An in-depth look at Windsurf, the new AI-powered code editor from Codeium. Discover how it compares to Cursor and Copilot, and whether it's the future of AI-assisted development.
- Flow Mode - Autonomous task completion
- Cascade - Multi-file editing with context
- Supercomplete - Advanced code predictions
- Free tier - 2,000 premium requests/month
- Built by Codeium - Team behind popular Copilot alternative
The Standout Feature: Flow Mode
Traditional AI assistants require hand-holding. Windsurf's Flow mode works autonomously:
You: "Add authentication with JWT tokens"
Windsurf: [Autonomously]
- Creates auth middleware ✓
- Adds JWT utilities ✓
- Updates routes ✓
- Generates tests ✓
- Updates docs ✓
Done in 90 seconds.
Windsurf vs Cursor vs Copilot
| Feature | Windsurf | Cursor | Copilot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autonomous Coding | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Codebase Awareness | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Stability | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Free Tier | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Extensions | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price (Pro) | $10/month | $20/month | $10/month |
Real-World Example
Task: Build a REST API with authentication
Traditional approach (30+ minutes):
- Set up Express
- Configure MongoDB
- Create routes
- Add validation
- Implement JWT
- Write tests
- Debug issues
Windsurf Flow Mode (3 minutes):
Prompt: "Create REST API for todos: Express, MongoDB,
JWT auth, validation, error handling, tests"
Result: 12 files created, fully functional API
Pricing
Free:
- 2,000 premium requests/month
- Unlimited autocomplete
- GPT-4o access
Pro ($10/month):
- Unlimited requests
- Priority models
- Faster response
My Honest Take
Pros:
- Flow mode is genuinely impressive
- Generous free tier
- Fast and responsive
- Great for feature development
Cons:
- Still has bugs
- Limited extensions
- Takes time to trust
- Documentation needs work
Productivity gain: 40-50% on complex features
Am I switching from Cursor? Not yet, but using both:
- Cursor for client work (stability)
- Windsurf for personal projects (exploration)
Should You Try It?
Yes if you:
- Love cutting-edge tools
- Work on new projects
- Want autonomous coding
- Like free tiers
Stick with Cursor if you:
- Need stability
- Rely on VS Code extensions
- Already paid for Cursor
Try Copilot if you:
- Want basic autocomplete
- Prefer proven tools
Getting Started
- Download from codeium.com/windsurf
- Sign up (free, no credit card)
- Try Flow mode on a small feature
- Create
.windsurfrulesfile for standards
Conclusion
Windsurf is ambitious and impressive, showing us the future of AI development. It's rough around the edges but free to try.
Test it on a feature. You might be surprised.