Short answer: the best Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) alternatives are Cursor, Kiro, Google Antigravity, GitHub Copilot and Zed. Pick Cursor for the closest like-for-like switch; stay on Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) if you like a full IDE with a manager for many local and cloud agents, and want Devin Cloud on the same subscription.
Prices and features verified 2026-10-12 from official pages · Windsurf (now Devin Desktop): Free tier · from $20/mo
Who should switch from Windsurf (now Devin Desktop)?
Consider an alternative if any of these apply:
- The Windsurf → Devin Desktop rebrand and Cascade retirement disrupted your workflow
- You prefer an editor-first UI over an agent-manager-first one
- Quota-based limits run out
- You want bring-your-own-key model access (not offered)
Stay on Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) if you like a full IDE with a manager for many local and cloud agents, and want Devin Cloud on the same subscription. Its strengths: full ide plus a manager for many local and cloud agents; same subscription covers devin cloud on pro and up; unlimited tab completions even on free.
The 5 best Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) alternatives
1. Cursor
Why switch: The best-known AI-native VS Code fork: Tab autocomplete, Agent and cloud agents; Pro $20/mo.
Best for: Developers who want AI woven into everyday editing, with an agent one keystroke away. Watch out: Usage-based limits can be confusing; heavy agent use costs more than $20.
Cursor review · Compare Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) vs Cursor · Official site ↗
2. Kiro
Why switch: AWS's agentic IDE with spec-driven development (requirements → design → tasks) and a free tier.
Best for: Teams that want structured, spec-first agent development — especially AWS shops. Watch out: Credit-based limits.
Kiro review · Compare Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) vs Kiro · Official site ↗
3. Google Antigravity
Why switch: Google's agent-first IDE and CLI with a generous free individual tier on Gemini models.
Best for: Developers in the Google/Gemini ecosystem who want a free agent-first IDE. Watch out: Mostly tied to Google's model ecosystem.
Google Antigravity review · Compare Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) vs Google Antigravity · Official site ↗
4. GitHub Copilot
Why switch: Keep your current editor and add agents for $10/mo, with a free tier.
Best for: Teams already on GitHub who want AI across editors and the PR workflow at a low price. Watch out: Individual-plan interactions may be used for training unless you opt out.
GitHub Copilot review · Compare Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) vs GitHub Copilot · Official site ↗
5. Zed
Why switch: Fast open-source editor with an agent panel; bring your own keys or external agents.
Best for: Developers who want a fast, lean editor and control over which AI they use. Watch out: Smaller extension ecosystem than VS Code.
Zed review · Compare Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) vs Zed · Official site ↗
Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) vs alternatives: comparison table
| Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) | Cursor | Kiro | Google Antigravity | GitHub Copilot | Zed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | AI IDE, Cloud agent | AI IDE, Cloud agent | AI IDE, CLI / terminal | AI IDE, CLI / terminal | IDE extension, CLI / terminal | AI IDE |
| Starting price | Free tier · from $20/mo | Free tier · from $20/mo | Free tier · from $20/mo | Free tier · paid: see site | Free tier · from $10/mo | Free tier · from $10/mo |
| Free tier | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Open source | — No | — No | — No | — No | — No | ✓ Yes |
| Bring your own key | — No | ✓ Yes | — No | — No | Check site | ✓ Yes |
| Models | Frontier models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and SpaceXAI plus open-source models and Co… | Multiple frontier models plus Cursor's own Composer model; the lineup changes often — chec… | Anthropic Claude models plus an 'Auto' router | Google Gemini models (plus a selection of other agent models — check site) | Anthropic Claude, OpenAI GPT, Google Gemini, xAI Grok, Microsoft and Kimi models (varies b… | Zed-hosted models, or your own keys (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Bedrock, Ollama, OpenRoute… |
| Agent mode | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Autocomplete | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Cloud agents | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | Check site | Check site | ✓ Yes | — No |
| Verified | 2026-10-10 | 2026-10-10 | 2026-10-10 | 2026-10-10 | 2026-10-10 | 2026-10-10 |
Open the same set in the interactive compare tool.
How to choose
- Decide where the AI should work — terminal, editor, browser or GitHub. That rules out half the list.
- Check model lock-in. Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) uses Frontier models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and SpaceXAI plus open-source models and Cognition's SWE models. Bring-your-own-key tools let you change models later.
- Run one real task from your backlog in your top two picks and compare the diffs, not the marketing. Our benchmarks page shows independent agent scores where they exist.