Windsurf
Free TierAI IDE with agentic coding by Codeium
Based on 4,200 reviews • Last updated February 19, 2026
What is Windsurf?
Windsurf is an AI-first code editor by Codeium that features Cascade, an agentic coding engine that can understand your entire codebase, make multi-file changes, and execute terminal commands autonomously. It goes beyond autocomplete to act as a true AI pair programmer.
Best for:
Developers who want an affordable AI IDE with powerful agentic coding capabilities
Pros & Cons
✓ Pros
- ✓Powerful agentic coding with Cascade
- ✓More affordable than Cursor
- ✓Understands entire codebase
- ✓Great autocomplete
- ✓VS Code extension support
✕ Cons
- ✕Newer than Cursor (smaller community)
- ✕Can be aggressive with changes
- ✕Occasional hallucinations in large codebases
- ✕Some features still in beta
Key Features
Use Cases
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Windsurf compare to Cursor?
Windsurf is more affordable ($15/mo vs $20/mo) and its Cascade engine is more autonomous. Cursor has a larger community and more mature feature set. Both are excellent AI code editors.
What is Cascade in Windsurf?
Cascade is Windsurf's agentic AI engine that can autonomously navigate your codebase, make multi-file changes, run terminal commands, and implement features based on natural language instructions.
Can I use VS Code extensions in Windsurf?
Yes, Windsurf is built on VS Code and supports most VS Code extensions, themes, and keybindings.
Windsurf Alternatives
Cursor
The AI-first code editor
GitHub Copilot
AI pair programmer for developers
Tabnine
Privacy-focused AI code completion