"Windsurf Review 2026: Best Free Tier, Devin Built In"
Windsurf is an AI-native editor (formerly Codeium) that now bundles Cognition’s Devin cloud agents. Its persistent context tracks your whole workspace without repeated explanations, and it uniquely supports JetBrains plugins — a gap Cursor has not closed. Backed by OpenAI resources, it offers the most generous free tier in the category.
At a glance
| Best for | Budget-conscious developers and small teams, especially on JetBrains |
| Free tier | Real free tier with Cascade agentic edits |
| Starting price | $15-20/mo Pro, up to $200/mo Max (Devin cloud agents) |
| Category | Coding |
What we found
Cascade mode edited across files with persistent memory between sessions — handy for long-running features. The Devin integration hands local work to a cloud VM in one click. Autocomplete usefulness lagged Cursor slightly (55-60%), and there is no BYOK or partial undo for AI sequences. For the price, the free tier is the best on-ramp in the space.
Strengths
- Most generous free tier among AI editors
- Devin cloud agents built in (run heavy work in the cloud)
- Persistent cross-session context
- The only AI editor with strong JetBrains support
Weaknesses
- Autocomplete trails Cursor on usefulness
- No BYOK (bring-your-own-key)
- No partial undo for AI edit sequences
Pricing
Free tier is genuinely usable. Pro moved to $20/mo (was $15) in 2026; Max at $200/mo unlocks Devin cloud agents. Best value entry point in the category.
How it compares
| Tool | Where it wins | Where it trails |
|---|---|---|
| Cursor | Better daily editing and autocomplete | No real free tier, no JetBrains |
| Claude Code | Deeper reasoning on hard tasks | No editor UI, no free tier |
| GitHub Copilot | Wider enterprise reach | Not agentic, shallower context |
Who should use it
Pick Windsurf if you want a free on-ramp, live in JetBrains, or want Devin agents without leaving the editor. Upgrade to Cursor/Claude Code for the heaviest work.
FAQ
Is Windsurf free? Yes — it has the most generous free tier among AI code editors, including Cascade agentic edits.
What is Devin in Windsurf? Devin cloud agents run long tasks on a remote VM; you start locally with Cascade and hand off with one click.
Does Windsurf support JetBrains? Yes, uniquely — it has a JetBrains plugin, unlike Cursor.
Verdict
Windsurf is the value pick: free to start, Devin built in, and the only AI editor that loves JetBrains. Level up to Cursor or Claude Code when tasks get serious.