Cursor vs Windsurf
The line that matters isn't features — it's what a working month costs and where each tool bites. Data as of 2026-09-16 / 2026-09-16.
Cursor
Anysphere · subscription
The AI-native IDE that made the category mainstream — polished, fast, and drifting toward premium pricing.
Windsurf
Cognition · freemium
The agentic IDE formerly of Codeium — capable Cascade flows, now navigating an acquisition and repriced tiers.
| Dimension | Cursor | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $20/mo | $15/mo |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| BYOK (own API key) | No | No |
| Limits score | 5.0 | 6.0 |
| Privacy score | 5.0 | 5.5 |
| Quality score | 8.5 | 7.0 |
| Best for | The most polished AI-first IDE experience — Tab and agent flows feel native | Cascade agent flow is genuinely good at multi-step, multi-file tasks |
| Watch out for | Usage-based overages arrive mid-flow | Pricing has moved repeatedly |
Cursor — score breakdown
Price / Value 6.0
Token & Rate Limits 5.0
Speed / Latency 8.0
Privacy & Retention 5.0
BYOK (Own API Key) 2.0
Output Quality 8.5
Stability 7.0
Ease of Setup 9.0
Billing Transparency 5.0
Support & Community 7.0
Windsurf — score breakdown
Price / Value 8.0
Token & Rate Limits 6.0
Speed / Latency 7.5
Privacy & Retention 5.5
BYOK (Own API Key) 2.0
Output Quality 7.0
Stability 6.5
Ease of Setup 8.5
Billing Transparency 6.0
Support & Community 6.0
Both reviews with sources and verification status: Cursor · Windsurf