Windsurf
What it is: Codeium's AI-first editor. Agentic AI that understands and modifies entire codebases. Free Cursor alternative.
What It Does Best
Flow state coding. AI anticipates needs. Cascade mode lets AI make multi-file changes autonomously. You review, not micromanage.
Codebase intelligence. Understands project structure, dependencies, patterns. Suggests changes that fit your architecture.
Free tier that's actually good. Not crippled free plan. Real AI features. Codeium wants adoption over revenue.
Pricing
Free: Full features, unlimited use
Pro: $10/month (faster, priority support)
Enterprise: Custom pricing
When to Use It
✅ Want Cursor experience without $20/month
✅ Trust AI to make autonomous changes
✅ Large refactoring across multiple files
✅ Starting new project with AI-first workflow
When NOT to Use It
❌ Prefer VS Code extensions over new editor
❌ Need proven stability (newer than competitors)
❌ Want to control every AI suggestion
Bottom line: Most ambitious AI editor. More autonomous than Cursor. Free tier is generous. Worth trying if Cursor's price bothers you.