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Windsurf Alternatives (2026): Windsurf Is Now Devin Desktop
If you are looking for Windsurf alternatives, the first thing to know is that Windsurf no longer exists under that name. The editor started life as Codeium, became Windsurf in April 2025, moved to Cognition (the company behind Devin (Agentdex profile)) after a July 2025 agreement, and was renamed Devin Desktop (Agentdex profile) on June 2, 2026. Windsurf.com now redirects to Devin Desktop, and the Cascade agent has been replaced by Devin Local. This guide explains what changed and which tools are worth switching to as of October 24, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Windsurf is now Devin Desktop. Plans are Free, Pro at $20/month, Max at $200/month, Teams at $80/month plus $40 per full seat, and custom Enterprise.
- The Windsurf JetBrains plugin is in maintenance mode, so JetBrains users have the strongest reason to look elsewhere.
- Cursor (Agentdex profile) is the closest like-for-like alternative: an AI code editor built on VS Code, from free to $200/month.
- GitHub Copilot (Agentdex profile) is the cheapest paid option at $10/month, and Cline (Agentdex profile), Kilo Code and OpenCode are open-source options where you bring your own model.
What happened to Windsurf
- April 4, 2025: Codeium rebranded as Windsurf.
- July 14, 2025: Cognition, the maker of the Devin agent, reached an agreement to take over Windsurf.
- June 2, 2026: Windsurf became Devin Desktop. Devin Local replaced Cascade as the in-editor agent.
Devin Desktop is still a real, actively developed product. It now positions itself as a home for running agents locally or in the cloud, with Devin Cloud included on Pro. If you liked Windsurf, staying put is a reasonable choice. Common reasons to look elsewhere include the shift toward Cognition's agent-first direction, pricing changes, and the JetBrains plugin going into maintenance mode. Our Windsurf pricing and Devin pricing guides cover the current plans.
The best Windsurf alternatives compared
Tool | Type | Free option | Paid from (Oct 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) | AI editor and agent hub | Yes, light quota | Pro $20/month | Existing Windsurf users |
AI code editor | Yes | Plus $8/month (Grok models only); Premium $30/month | A like-for-like editor switch | |
GitHub Copilot | Assistant and agent in many IDEs | 2,000 completions/month | Pro $10/month | JetBrains and Visual Studio users |
Terminal and IDE agent | No | Claude Pro $20/month | Large multi-file changes | |
Fast editor with AI | Personal $0 (your own keys) | Pro $10/month | Speed and a lighter editor | |
Cline, Kilo Code, OpenCode | Open-source agents | Yes; pay your model provider | Usage-based | Model choice and open source |
Cursor
Cursor is the closest match to what Windsurf used to be: a standalone AI code editor built on VS Code, with tab completion, an agent that edits across files, cloud agents and Bugbot code review. The Free plan lets you try it. Plus costs $8/month but only covers Grok models. Premium at $30/month adds cloud agents, Bugbot and third-party models at API list price, and Super ($100) and Ultra ($200) add more usage. Your VS Code extensions and settings carry over. The trade-off is that usage is pooled and can run out on heavy weeks. See Cursor alternatives if you want to compare further.
GitHub Copilot
Copilot is the safest pick for developers who do not want to change editors. It works in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, Xcode, Neovim, Eclipse and Zed, which makes it the obvious replacement for the Windsurf JetBrains plugin. Copilot Free includes 2,000 completions a month, Pro is $10/month with unlimited completions, and Pro+ ($39) and Max ($100) add more AI credits. You also get a cloud agent that opens pull requests and AI code review. Our Codeium vs GitHub Copilot comparison covers the history.
Claude Code
If you mainly used Windsurf for agent work rather than completions, Claude Code is a strong fit. It runs in the terminal and in VS Code and JetBrains through extensions, and it handles large changes across many files well. It comes with Claude Pro at $20/month ($17/month billed annually) or Max from $100/month. Limits reset in five-hour windows, with weekly caps on top. It is not a full editor, so many people pair it with VS Code or Zed.
Zed
Zed is a fast, lightweight code editor with built-in AI. The Personal plan is free forever and works with your own API keys or external agents such as Claude Agent and Codex (Agentdex profile) CLI. Pro costs $10/month and adds Zed-hosted models, unlimited edit predictions and $5 of tokens, with usage billing beyond that. Business is $30 per seat per month. The trade-off is a smaller extension library than VS Code-based editors.
Open-source agents: Cline, Kilo Code and OpenCode
If you want to stop paying a subscription markup and choose your own models, these three are worth a look:
- Cline is a free, open-source agent for VS Code and VS Code-based editors, with Plan and Act modes and a CLI. You bring your own API key, buy Cline credits or run local models.
- Kilo Code is an open-source agent for VS Code, JetBrains IDEs and the terminal, with access to hundreds of models or your own keys.
- OpenCode is an MIT-licensed agent for the terminal, desktop and IDE that supports 75+ providers and can log in with a GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT subscription.
The trade-off with all three is cost predictability: you pay for the tokens you use, which can be cheap or expensive depending on the model and how hard you push it.
How to choose
- You want the same experience: stay on Devin Desktop or move to Cursor.
- You use JetBrains: GitHub Copilot or Kilo Code.
- You want the lowest fixed cost: GitHub Copilot Pro at $10/month, or Zed Pro at $10/month.
- You mostly delegate big tasks: Claude Code.
- You want open source and model choice: Cline, Kilo Code or OpenCode.
Before switching, export your settings and any rules files. Most of these tools read an AGENTS.md or similar rules file, so your project instructions can move with you. See our Windsurf rules guide for how to carry them over.
FAQ
Is Windsurf still available?
Not under that name. Windsurf was renamed Devin Desktop on June 2, 2026, and windsurf.com now redirects there.
What is the best free Windsurf alternative?
GitHub Copilot Free and Cursor's free plan are the easiest to start with. Cline, Kilo Code and OpenCode are free and open source, but you pay for the model unless you run one locally.
Is Cursor better than Windsurf?
Cursor is the closest like-for-like replacement and is actively developed as an editor. Devin Desktop has moved toward running Devin agents. Which is better depends on whether you want an editor first or an agent hub first.
What replaced Windsurf's Cascade agent?
Devin Local replaced Cascade when Windsurf became Devin Desktop.
Written by Agentdex Editorial. Agentdex is an independent directory reviewing AI coding tools; we are not affiliated with the companies mentioned. Prices and features are as of October 24, 2026, from official sources linked above. Always confirm on the vendor's site.