Windsurf
An agent-first AI IDE built on VS Code, now owned by Cognition, with the Cascade agent, Codemaps, and the SWE-1.5 model.
Pros
- + Cascade agent handles multi-file changes autonomously
- + Familiar VS Code-based interface
- + Codemaps feature visualizes codebase structure
- + Backed by Cognition, with Devin embedded in the IDE
Cons
- − Pro tier raised to $20/month, matching Cursor
- − Moved from credits to a quota system in March 2026
- − Ownership churn after multiple acquisition deals
What Is Windsurf
Windsurf is an AI-powered IDE built on a VS Code fork, designed around an agentic workflow rather than simple autocomplete. After a turbulent year of acquisition deals, it was acquired by Cognition AI — the company behind the Devin coding agent — for a reported $250M.
Key Features
Cascade
Cascade is Windsurf’s agent. It plans tasks, edits multiple files, runs commands, and keeps context across a project rather than working file by file.
Codemaps
Codemaps generates a visual map of a codebase to help developers and the agent navigate large projects — a feature competitors had not matched at launch.
SWE-1.5
Cognition shipped SWE-1.5, a proprietary coding model that the company claims runs significantly faster than general-purpose frontier models for code tasks.
Windsurf vs Cursor
Both are VS Code forks with agent capabilities, and both Pro tiers now sit at $20/month. Windsurf leans harder into agent-first workflows and Cognition’s Devin integration, while Cursor has broader model choice and a larger user base.
Who It’s For
Windsurf suits engineers who want an agent-driven IDE with a graphical interface and are comfortable working through a quota-based plan.