Cursor
AI IDEs
AI-first IDE, multi-file agent edits
- Pricing
- Free Hobby
- Used in
- 5 stacks
- Updated
- 2026-05-05
Head-to-head comparison
Cursor vs Windsurf: 2026 comparison
Side-by-side: pricing, category, alternatives, and which AI stacks on aistack.sh use each tool today.
· 2 weeks ago
Quick answer
Cursor is the mature default — broader model support, larger MCP ecosystem, and a bigger community of plugin authors. Windsurf is the cheaper, more agent-forward alternative if you want Cascade's tighter flow and don't need every model under the sun.
Cursor and Windsurf are alternatives in the AI IDEs category. Cursor pricing: Free Hobby · $20/mo Pro · $60/mo Pro+ · $200/mo Ultra · $40/seat Business. Windsurf pricing: Free · $20/mo Pro · $40/seat Teams · $200/mo Max · $60/seat Enterprise. Cursor ships in 5 tested AI stacks on aistack.sh; Windsurf ships in 1. Pick Cursor when you want ai-first ide, multi-file agent edits. Pick Windsurf when you want codeium's ai ide with cascade autonomous agent.
When to pick which
Pick Cursor when
- You want the most established AI IDE with the largest community and plugin set.
- You need to switch between Claude, GPT, Gemini, and local models inside the same editor.
- You rely on MCP servers — Cursor has the most mature MCP integration today.
- You're paying out of pocket and value the ecosystem over a 30-40% price difference.
Pick Windsurf when
- You want a tighter, more opinionated agentic flow (Cascade) instead of multiple modes.
- You're cost-sensitive and want a meaningfully cheaper paid tier.
- You're already on Codeium and the migration cost is zero.
- You prefer Windsurf's UX for inline edit acceptance and diff review.
At a glance
Windsurf
AI IDEs
Codeium's AI IDE with Cascade autonomous agent
- Pricing
- Free
- Used in
- 1 stack
- Updated
- 2026-05-05
Pricing
Hard differences
| Attribute | Cursor | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Editor base | VS Code fork | VS Code fork |
| Primary agent | Composer / Agent mode | Cascade |
| MCP support | Mature, many servers | Yes, smaller server set |
| Inline edit (Cmd+K) | Yes | Yes |
| Model flexibility | All major frontier + local | Frontier + Codeium models |
Where each ships
Cursor-only stacks (5)
Windsurf-only stacks (1)
Cursor vs Windsurf FAQ
Should you pick Cursor or Windsurf?
Cursor is the mature default — broader model support, larger MCP ecosystem, and a bigger community of plugin authors. Windsurf is the cheaper, more agent-forward alternative if you want Cascade's tighter flow and don't need every model under the sun.
Which is cheaper, Cursor or Windsurf?
Both are priced similarly. Cursor: Free Hobby · $20/mo Pro · $60/mo Pro+ · $200/mo Ultra · $40/seat Business. Windsurf: Free · $20/mo Pro · $40/seat Teams · $200/mo Max · $60/seat Enterprise.
What is Cursor best for?
AI-first IDE, multi-file agent edits Cursor is categorized as AI IDEs and appears in 5 tested AI stacks on aistack.sh.
What is Windsurf best for?
Codeium's AI IDE with Cascade autonomous agent Windsurf is categorized as AI IDEs and appears in 1 tested AI stack on aistack.sh.
Can I use Cursor and Windsurf together?
They are alternatives at the same step, so most stacks pick one or the other. No aistack.sh stack uses both today, though nothing prevents a custom workflow.
What are the alternatives to Cursor and Windsurf?
Beyond each other, Cursor's closest alternatives are Claude Code, Codex. Windsurf's closest alternatives are Claude Code.
Also compared
Spotted something off?
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