Cursor vs Windsurf: Pricing, Models, and Workflows Compared (Updated Feb 2026)
A practical comparison of Cursor and Windsurf (Codeium) in 2026: pricing tiers, credit systems, model routing, and how Composer vs Cascade affect your daily workflow.
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Cursor and Windsurf are both AI-first IDEs built as VS Code forks. Cursor uses Composer for explicit multi-file diff review with usage-based pricing ($20/month Pro), while Windsurf uses Cascade for agentic flows with credit-based pricing ($15/month Pro) and unlimited inline completions. This comparison covers their pricing, models, and workflow differences.
The AI-native code editor with $1B+ ARR, 25+ models, and background agents on dedicated VMs
TL;DR
- Cursor Pro costs $20/month with 500 premium requests; Windsurf Pro costs $15/user/month with 500 prompt credits.
- Windsurf Free offers 25 credits/month plus unlimited inline completions; Cursor Hobby includes only a two-week Pro trial.
- Cursor's Composer provides explicit multi-file diffs you approve per file; Windsurf's Cascade uses proactive agentic flows with Fast Context.
- Windsurf offers enterprise VPC and on-prem deployment; Cursor is SaaS-only.
- Both support VS Code extensions, themes, and keybindings.
Quick Answer
Choose Cursor if you want explicit, approve-and-apply multi-file edits and heavier agent-style workflows. Choose Windsurf if you prefer credit-based control with unlimited inline completions and a lower entry price.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Cursor | Windsurf (Codeium) |
|---|---|---|
| Base | VS Code fork (desktop app) | VS Code fork (desktop app) |
| Free tier | Hobby: 2-week Pro trial, then limited | Free: 25 credits/month + unlimited inline |
| Pro price | $20/month | $15/user/month |
| Teams price | $40/user/month | $30/user/month |
| Metering | Usage-based (premium requests) | Prompt credits; tab/inline always unlimited |
| Models | Frontier OpenAI/Claude/Gemini (varies by plan) | Multi-provider credits + SWE-1.x models |
| Core workflow | Composer (multi-file edits with diff review) | Cascade (agentic flow + Fast Context) |
| Extensions | Full VS Code extension support | Full VS Code extension support |
Pricing Breakdown
Cursor
| Plan | Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Hobby | $0 | Two-week Pro trial, then 2,000 completions + 50 slow requests |
| Pro | $20/month | Unlimited completions, 500 fast premium requests |
| Pro+ | $60/month | Higher usage limits, advanced model access |
| Ultra | $200/month | Heavy-usage tier with maximum allowances |
| Teams | $40/user/month | SSO/OIDC, admin dashboard, centralized billing |
Windsurf
| Plan | Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 25 prompt credits/month + unlimited tab/inline |
| Pro Trial | Free (2 weeks) | 100 credits, 10 deploys/day |
| Pro | $15/user/month | 500 credits/month, Fast Context, all premium models |
| Teams | $30/user/month | 500 credits/user, Reviews, admin dashboard |
| Enterprise | Custom | 1,000 credits/user, SSO/RBAC, VPC/on-prem |
Add-on credits: Pro at $10/250 credits; Teams at $40/1,000 credits. Credits reset monthly; add-ons carry over.
Workflow: Composer vs Cascade
Cursor Composer
Prompt-driven, explicit multi-file editing. You describe a change, Composer generates diffs across files, and you approve or reject each one. Agent mode extends this to include terminal commands and test execution.
Best for: Greenfield work, rapid scaffolding, and controlled refactors where you want to review every change.
Windsurf Cascade
Credit-based agentic flow with proactive context. Cascade pulls relevant code using Fast Context and can suggest changes across files. Reviews mode adds team code review capabilities.
Best for: Ongoing work in existing codebases, team collaboration, and iterative development.
Models and Context
Cursor routes to frontier model families, including OpenAI GPT-5.x/Codex, Claude Sonnet/Opus 4.6, and Gemini 3/3.1 lines. Exact model availability depends on your plan and Cursor's current routing.
Windsurf allocates prompt credits across multiple providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, xAI) and runs Windsurf's own SWE-1.x models. Fast Context expands the effective context window on paid plans.
Which to Pick
| If you... | Choose... |
|---|---|
| Want explicit multi-file diff review | Cursor (Composer) |
| Want unlimited inline completions on a free tier | Windsurf (Free) |
| Prefer lower entry pricing | Windsurf (Pro at $15 vs Cursor Pro at $20) |
| Want agent mode with terminal execution | Cursor (Agent) |
| Need team reviews built into the IDE | Windsurf (Teams with Reviews) |
| Want VPC or on-prem deployment | Windsurf (Enterprise) |
| Are willing to pay more for heavier usage | Cursor (Pro+/Ultra) |
Sources
- Cursor pricing: cursor.com/pricing
- Windsurf pricing: codeium.com/pricing
- Windsurf docs: mintlify.app/windsurf/accounts/usage">codeium.mintlify.app/windsurf
- Cursor docs: docs.cursor.com
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Frequently Asked Questions
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