Cursor vs Windsurf (Codeium): Pricing, Models, and Workflows in Dec 2025

Quick Comparison (Dec 2025)

| Feature | Cursor | Windsurf (Codeium) | |---|---|---| | Base | VS Code fork (desktop) | VS Code fork (desktop) | | Pricing | Free; Pro $20; Pro+ $60; Ultra $200; Teams $40 | Free; Pro $15; Teams $30; Enterprise custom | | Metering | Usage-based (inference value/requests) | Prompt credits per user/month; tab/inline unlimited | | Models | GPT-4o/4.1, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Gemini 2.5 Pro, o1-mini (Auto routing) | Frontier providers via credits (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, xAI) + SWE-1.x | | Flagship flow | Composer (explicit multi-file edits) | Cascade/agentic flow + Fast Context | | Extensions | VS Code extensions supported | VS Code extensions supported | | Best fit | Explicit multi-file edits and rapid prototyping | Credit-controlled agentic workflow and reviews/inline help |

Pricing and Plans

Cursor (cursor.com/pricing):

• Free/Hobby: limited completions.
• Pro: $20/month; usage tied to model inference.
• Pro+: $60/month; higher fast/agent allowance.
• Ultra: $200/month; heavy-usage tier.
• Teams: $40/user/month with shared controls.

Windsurf (codeium.com/pricing):

• Free: $0; 25 prompt credits/month; unlimited tab and inline edits.
• Pro: $15/user/month; 500 prompt credits/month; Fast Context.
• Teams: $30/user/month; 500 credits/user/month, reviews, admin/priority support.
• Enterprise: contact sales; higher credits, SSO/RBAC, VPC/on-prem options.

Models and Context

• Cursor: Routes requests to frontier models (e.g., GPT-4o/4.1, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Gemini 2.5 Pro, o1-mini). Long-context models are available where supported by the provider.
• Windsurf: Uses prompt credits across multiple providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, xAI) and its SWE-1.x models; Fast Context expands effective window on paid plans.

Workflow: Composer vs Cascade

• Cursor Composer: Prompt-driven, explicit multi-file edits with approvals. Suits greenfield work, rapid scaffolding, and controlled refactors.
• Windsurf Cascade/Agent: Credit-based, proactive context with Fast Context and reviews. Suits ongoing work in existing codebases and team collaboration.

IDE & Extensions

Both run as VS Code forks and generally support the VS Code extension ecosystem (themes, keybindings, popular plugins). Cursor emphasizes familiar VS Code UI; Windsurf adds its own desktop experience plus reviews/inline flows.

Data & Deployment

• Cursor: Managed SaaS by default; Teams tier adds org controls.
• Windsurf: Managed SaaS by default; enterprise engagements can include VPC/on-prem per sales.

Which to Pick?

• Choose Cursor if you want explicit, approve-and-apply multi-file edits and are willing to pay for higher-usage tiers.
• Choose Windsurf if you prefer credit-based control with unlimited inline edits, built-in reviews, and lower entry pricing.

Sources (December 2025)

• Cursor pricing: https://cursor.com/pricing
• Windsurf (Codeium) pricing: https://codeium.com/pricing
• Windsurf product overview: https://codeium.com/
• Cursor product overview: https://cursor.com/

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