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Head to head · 2026

Devin vs Windsurf

Pricing, free plans, ratings, features, pros and cons, side by side. Where one comes out ahead, we mark it.

Devin

Marketed as the first AI software engineer, with disputed early claims

4.0$20/mo

Visit Devin (opens Devin in a new tab)

Windsurf

Now a Cognition subsidiary, after a chaotic 2025 acquisition saga

4.4$15/mo

Visit Windsurf (opens Windsurf in a new tab)

Who comes out ahead

Based only on the facts in our directory. The right pick still depends on the job you need done.

  • Lower starting price

    Windsurf

    From $15/mo against from $20/mo

  • Free plan

    Windsurf

    Only Windsurf has one

  • Higher rating

    Windsurf

    4.0 against 4.4

  • Same job?

    Yes

    Both are Coding tools

Side by side

Compared onDevinWindsurf
Our rating4.04.4Better
Starts at$20/mo$15/moBetter
Free planNoYesBetter
CategoryCodingCoding
PlansFrom $20/mo
  • FreeFree
  • Pro$15/mo
Key features
  • Fully autonomous multi-step task planning and execution
  • Plans, codes, tests, and debugs within one session
  • Marketed as one of the earliest autonomous AI software engineers
  • No free tier
  • Continued development since its 2023 launch
  • Cascade agentic flow for multi-file coding tasks
  • VS Code-based AI-native editor
  • Now owned by Cognition, the company behind Devin
  • Survived a widely publicized 2025 acquisition saga involving OpenAI and Google
  • Free tier for standard use
Pros
  • Ambitious scope for autonomous, end-to-end task completion
  • High public profile means substantial third-party review and discussion exists
  • Continued active development since launch
  • Cascade agent mode handles genuinely complex, multi-file tasks
  • Now backed by Cognition's resources and autonomous-agent expertise
  • Free tier available for everyday use
Cons
  • Original launch benchmark claims were publicly disputed by independent researchers
  • No free tier to test before committing
  • Current real-world performance is worth verifying against recent independent reviews rather than launch-era marketing
  • Recent ownership changes may affect long-term product direction
  • Lost significant senior research talent to Google during the 2025 restructuring
  • Overlaps with Cognition's own Devin product, worth watching how the two evolve together
CompanyCognition, founded 2023Codeium, founded 2021

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 20260629. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Devin better than Windsurf?

In our reviews Devin scores 4.0 and Windsurf scores 4.4. The better pick depends on the job. Devin: Marketed as the first AI software engineer, with disputed early claims. Windsurf: Now a Cognition subsidiary, after a chaotic 2025 acquisition saga.

Which is cheaper, Devin or Windsurf?

Windsurf has the lower starting price: from $20/mo for Devin and from $15/mo for Windsurf.

Do Devin and Windsurf have free plans?

Only Windsurf has a free plan.

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