Home / Compare / Cursor vs Windsurf
Cursor vs Windsurf: Which AI Code Editor Should You Use? (2026)
Cursor has a larger community and more refined multi-model support. Windsurf offers a competitive experience at a lower price with its Cascade agentic mode and persistent memory.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Cursor | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Type | AI-native editor (VS Code fork) | AI-native editor (VS Code fork) |
| Agentic mode | Composer mode | Cascade mode |
| Model support | Claude, GPT-4o, Gemini, custom | Claude, GPT-4o, custom models |
| Inline completions | Tab-based autocomplete | Supercomplete (context-aware) |
| Multi-file edits | Composer multi-file flows | Cascade multi-file flows |
| Codebase indexing | Full codebase indexing | Codebase indexing |
| Project config | Cursor Rules (.cursorrules) | Windsurf Rules |
| Memory | Conversation context | Cascade persistent memory |
| MCP support | No MCP support | MCP support added |
| Command execution | Limited terminal integration | Limited command execution in Cascade |
| Git integration | Basic git through editor | Basic git through editor |
| Pricing | $20/mo (Pro), $40/mo (Business) | $15/mo (Pro), $35/mo (Teams) |
| Free tier | Limited free tier | Limited free tier |
+ Cursor
- +Larger user base and community with more resources and tutorials
- +More mature Composer mode with refined multi-file editing
- +Broader model selection with easy switching between providers
- +More established track record and faster iteration cycle
- +Stronger codebase indexing for large projects
- +Active ecosystem of Cursor Rules shared by the community
+ Windsurf
- +Lower price point at $15/month for Pro plan
- +Supercomplete offers deeper context-aware inline suggestions
- +Cascade persistent memory remembers context across sessions
- +MCP support for connecting external tools and data sources
- +Clean UI with well-designed agentic experience
- +Competitive agentic capability at a lower cost
Cursor and Windsurf are the leading AI-native code editors, both forked from VS Code. They compete directly: both offer agentic multi-file editing, inline completions, chat, and codebase understanding. The differences come down to execution quality, pricing, and specific feature strengths. Cursor's Composer and Windsurf's Cascade represent two approaches to agentic editing within an IDE.
Key differences
Cursor has the larger community and more polished experience, especially in Composer mode for multi-file edits. Its codebase indexing is more mature, and the model switching experience is smoother. Windsurf counters with a lower price, persistent memory in Cascade that carries context across sessions (Cursor loses context when you close a chat), and MCP support that Cursor still lacks. Windsurf's Supercomplete feature is also well-regarded for context-aware inline suggestions that go beyond simple autocomplete. For most coding tasks, both editors perform similarly. The differences become apparent in complex agentic workflows and in how much you value persistent memory and extensibility.
Bottom line
Cursor is the safer choice with a proven track record and larger ecosystem. Windsurf is the value pick that offers competitive features at a lower price with some unique advantages like persistent memory and MCP support. Try both free tiers to see which workflow feels better for your needs.
Is Windsurf a Cursor clone?+
Can I import my VS Code settings into both?+
Which handles large codebases better?+
Which has better agentic capabilities?+
Master Claude Code in days, not months
37 hands-on lessons from beginner to CI/CD automation. Module 1 is free.
START FREE →