Free Windsurf alternatives

Top AI Coding Assistants like Windsurf

Updated Oct 12, 2026

The most popular alternative to Windsurf is Cursor, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to Windsurf are GitHub Copilot, Cline, Visual Studio Code, and Zed.

Most alternatives to Windsurf are in the AI Coding Assistants category, compared here by price, platform and features.

Windsurf alternatives

All Free Open source

9 apps

Cursor
Cursor is a code editor from Anysphere, forked from VS Code, with AI integrated throughout the workflow. Its Tab model predicts multi-line edits, chat understands the whole codebase, and agent mode plans and applies changes across files while running terminal commands. Background agents can also work on tasks in the cloud. It stays compatible with VS Code extensions, themes and keybindings, and has a free Hobby plan.
12 Cursor alternatives
Pros
Tab completion predicts multi-line edits as you type
Agent mode applies changes across files and runs commands
Keeps VS Code extensions, themes and keybindings
Cons
Request limits and usage-based billing can be confusing
As a VS Code fork, it can lag behind upstream updates
The free Hobby plan is quickly limiting for daily work
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI Coding Assistants Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Code completion Extensions marketplace Terminal integration
Visit website More about Cursor
GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot is GitHub's AI coding assistant. It suggests code as you type and offers chat in editors such as VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, Xcode and Neovim, with a choice of models from several providers. Its coding agent can take a GitHub issue, work in the background and open a pull request, and Copilot also reviews pull requests and works in the terminal. A limited free plan is available.
10 GitHub Copilot alternatives
Pros
Works in many editors, from VS Code to Xcode and Neovim
Coding agent turns GitHub issues into pull requests
Choice of models from several providers
Cons
The free plan has tight monthly limits
Premium requests can add extra costs on paid plans
Agent features assume your code is hosted on GitHub
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI Coding Assistants
Platforms
Web Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Code completion Integrations Terminal integration
Visit website More about GitHub Copilot
Cline
70.2Kstars
Cline is an open source AI coding agent that runs inside VS Code and compatible editors. It plans tasks, creates and edits files, runs terminal commands and can drive a browser to test web apps, asking for approval at each step unless you grant more autonomy. You bring your own API key for providers like Anthropic, OpenAI and Google or use local models, and MCP servers extend what it can do.
9 Cline alternatives
Pros
Open source agent that runs inside VS Code
Bring your own API key or use local models
Asks for approval at each step, keeping you in control
Cons
API costs can climb quickly on long agent tasks
Step-by-step approvals can slow down routine work
Cost / License
FreemiumOpen source
Categories
AI Coding Assistants
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Integrations Terminal integration
Visit website More about Cline
Visual Studio Code
193.6Kstars
Visual Studio Code is a free source code editor from Microsoft that runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and in the browser. It combines IntelliSense completion, a built-in debugger, Git tools and an integrated terminal with a large extensions marketplace. It is built on the MIT-licensed Code - OSS project and integrates GitHub Copilot for AI chat and agent workflows.
12 Visual Studio Code alternatives
Pros
Huge extensions marketplace for almost any language or tool
Integrated terminal, debugger and Git tools
Remote development over SSH, in containers and with WSL
Cons
Official builds include Microsoft telemetry and proprietary components
As an Electron app it uses more memory than native editors
Large extension setups can slow it down
Cost / License
FreeOpen source
Categories
Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Web Windows Mac Linux
Features
AI assistant Code completion Debugger Extensions marketplace Git integration Remote development
Visit website More about Visual Studio Code
Zed
91.6Kstars
Zed is a code editor written in Rust by the creators of Atom and Tree-sitter, with a GPU-rendered interface that stays fast on large projects. It includes multiplayer editing, an agent panel that works with several AI models, edit predictions, Git tools, remote development over SSH and an extensions registry. Zed is open source under the GPL and runs on macOS, Linux and Windows; paid plans cover hosted AI usage.
12 Zed alternatives
Pros
GPU-rendered interface that stays fast on large projects
Built-in multiplayer editing and an agent panel for several AI models
Open source under the GPL
Cons
Smaller extension ecosystem than VS Code
Some IDE features are less mature than in established editors
Hosted AI usage requires a paid plan
Cost / License
FreemiumOpen source
Categories
Code Editors & IDEs AI Coding Assistants
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
AI assistant Code completion Extensions marketplace Git integration Real-time collaboration Remote development
Visit website More about Zed
Gemini Code Assist
Gemini Code Assist brings Google's Gemini models into VS Code and JetBrains IDEs for code completion, generation and chat that takes your local codebase into account. Agent mode can plan and carry out multi-step changes, and a GitHub app reviews pull requests. The individual edition is free, while Standard and Enterprise add Google Cloud integrations, private repository customization and admin controls.
10 Gemini Code Assist alternatives
Pros
Free edition for individual developers
GitHub app reviews pull requests automatically
Agent mode carries out multi-step changes
Cons
Enterprise features are tied to Google Cloud
Supports fewer editors than some competing assistants
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI Coding Assistants
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Code completion Integrations
Visit website More about Gemini Code Assist
Amazon Q Developer
Amazon Q Developer is the generative AI assistant from AWS for software development. It offers inline code suggestions, chat and agents that implement features, write tests and documentation, review code and upgrade Java applications, in VS Code, JetBrains and Visual Studio and on the command line. It also answers questions about AWS resources in the console, with a free tier alongside the Pro plan.
8 Amazon Q Developer alternatives
Pros
In-depth knowledge of AWS services and console resources
Agents help upgrade Java applications
Free tier, with VS Code, JetBrains and command-line support
Cons
Most useful for teams already invested in AWS
The free tier caps agent requests and code transformations
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI Coding Assistants
Platforms
Web Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Code completion Integrations Terminal integration
Visit website More about Amazon Q Developer
Continue
36.2Kstars
Continue is an open source extension for VS Code and JetBrains IDEs that adds AI chat, autocomplete, inline edits and an agent mode. Its main appeal is flexibility: you choose the models, from commercial APIs to local models through Ollama, and add rules, prompts and context providers that a team can share. With local models, code never has to leave your machine.
9 Continue alternatives
Pros
Open source, with a free choice of models
Works with local models, so code can stay on your machine
Shared rules and prompts help teams standardize usage
Cons
Setup takes more effort than turnkey assistants
Quality depends on the models you configure
Local models need capable hardware to run smoothly
Cost / License
FreemiumOpen source
Categories
AI Coding Assistants
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Code completion Offline mode
Visit website More about Continue
PyCharm
PyCharm is the JetBrains IDE for Python, with code completion, inspections, refactoring, a graphical debugger, test runners and virtual environment management. A single distribution provides a free core for everyday Python work, while a Pro subscription unlocks advanced features for web frameworks such as Django, databases and remote development. JetBrains AI features are available in the IDE.
8 PyCharm alternatives
Pros
Excellent Python completion, inspections and refactoring
Graphical debugger, test runners and virtual environment management
The free core covers everyday Python work
Cons
Heavy on memory and slower to start than lighter editors
Django, database and remote development tools require Pro
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
AI assistant Code completion Debugger Extensions marketplace Git integration Remote development
Visit website More about PyCharm

Windsurf vs its alternatives at a glance

Pricing, platforms and the key features of Windsurf, compared with its most popular alternatives.

Windsurf vs its alternatives at a glance
App	Pricing	Platforms
Windsurf	Freemium	Windows, Mac, Linux
Cursor	Freemium	Windows, Mac, Linux
GitHub Copilot	Freemium	Web, Windows, Mac, Linux
Cline	FreemiumOpen source	Windows, Mac, Linux
Visual Studio Code	FreeOpen source	Web, Windows, Mac, Linux
Zed	FreemiumOpen source	Windows, Mac, Linux

Windsurf alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Windsurf?

The most popular alternative to Windsurf is Cursor: AI code editor built on VS Code, with agents and multi-line autocomplete. Other great alternatives are GitHub Copilot, Cline, Visual Studio Code, and Zed.