Key Features
Cascade Flows
Multi-step agentic editing that plans before acting:
You: "Add rate limiting to all API endpoints"
Cascade:
Step 1: Analyzing 12 API route files...
Step 2: Creating rate-limit middleware (middleware/rateLimit.ts)
Step 3: Applying middleware to all route handlers
Step 4: Adding rate limit config to .env
Step 5: Writing tests for rate limiting
[Show diffs] [Apply all] [Apply selectively]Supercomplete
Context-aware autocomplete that predicts multi-line edits:
- Understands your coding patterns
- Predicts next logical change
- Tab to accept, Esc to dismiss
Chat with Codebase
"How does the payment processing work?"
"What tests cover the auth module?"
"Find all places where we handle errors"Command Mode
Quick actions without leaving the editor:
Cmd+I: "Add TypeScript types to this function"
Cmd+I: "Write a test for the selected code"
Cmd+I: "Explain this regex"Free Tier
| Feature | Free | Pro ($15/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| Autocomplete | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Chat | Limited | Unlimited |
| Cascade flows | 5/day | Unlimited |
| Claude/GPT-4 | Yes | Yes |
VS Code Compatibility
- Full extension marketplace
- Settings sync from VS Code
- Existing keybindings work
- Themes and snippets transfer
Key Stats
- 6,000+ GitHub stars
- By Codeium (AI code company)
- Cascade multi-step agentic flows
- Free Claude + GPT-4 access
- VS Code-based
FAQ
Q: What is Windsurf? A: An AI IDE by Codeium featuring Cascade — multi-step agentic editing that plans and executes complex changes across files, with free Claude and GPT-4 access.
Q: Is Windsurf free? A: Free tier with limited Cascade flows. Pro is $15/mo for unlimited.
Q: How does Windsurf compare to Cursor? A: Windsurf has stronger agentic flows (Cascade) and a cheaper Pro plan ($15 vs $20). Cursor has a more mature extension ecosystem and broader model selection.