Can I use both at the same time?

Yes — they're separate apps with separate billing. Most developers pick one and commit to avoid splitting their workflow and muscle memory.

Didn't OpenAI try to buy Windsurf?

Yes. OpenAI pursued Windsurf in mid-2025, but the deal expired without closing. Google then hired Windsurf's CEO, co-founder, and several research leaders, and Cognition AI announced a definitive agreement to acquire the remaining Windsurf business on July 14, 2025.

Which one has better Claude support?

Both offer Claude models natively on paid tiers. Cursor's integration is older and more established. Windsurf's is competitive and benefits from recent updates.

Are my files sent to the cloud?

Both send code context to AI providers by default. Both offer privacy controls — Cursor has a Privacy mode, Windsurf has similar settings on higher tiers. Read the specific privacy docs for your plan before using either on sensitive code.

Can I migrate from one to the other?

Yes. Both import VS Code settings. Windsurf has a dedicated Cursor-settings import flow. Cursor supports standard VS Code sync, so your settings come with you either way.

Which is better for a team?

Cursor Teams ($40/seat) and Windsurf Teams ($40/seat) are priced identically. Cursor has more mature admin tooling and a larger community. Windsurf offers priority support on Teams. For enterprise, Cursor's track record is longer.

Cursor vs Windsurf — two visions for the AI-native editor, head to head

Both ship agent modes, strong autocomplete, and multi-model support. But Cursor 3 doubled down on parallel agents and cloud handoff, while Windsurf (now under Cognition AI) merged Devin's autonomous engine into its Cascade workflow. Here's how they compare for real work in April 2026.

The verdict

The short version

If you're a VS Code native who cares about ecosystem depth and wants the most polished multi-file editing experience, Cursor is the safer pick. Your extensions, themes, and keybindings carry over unchanged, Composer handles refactors with a level of control nobody else has matched, and background agents (new in Cursor 3) let you offload tasks to cloud VMs while you keep working.

If you're drawn to agent-driven development — describing tasks and letting the editor execute them autonomously — Windsurf was purpose-built for that from the start. The Cognition acquisition brought Devin's autonomous engine into the product, and Cascade's multi-step reasoning is among the best in the category. The unlimited free-tier autocomplete is a nice bonus.

What changed since last year

This comparison looks meaningfully different than it would have in early 2025.

Cursor shipped version 3.0 in April 2026, the biggest architectural change since launch. The interface now centers on managing parallel agents rather than editing individual files. You can run multiple agents concurrently — locally, in worktrees, or in cloud VMs — and hand tasks off between local and cloud environments.

Windsurf, meanwhile, went through a chaotic reset in July 2025. OpenAI's proposed deal fell apart, Google hired away part of the leadership team, and Cognition AI announced a definitive agreement to acquire the remaining Windsurf business on July 14, 2025. Since then, Cognition has been merging Devin's DNA into the editor through a series of "Wave" releases. Wave 13 brought free SWE-1.5 model access and first-class support for parallel, multi-agent sessions. The pricing also shifted: Pro went from $15 to $20/month in March 2026, putting both editors at the same price point.

Who wins where

Both tools hit the same use case from different philosophical angles. Cursor is an AI-augmented editor that's evolving toward agent orchestration. Windsurf is an agentic IDE that happens to have a good editor attached.

The distinction shows up in how you interact with each tool. Cursor's default mode is still you-typing-and-getting-completions, with Composer and agents available when you need them. Windsurf's default is Cascade — you describe a task, and the agent executes it, with the editor in a supporting role.

Neither approach is wrong. They're optimized for different mental models of how coding should work.

Our recommendation

For most working developers: pick Cursor if you have deep VS Code muscle memory and want the broadest extension compatibility. Pick Windsurf if you're genuinely interested in agent-first development and want to see where the Devin integration goes.

The price is now identical at $20/month. The free tiers differ meaningfully — Windsurf gives you unlimited autocomplete, Cursor gives you limited completions but a taste of the full agent experience. Try whichever philosophy appeals to you for a couple of weeks. You'll know.

CursorvsWindsurf

Head to head

Which should you pick?

Cursor