What they share

Both Cursor (by Anysphere) and Windsurf (by Codeium) are forks of VS Code with AI agents that can read, edit, and run multi-file changes autonomously. Both support GPT, Claude, Gemini, and self-hosted local models.

Where Cursor wins

• Tab autocomplete is uncannily fast and predicts not just the current line but the next 2-3 edits across the file.
• Composer mode is more mature, with first-class diff review and atomic apply/revert.
• Background agents (introduced 2025) run delegated work in containers; they sync back via PRs.

Where Windsurf wins

• Cascade is Windsurf's session memory — it preserves project understanding across days and turns. Cursor restarts more aggressively.
• Free tier is more generous: 50 fast credits/mo (Windsurf) vs 0 (Cursor).
• Privacy mode is on by default — no opt-in needed.

Pricing comparison

| Plan | Cursor | Windsurf | |------|--------|----------| | Free | 2000 completions/mo + slow requests | 50 fast + unlimited slow | | Pro | $20/mo | $15/mo | | Team | $40/seat | $35/seat |

How to pick

• Pick Cursor if you mostly do fast edits and want the most polished autocomplete UX.
• Pick Windsurf if you want agent memory that persists across sessions, and care about cost.

Try both for a week. Your gut tells you fast which feels right.