Overview
Windsurf Editor is an AI-native IDE positioned for engineering teams to keep developers “in flow.” Core assistant Cascade provides deep codebase and real-time awareness with long/live context, follow-ups, and @ mentions. A key differentiator is live in-editor Previews that embed a running site inside the editor so users can interact with elements, reshape UI, and deploy without leaving the IDE. Windsurf emphasizes production-capable GenAI for teams, citing large usage metrics (examples shown on site: 70M+ lines of AI-written code daily; 1M+ active users; 59% of Fortune 500 using Windsurf). The product includes features such as Supercomplete (anticipatory completions), Tab (Fast Tab / Windsurf Tab) single-keystroke gateway, in-line natural-language commands and follow-ups, terminal natural-language commands, Model Context Protocol (MCP) for connecting tools/services, plugin store & integrations (GitHub, Postgres, Playwright, Neon, Figma, Slack, etc.), linter auto-fixes, codelenses & one-click code actions, SWE-1.5 coding agent/model and Turbo Mode for auto-executing commands, plus persistent memory and a deployment flow that moves from preview to deploy in-editor. Documentation and pricing pages describe prompt-credit mechanics, add-on credits, tiered plans (Free, Pro, Teams, Enterprise), and enterprise features like RBAC, SSO/SCIM, and hybrid/on-prem options. The site and changelog contain time-limited promotions and pricing changes; for procurement decisions, verify current plan details on the official pricing page and in account billing UI.
Key Features
Cascade (codebase-aware assistant)
Deep codebase & real-time awareness with long/live context, follow-ups, and @ mentions to reference context.
Windsurf Previews
Embed a live website preview inside the IDE; click elements, reshape UI, then deploy directly from the editor.
Tab (Fast Tab / Windsurf Tab)
Single-keystroke gateway for autocomplete, commands, and Supercomplete to anticipate multi-step work.
Supercomplete
Anticipatory completions beyond immediate token-level autocomplete to accelerate multi-step coding tasks.
In-line Commands & Follow-ups
Natural-language code generation and refactor workflows inline, with follow-up interactions.
Model Context Protocol (MCP)
Connect custom tools/services and curated servers (examples noted: Figma, Slack, Stripe) to extend assistant context.
Who Can Use This Tool?
- Developers:Use Windsurf Editor to accelerate coding with AI-assisted completions, live previews, and deploy-from-editor workflows.
- Engineering teams:Adopt Windsurf for team workflows, pooled credits, admin analytics, RBAC/SSO, and enterprise support for production-capable GenAI.
Pricing Plans
Entry-tier with limited monthly prompt credits, unlimited Fast Tab & Previews usage, and limited daily deploys.
- ✓Approx. ~25 prompt credits / month (typical allocation noted)
- ✓Unlimited Fast Tab & Previews usage
- ✓1 app deploy per day (per docs)
Paid tier with substantially more prompt credits and access to premium models; add-on credits purchasable.
- ✓Approx. ~500 prompt credits / month (typical allocation noted)
- ✓Access to premium models
- ✓Option to buy add-on credits (example: $10 buys 250 Pro credits)
Team-oriented plan with pooled credit options, centralized billing, admin analytics, and priority support.
- ✓Approx. ~500 credits per user / month (typical allocation noted)
- ✓Pooled add-on credit option (example: $40 buys 1000 pooled credits)
- ✓Centralized billing, admin analytics, priority support, access controls
Enterprise offerings with higher default credit allocations, RBAC, SSO/SCIM, dedicated account management, and hybrid/on-prem options.
- ✓Approx. ~1000 credits per user / month (typical allocation noted)
- ✓RBAC, SSO/SCIM, dedicated account management
- ✓Highest-priority support and hybrid/on-prem deployment options
Pros & Cons
✓ Pros
- ✓Live in-editor Previews enable interactive editing of running sites and deploy from the editor.
- ✓Cascade provides deep codebase awareness, long/live context, follow-ups, and @ mentions.
- ✓Supercomplete and Fast Tab accelerate multi-step workflows and autocomplete.
- ✓Rich integrations and MCP for connecting third-party tools (Figma, Slack, Stripe, etc.).
- ✓Enterprise features (RBAC, SSO/SCIM, hybrid/on-prem) and pooled credits for teams.
✗ Cons
- ✗Pricing, plan allocations, and model promotions have changed over time; site contains short-term promotions—verify current rates before purchase.
- ✗Some site pages returned 404s or placeholder templates during collection (e.g., /features), indicating occasional site inconsistencies.
- ✗Exact per-tier deployment limits and live prices can vary and require checking the official pricing page or account billing UI for up-to-date figures.
Compare with Alternatives
| Feature | Windsurf Editor | Windsurf (formerly Codeium) | Cursor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $15/month | $15/month | $20/month |
| Rating | 8.1/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.5/10 |
| Codebase Awareness | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live Previews | Yes | Yes | No |
| Agent Autonomy | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Context Handling | MCP with memory and SWE-1.5 | MCP and multi-model handling | MCP and proprietary context models |
| Multi-model Support | Partial | Yes | Yes |
| In-editor Workflow | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Enterprise Controls | Partial'} | Yes | Yes |
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AI-powered IDE with Cascade and live previews that keeps you in flow, eliminates context switching, and speeds production-ready code.
