AI Coding Assistants · Pricing comparison
Cursor vs Windsurf (Devin Desktop): Pricing
Same $20 Pro price. Windsurf, now called Devin Desktop, has the more generous free tier; Cursor has the more mature agent.
Last checked September 27, 2026
At a glance
Both offer a free plan, Cursor rates slightly higher.
Our take
Windsurf was renamed Devin Desktop in June 2026 after Cognition folded it into its Devin product line. Plans carried over: Pro is $20/mo and Max $200/mo, the same as Cursor Pro and Ultra. Cursor also has a $60 Pro+ tier in between.
The clearest difference is the free tier. Windsurf's includes unlimited tab completions, enough for real daily use, while Cursor's free tier is mainly for evaluation. For a student or hobbyist, that decides it.
For professionals paying $20 either way, Cursor's agent and its fast pace of updates have kept it the market leader. Windsurf's rebrand also adds some uncertainty about where the product is heading.
- Choose Cursor if you're paying anyway and want the most capable agent.
- Choose Windsurf (Devin Desktop) if you want to code with AI for free, or already use Devin.
Watch out: If you subscribed to Windsurf Pro before March 2026, you keep the old $15/mo price. Switching away loses it.
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Cursor vs Windsurf (Devin Desktop): side-by-side
| Feature | Cursor | Windsurf (Devin Desktop) |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI Coding Assistants | AI Coding Assistants |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan details | Limited free tier — enough to evaluate, not for daily work. | Generous free tier with unlimited tab completions. |
| Starting price | $20/mo (Pro) | $20/mo (Pro) |
| Highest known plan | $200/mo (Ultra) | $200/mo (Max) |
| Trial of paid plan | No (free plan instead) | No (free plan instead) |
| Best for | Professional developers who want the strongest agentic coding | Developers wanting Cursor-level capability with a real free tier |
| Team support | Yes | Yes |
| API access | No | No |
| Editor rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
Pricing and free plans
Cursor uses a freemium model, starting at $20/mo (Pro). Pro $20/mo, Pro+ $60/mo, Ultra $200/mo; each paid plan includes a model-usage credit pool equal to its price, and Auto mode is unlimited. Teams is $40/user/mo. Annual billing saves about 20%. Its free plan: Limited free tier — enough to evaluate, not for daily work.
Windsurf (Devin Desktop) uses a freemium model, starting at $20/mo (Pro). Windsurf was renamed Devin Desktop on June 2, 2026 by Cognition; plans carried over. Pro is $20/mo, Max $200/mo, Teams $80/mo base plus $40 per full seat. Pre-March 2026 Pro subscribers keep $15/mo. Its free plan: Generous free tier with unlimited tab completions.
Which is cheaper?
Neither tool clearly undercuts the other on entry price, so let features and fit for your use case decide.
Cursor: pros and cons
Pros
- Best-in-class agent capability
- Fast, context-aware completions
- Model choice per task
Cons
- Credits opaque for heavy users
- $60-200 tiers for power use
- Free tier too small for real work
Windsurf (Devin Desktop): pros and cons
Pros
- Strongest free tier of AI IDEs
- Enterprise/EU compliance
- Agent quality near Cursor
Cons
- Price rose in 2026
- Rebranded to Devin Desktop in June 2026
- Quotas can pinch sprints
Who each tool is best for
- Best for beginners: Cursor — lower barrier to entry and easier to start for free or cheaply.
- Best for teams: Cursor.
- Cursor is best for: Professional developers who want the strongest agentic coding.
- Windsurf (Devin Desktop) is best for: Developers wanting Cursor-level capability with a real free tier.
Verdict
Same $20 Pro price. Windsurf, now called Devin Desktop, has the more generous free tier; Cursor has the more mature agent. Choose Cursor if you're paying anyway and want the most capable agent; choose Windsurf (Devin Desktop) if you want to code with AI for free, or already use Devin.
Cursor vs Windsurf (Devin Desktop) FAQ
Which is cheaper, Cursor or Windsurf (Devin Desktop)?
Cursor and Windsurf (Devin Desktop) have similar entry pricing ($20/mo (Pro) vs $20/mo (Pro)), so features should decide it.
Does Cursor or Windsurf (Devin Desktop) have a free plan?
Both offer a free plan. Cursor: Limited free tier — enough to evaluate, not for daily work. Windsurf (Devin Desktop): Generous free tier with unlimited tab completions.
Is Cursor or Windsurf (Devin Desktop) better for beginners?
Cursor tends to be the easier starting point thanks to its pricing and free access, though both cover the same core ai coding assistants needs.
Which is better for teams?
Cursor is the stronger team pick given its collaboration support and rating.