These are the three names every developer hears first. Cursor is the AI-native editor that defined the category, Windsurf is its closest challenger with an aggressive free tier, and GitHub Copilot is the incumbent that works inside the editor you already use.
There is no single winner. The right pick depends on how you work: editor loyalist, AI maximalist, or budget-conscious team. This page compares them on the dimensions that actually matter, using current pricing and documented features.
| Cursor | Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) | GitHub Copilot | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price (Pro) | From $8/mo (Plus) | $15/mo | $10/mo |
| Free tier | Limited | Generous (full Cascade, rate-limited) | Short trial |
| Form factor | Standalone AI-native editor (VS Code fork) | Standalone AI-native editor (VS Code fork) | Extension for your existing editor |
| Inline completions | Excellent | Very good | Best-in-class |
| Multi-file agentic edits | Composer: excellent | Cascade: excellent | Agent mode: good, less autonomous |
| Editor support | Its own editor only | Its own editor only | VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, Visual Studio |
| Best for | AI-first daily driver | Value + agentic edits | Teams and editor loyalists |
The AI-first code editor built for pair-programming with AI.
Free tier; new plans since Oct 2026: Plus $8/mo · Premium $30/mo · Sup
Try Cursor →The agentic IDE formerly known as Windsurf — now Devin Desktop.
Free tier available; Pro from $20/mo (existing $15/mo Pro subscribers
Try Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) →The original AI pair programmer, now with agent mode.
Free ($0) · Pro $10/mo (1,500 AI credits/mo) · Pro+ $39/mo (7,000 cred
Try GitHub Copilot →Pick Cursor if you want the most refined AI-native editor and are willing to switch. Pick Windsurf if you want nearly the same agentic power for $5 less per month with a genuinely usable free tier. Pick GitHub Copilot if you love your current editor and want the best value at $10 — its inline completions remain unmatched for pure speed.
Technically yes, but it is redundant. Cursor and Windsurf already include strong completion and chat; stacking Copilot on top adds cost without much benefit. Pick one lane.
Windsurf. Its free tier includes full Cascade agent access with rate limits, genuinely usable for side projects. Cursor's free tier is limited and Copilot's trial is short.
Most teams pick Copilot for breadth (works in every editor, $19/user Business tier) or Cursor for depth. Mixed environments are common: Copilot everywhere, Cursor for the heaviest AI users.