Cursor vs Windsurf (Devin Desktop): which should builders use?
Windsurf was renamed Devin Desktop by Cognition in June 2026. Both are AI-first editors built on the VS Code codebase, so extensions, keybindings and settings carry over. The choice is mostly about agent workflow and plan limits, not about the editor itself.
 Cursor |  Windsurf (Devin Desktop) | |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Desktop editor (VS Code fork) | Desktop editor (VS Code-based) |
| Agent | Multi-file agent and background agents | Devin Local agent (replaced Cascade in July 2026), plus Agent Command Center |
| Models | Multiple frontier models, selectable | Multiple frontier and open models, selectable |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing (approx.) | Free tier; paid plans from ~$8/mo (Plus) up to $200/mo (Ultra); Teams available | Free tier; Pro ~$20/mo; Max ~$200/mo; Teams available |
| Our rankings | #1 in Vibe coding, #1 in Coding agents, #5 in UI generators, #2 in Indie games | #5 in Vibe coding, #4 in Coding agents |
Pick Cursor if…
You want the most widely used AI editor among builders, with background agents that open PRs.
Pick Windsurf (Devin Desktop) if…
You want a command center for running several local and cloud agents side by side.
Our verdict
Cursor ranks higher in our vibe-coding and coding-agent rankings on builder signal. Windsurf is a credible alternative; try both on the same repo for a day.
Pricing is approximate and was checked against vendor pages in Oct 2026. Confirm on Cursor and Windsurf (Devin Desktop) before you buy.