Windsurf Review (2026): Is It Better Than Cursor? Pricing & VS Code Comparison

In early 2026, Windsurf emerged as the dark horse challenger to Cursor AI's dominance in the AI coding IDE space. Built on VS Code's foundation, Windsurf introduces "Cascade" - an AI flow that doesn't just autocomplete code but understands your entire project context to make architectural decisions.

With major acquisition news (Cognition AI acquired Windsurf in late 2025), developers are asking: "Is Windsurf better than Cursor?" and "Can it replace my VS Code setup?"

This comprehensive review tests Windsurf's AI capabilities, pricing, and real-world coding performance in 2026.

What is Windsurf Used For?

Windsurf is an AI-native IDE designed for developers who want AI assistance that goes beyond simple autocomplete. Unlike GitHub Copilot (inline suggestions) or ChatGPT (isolated responses), Windsurf's "Cascade" feature enables:

• Multi-File Refactoring: Ask Cascade to "convert this Express.js API to FastAPI" and it edits across 10+ files simultaneously.
• Contextual Code Generation: Cascade reads your package.json, database schemas, and existing patterns to generate code that matches your project's architecture.
• Natural Language Debugging: Instead of setting breakpoints, you can ask "Why is this API returning 500 errors?" and Cascade traces the issue across your stack.
• Ollama Integration: Run local AI models (Llama 3, CodeLlama) for privacy-sensitive projects without sending code to cloud servers.

The Big Question: Is Windsurf Better Than Cursor?

Here's the honest breakdown:

Windsurf vs. Cursor vs. VS Code

Feature-by-feature comparison:

Feature	Windsurf	Cursor	VS Code + Copilot
Based on VS Code	Yes (Fork)	Yes (Fork)	Native
Multi-File Edits	Cascade AI	Composer	Manual only
Local AI (Ollama)	Supported	Limited	Cloud only
Free Tier	Generous (500 requests/mo)	2-week trial	Free IDE, paid Copilot
Best For	Large-scale refactoring	Rapid MVP development	Traditional coding

Windsurf Pricing: Is It Free?

Many users ask "Is Windsurf free?". Here's the pricing structure:

• Free Plan: 500 Cascade AI requests per month + unlimited basic autocomplete. Enough for hobbyists and students working on 2-3 projects.
• Pro Plan ($10/month): Unlimited Cascade requests, priority model access (GPT-4, Claude Sonnet), and advanced debugging tools.
• Team Plan ($15/user/month): Shared AI context across team members - Cascade learns from your team's codebase patterns.

Who Owns Windsurf? The Cognition Acquisition

Windsurf was acquired by Cognition AI in December 2025 (the company behind Devin, the autonomous AI software engineer). This explains the surge in searches like "Who bought Windsurf?" and "Did OpenAI buy Windsurf?" (the answer is no).

The acquisition aims to integrate Windsurf's IDE with Devin's autonomous coding capabilities, potentially creating the first fully AI-driven development environment by late 2026.

Is Windsurf Open Source?

No. While Windsurf is built on VS Code (which is open source), Windsurf itself is proprietary. The Cascade AI engine and cloud infrastructure are closed-source. However, because it's a VS Code fork, all your VS Code extensions still work.

How to Use Windsurf: Key Features

1. Cascade AI Commands

Open the Cascade panel (Cmd/Ctrl+K) and give natural language instructions:

• "Add TypeScript types to all API routes"
• "Refactor this component to use React hooks instead of class components"
• "Find all console.log statements and replace with proper logging"

2. Ollama Integration for Privacy

For teams handling sensitive code (healthcare, finance), Windsurf supports local Ollama models:

• Install Ollama on your machine
• In Windsurf settings, select "Ollama" as your AI provider
• Choose models like CodeLlama or DeepSeek Coder - your code never leaves your device

3. Docs Integration

Windsurf can read your project's documentation (README, API specs) to provide context-aware suggestions. Users often ask "How to add docs to Windsurf" - simply place markdown files in a `/docs` folder and Cascade will index them automatically.

Is Windsurf Safe & Legit?

Yes. Windsurf is a legitimate product now owned by Cognition AI (a well-funded startup backed by Founders Fund). Your code is encrypted in transit and at rest. However, like all cloud AI tools, free tier users should avoid pasting proprietary code - upgrade to Pro with SOC 2 compliance if you're working on commercial projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Windsurf down?

Check status.windsurf.com for real-time uptime. Common issues:

• Cascade not responding: Usually a rate limit issue - wait 5 minutes or upgrade to Pro.
• Extensions not loading: Windsurf inherits VS Code's extension marketplace. Try reinstalling the extension.

2. Can Windsurf use Ollama?

Yes. Go to Settings > AI Provider > Ollama. Make sure Ollama is running locally (ollama serve) before switching.

3. Is Windsurf a VS Code fork?

Yes. Windsurf is built on VS Code's open-source codebase (similar to how Cursor is also a fork). This means:

• All VS Code keyboard shortcuts work
• Your existing settings.json transfers over
• Extensions from the VS Code marketplace are compatible

4. How much did Cognition pay for Windsurf?

The acquisition price was not publicly disclosed. Industry estimates suggest $50-100M based on Windsurf's user base (200K+ developers as of Q4 2025).

5. What happened to Windsurf's original team?

The founding team (led by former Google engineers) joined Cognition AI post-acquisition and continue developing Windsurf as a standalone product within Cognition's ecosystem.