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Windsurf alternatives: 8 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Windsurf: product direction changing after acquisition, and credit-based limits. We ranked 8 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Windsurf, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Visual Studio Code currently ranks first.

Windsurf has been acquired. Acquired by Cognition in 2025. windsurf.com now presents the product as Devin Desktop.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Visual Studio Code logoVisual Studio CodeFreeYesWindows, macOS, Linux +13 of 374.3
2Zed logoZedOpen sourceYesmacOS, Linux, Windows2 of 373.3
3Cursor logoCursorFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux0 of 367.7
4Google Antigravity logoGoogle AntigravityFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 455.0
5Kiro logoKiroFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux5 of 555.0
6GitHub Copilot logoGitHub CopilotFree plan + paidNoWeb, macOS, Windows +14 of 453.6
7TRAE logoTRAEFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 449.5
8Claude Code logoClaude CodePaidNoWeb, macOS, Windows +15 of 548.1
  1. Visual Studio Code logo

    1. Visual Studio CodeTop pick

    Best for: Developers who want a free, extensible editor for any language

    FreeOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Web

    74.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Windsurf

    Free editor with Copilot, avoiding a fork's product risk.

    Pros

    • Free with a huge extension marketplace
    • Excellent remote development
    • Fast and lightweight for an IDE

    Cons

    • Microsoft builds include telemetry
    • Heavy extension use can slow it down
    Visit Visual Studio Code Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1563
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Visual Studio Code a good Windsurf alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 24, 2026code.visualstudio.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source core
    Yes (Code - OSS, MIT)
    Checked Oct 24, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, web
    Checked Oct 24, 2026code.visualstudio.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Zed logo

    2. Zed

    Best for: Developers who want a very fast native editor

    Open sourcemacOS, Linux, Windows

    73.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Windsurf

    Open-source native editor with an agent panel and multiple model providers.

    Pros

    • Extremely fast and responsive
    • Open source
    • Built-in multiplayer editing

    Cons

    • Smaller extension ecosystem than VS Code
    • Some language tooling still maturing
    Visit Zed Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.1577
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Zed a good Windsurf alternative?

    Verified facts

    2 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Not checked yetgithub.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Written in
    Rust
    Checked Oct 24, 2026zed.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Collaboration
    Built in, with humans and AI
    Checked Oct 24, 2026zed.dev(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Cursor logo

    3. Cursor

    Best for: Developers who want deep AI help across a whole codebase

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux

    67.7

    score / 100

    Why switch from Windsurf

    The most popular AI-first editor, also built on VS Code.

    Pros

    • Familiar VS Code foundation
    • Strong codebase-aware agent
    • Choice of AI models

    Cons

    • Heavy AI use requires paid plans
    • Usage limits can change
    Visit Cursor Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1563
    Freshness ×0.1530
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Cursor a good Windsurf alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Yes (Hobby)
    Not checked yetcursor.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Based on
    VS Code fork
    Not checked yetcursor.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux
    Not checked yetcursor.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Google Antigravity logo

    4. Google Antigravity

    Best for: Developers who want to delegate whole tasks to Gemini-powered agents for free

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux

    55.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Windsurf

    Another agent-centred editor, free for individuals.

    Pros

    • Free individual plan with unlimited tab completions
    • Agents verify work in a browser and show reviewable artifacts
    • IDE, CLI, app and SDK share one agent setup

    Cons

    • Centred on Google's models and accounts
    • Free plan agent use is rate-limited
    • Fast-changing product with frequent reshuffles
    Visit Google Antigravity Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Google Antigravity a good Windsurf alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Individual plan
    $0/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026antigravity.google(opens source in a new tab)
    Tab completions
    Unlimited on free plan
    Checked Oct 25, 2026antigravity.google(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS, Windows, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026antigravity.google(opens source in a new tab)
    Enterprise
    Via Gemini Enterprise, from $30/seat/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026antigravity.google(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Kiro logo

    5. Kiro

    Best for: Teams who want AI agents to plan from written specs before changing code

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux

    55.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Windsurf

    Agentic editor from AWS built around specs, hooks and steering files.

    Pros

    • Specs give a reviewable plan before code changes
    • Hooks and steering files for repeatable team rules
    • Accepts VS Code settings and Open VSX extensions

    Cons

    • Free plan has only a small credit allowance
    • Spec workflow is overkill for quick edits
    • Requires signing in to AWS-run services
    Visit Kiro Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Kiro a good Windsurf alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    $0/month, 50 credits
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kiro.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro plan
    $20 per user/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kiro.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Spec-driven development
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kiro.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    VS Code compatibility
    Open VSX extensions and VS Code settings
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kiro.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS, Windows, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kiro.dev(opens source in a new tab)
  6. GitHub Copilot logo

    6. GitHub Copilot

    Best for: Developers and companies already on GitHub who want one assistant across IDE, terminal and pull requests

    Free plan + paidWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Windsurf

    Adds AI to the editor you already use instead of switching to a new one.

    Pros

    • Works in almost every major IDE plus a CLI and desktop app
    • Assign issues to a cloud agent that opens pull requests
    • Choice of models from several AI labs
    • Enterprise policy, audit and indemnity controls

    Cons

    • Usage-based AI credits make heavy agent use hard to predict
    • Best features assume your code is hosted on GitHub
    • Free plan limits run out quickly with agent mode
    Visit GitHub Copilot Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.37
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is GitHub Copilot a good Windsurf alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, limited chat and agent usage
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro plan
    $10 per month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro+ plan
    $39 per month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Cloud agent
    Assign issues from GitHub, Jira or Linear
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  7. TRAE logo

    7. TRAE

    Best for: Developers who want a Cursor-style AI editor with a free tier

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux

    49.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Windsurf

    AI-first VS Code-based editor with a free plan and cloud tasks.

    Pros

    • Free plan to try agents and autocomplete
    • Familiar VS Code-style interface
    • Background cloud tasks on paid plans

    Cons

    • Free plan limits usage and autocomplete
    • Requests run through the vendor's own services
    • Fast-changing plans and features
    Visit TRAE Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1563
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is TRAE a good Windsurf alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    $0, limited usage
    Checked Oct 25, 2026trae.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro plan
    $20/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026trae.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Free autocomplete
    5,000 per month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026trae.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    macOS, Windows, Linux (.deb/.rpm)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026trae.ai(opens source in a new tab)
  8. Claude Code logo

    8. Claude Code

    Best for: Developers who want a capable agent for long, multi-file tasks driven from the terminal or IDE

    PaidWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux

    48.1

    score / 100

    Why switch from Windsurf

    A capable agent for long tasks that works from the terminal or an IDE extension.

    Pros

    • Handles long, multi-step changes and runs your tests itself
    • Same agent across terminal, IDE, desktop, web and Slack
    • Extensible with hooks, subagents, skills and MCP servers

    Cons

    • Only uses Anthropic's models
    • Needs a paid Claude plan or API billing
    • Heavy use can hit plan limits or run up API costs
    Visit Claude Code Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.37
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1563
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Claude Code a good Windsurf alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Platforms
    macOS 13+, Windows 10+, Ubuntu, Debian, Alpine
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.claude.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Surfaces
    Terminal, IDE, desktop app and web
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.claude.com(opens source in a new tab)
    IDE extensions
    VS Code and JetBrains
    Checked Oct 25, 2026claude.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Team plan
    $20 per seat/month billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026claude.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro plan
    $20 per month billed monthly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026claude.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Windsurf alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Visual Studio Code logo

Best Windsurf alternative for most people

Visual Studio Code

Free editor with Copilot, avoiding a fork's product risk.

Zed logo

Best Windsurf alternative for a free option

Zed

Open-source native editor with an agent panel and multiple model providers.

Cursor logo

Best Windsurf alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Cursor

The most popular AI-first editor, also built on VS Code.

Visual Studio Code logo

Best Windsurf alternative for open source

Visual Studio Code

Free editor with Copilot, avoiding a fork's product risk.

Google Antigravity logo

Best Windsurf alternative for Mac

Google Antigravity

Another agent-centred editor, free for individuals.

Kiro logo

Best Windsurf alternative for Windows

Kiro

Agentic editor from AWS built around specs, hooks and steering files.

GitHub Copilot logo

Best Windsurf alternative for Linux

GitHub Copilot

Adds AI to the editor you already use instead of switching to a new one.

Claude Code logo

Best Windsurf alternative for working in the browser

Claude Code

A capable agent for long tasks that works from the terminal or an IDE extension.

Windsurf alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Windsurf?

Visual Studio Code ranks first right now. Free editor with Copilot, avoiding a fork's product risk. Zed and Cursor follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Windsurf?

Yes. Visual Studio Code (free), Zed (open source), Cursor (free plan + paid) and Google Antigravity (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Windsurf?

Yes: Visual Studio Code and Zed.

Which Windsurf alternatives work on Linux?

Visual Studio Code, Zed, Cursor, Google Antigravity and Kiro run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Windsurf?

The complaints we hear most: product direction changing after acquisition; credit-based limits.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Windsurf, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.