Cursor
AnysphereA code editor built around an agent that can read your whole repo.
Cursor vs Windsurf
A code editor built around an agent that can read your whole repo. On the other side: an ai-native editor with an agent that keeps its own task state.
Entry priceFree tier; paid plans from about $20/moFree tier; Pro from about $15/mo
Free tierFree tierFree tier
Deciding factorYou want tight, reviewable diffs and already know which files matter.versus: You want the agent to hold a multi-step task together without re-explaining th
Bottom line
Pick Cursor if you review diffs line by line; pick Windsurf if you want the agent to finish a multi-step task before you look.
The short answer
Both are VS Code forks with an agent that can edit across files, and both are good enough that the choice comes down to how much you want the tool to act on its own. Cursor's review loop is more conservative — it proposes diffs and waits. Windsurf's agent keeps more state between steps and will run further before asking.
Facts
| Option | Pricing | Free tier | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cursor | Free tier; paid plans from about $20/mo | Free tier | Check pricing ↗ |
| Windsurf | Free tier; Pro from about $15/mo | Free tier | Check pricing ↗ |
Pick Cursor if
You want tight, reviewable diffs and already know which files matter.
Pick Windsurf if
You want the agent to hold a multi-step task together without re-explaining the codebase.
What would change our mind
A pricing change or a free-tier removal flips this comparison faster than any feature release. Both pages are re-checked weekly, and the date above tells you how much to trust the numbers.
Read the full entries
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