Cursor vs Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) (2026)
Head-to-head comparison for vibe coders: scores, free tiers, pricing and best-for, using the same evidence-based methodology. Rankings are never for sale.
AI code editor
AI IDE with an agent command center (formerly Windsurf)
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | Cursor | Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 81/100 | 75/100 |
| Free tier | Yes: limited agent and chat requests | Yes: light agent quota, limited models, unlimited Tab and inline edits |
| Open source | No | No |
| Pricing | Sold via The X Subscription (SpaceX/xAI): Plus $8/mo (Grok models only), Premium $30/mo, Super $100, Ultra $200; Teams $30+/user. Third-party models billed at API list price. | Pro $20/mo, Max $200/mo, Teams $80/mo minimum ($40 per full seat) |
| Best for | Developers who want an agentic IDE for day-to-day coding | Developers who want an IDE plus a manager for local and cloud agents |
| Category | AI coding editors & agents | AI coding editors & agents |
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Cursor | Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) |
|---|---|---|
| Fit for the use case /25 | 23 | 21 |
| Vibe-coder friendliness /15 | 13 | 12 |
| Output quality & reliability /15 | 13 | 12 |
| Pricing & free tier /15 | 10 | 11 |
| Ecosystem & integrations /10 | 9 | 8 |
| Momentum /10 | 9 | 7 |
| Code ownership & lock-in /10 | 4 | 4 |
Based on desk research of official pricing pages and docs; see methodology.
Who wins: Cursor or Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)?
By score, Cursor wins Cursor vs Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) at 81/100 vs 75/100. Cursor: Mature agent IDE with strong ecosystem. Pricing lost points: the new bundle limits the $8 tier to Grok models and charges third-party models at API rates. Proprietary editor. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf): Full IDE with a free tier and $20 Pro. The rebrand and plan changes in 2026 add uncertainty. Proprietary. Cursor is best for Developers who want an agentic IDE for day-to-day coding. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) is best for Developers who want an IDE plus a manager for local and cloud agents.
FAQ
- Which is better, Cursor or Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)?
- By our score, Cursor (81/100) ranks above Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) (75/100). Cursor is best for Developers who want an agentic IDE for day-to-day coding. The right pick still depends on your workflow; see the side-by-side table.
- What is the Cursor vs Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) score?
- Cursor scores 81/100 and Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) scores 75/100 on PromptToProd's evidence-based ranking. Scores are never for sale.