDocumentation, community, and support quality
cursor
7.0▲ +1.0
Windsurf
6.0
Integration Power
CalculatedAbility to connect with other tools and workflows
cursor
8.0
Windsurf
8.0
Calculated = derived from verified integration count and API/open-source signals. AI = LLM-assessed from public website content. Methodology
Data is sourced from public information and vendor websites. It may not always be up-to-date — verify pricing and features directly with the vendor before purchasing.Report inaccuracy
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, cursor or Windsurf?
Both are strong options. cursor has a rating of 0.0/5 (0 reviews), while Windsurf has a rating of 0.0/5 (0 reviews). The best choice depends on your specific use case, budget, and workflow requirements.
Is cursor cheaper than Windsurf?
cursor starts at free (freemium model). Windsurf starts at free (freemium model) with a free trial. Use the Cost Calculator above for a detailed estimate.
What are the main differences between cursor and Windsurf?
cursor — "Built to make you extraordinarily productive, Cursor is the best way to code with AI.". Windsurf — "The intuitive AI coding experience for developers in flow.". Key differences include their pricing models, platform support, integrations, and technical capabilities. See the Feature Comparison table above for a complete side-by-side breakdown.
Can I use cursor and Windsurf together?
Yes, many teams use both tools together for different purposes. Use the Stack Builder section above to combine cursor and Windsurf with other tools and save your AI toolkit.
Does cursor or Windsurf have a free plan?
cursor is available for free. Windsurf is available for free with a free trial. Always verify current pricing directly with the vendor.