Photo by Branko Stancevic on Unsplash
The IDE landscape has recently seen some heated opinions, especially surrounding Windsurf and Cursor IDE. A YouTuber associated with Cursor IDE released a video that was nothing short of a biased attempt to discourage people from trying Windsurf. In the video (here), he claimed to “test” Windsurf, yet spent more time complaining that it didn’t work, seeming to pretend he couldn’t figure out a basic editor. Watching him try to turn viewers against Windsurf, rather than offering a fair and honest comparison, broke my heart, and I lost the respect I once had for him.
But let’s set the record straight: Windsurf is a powerful alternative to Cursor, and I believe it’s the better choice for several reasons.
Why Windsurf Over Cursor?
Both Windsurf and Cursor are built on the free, open-source foundation of VS Code. That’s why Cursor’s $20/month subscription can feel steep—it’s essentially a VS Code clone with AI built-in, and while that price might make sense for certain users or specialized use cases, it isn’t accessible or justified for everyone. Not every developer will use AI continuously, nor is it always necessary for many coding tasks. Windsurf, on the other hand, offers a much more affordable approach, with a robust free tier and a paid plan that remains accessible at $10/month (or $8.33/month annually).
Here’s what the Windsurf free tier provides:
- Unlimited rapid AI autocomplete suggestions
- Unlimited in-editor AI chats
- Unlimited AI command instructions
- Cascade (Read-Only Mode)
- No training on non-permissive data
For developers who need additional power, Windsurf’s paid plan offers even more:
- Unlimited access to larger Codeium models
- Unlimited access to GPT-4o, Claude Sonnet (Chat, Codeium extensions)
- Unlimited access to Supercomplete
My Journey with Windsurf
As I discussed in my previous article, "Why Windsurf is the Best Free AI Code Editor You’ve Never Heard Of", Windsurf’s Cascade flow system offers an unmatched experience, integrating tools, knowledge, and real-time code context in a way that Cursor’s Composer feature can’t match. Windsurf provides not only faster and more accurate context-based code suggestions but also lets me resolve errors from the terminal, which speeds up my workflow immensely.
Additionally, Windsurf has the unique ability to index the entire codebase and use it as the basis for its autocompletions and code suggestions, meaning that suggestions are always tailored to the repo itself. This depth of integration is something Cursor lacks, as it often relies on its online knowledge base, sometimes ignoring repo-specific context. In fact, the YouTuber made a comment in his video saying, “Windsurf is for devs who don’t know how to code, and Cursor is for devs who do.” This couldn’t be further from the truth. Windsurf’s system actually assumes that the developer’s code is correct and bases suggestions on the current repo’s content, while Cursor’s AI often bypasses the project’s structure. For developers looking for true customization and context-specific support, it seems to me that Windsurf is the one tailored to serious coding.
The Pricing Debate and Why It Matters
Another point in that video was the YouTuber’s reaction to pricing. When viewers in the chat asked about Windsurf’s affordability compared to Cursor, he went on a temper tantrum, saying he had “no pity” for developers who couldn’t afford Cursor’s $20/month subscription. He dismissed them, suggesting that if they couldn’t pay, they should stick to a cheaper IDE and “find a proper job.”
What he missed is that not every developer—or aspiring developer—is in a position to add another steep subscription fee to an already growing list of expenses. While both Cursor and Windsurf build upon VS Code’s foundation with more baked-in AI, not everyone wants to pay a premium for features that Windsurf offers at a much lower cost—or even for free in some cases. Affordable and powerful tools like Windsurf help open doors for everyone, not just developers with large budgets, and they can benefit all types of users, from hobbyists to professionals.
Give Windsurf a Fair Chance
I encourage you to read my previous article to get a sense of why I believe Windsurf is the better choice. Then, try it yourself at codeium.com/windsurf. Don’t let one YouTuber’s biased, dismissive take sway you. Check out his video if you’d like, but I think you’ll quickly see that Windsurf is a powerful, affordable, and respectful alternative. And if this video angered you as much as it did me, do hit the thumbs-down button.
Disclaimer: I am not paid, sponsored, or associated with Codeium or Windsurf in any way. I’m simply a developer who believes in fair competition and accessible tools, and I’m genuinely concerned about the growth and future of innovative products like Windsurf. This article reflects my personal experiences and frustrations in the hopes of helping others make informed choices.
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