- Windsurf alternatives at a glance
- Ten code editors and builders to look at next
- Why people look past Windsurf after the rename
- Editor, plug-in or browser builder: matching the type to your work
- Moving your Windsurf settings, rules and habits to a new editor
- Checking what your editor sends to the cloud
- Questions to ask before switching from Windsurf
- Why a smaller Windsurf alternative can be a good test run
- A short checklist before you choose a Windsurf replacement
- Frequently asked questions
If you're looking beyond Windsurf, now called Devin Desktop, decide whether you want an AI editor, a plug-in, a terminal agent or a browser builder. This page lists ten options in no particular order, with each one's free plan status checked, plus safety notes on reviewing code.
Windsurf is now called Devin Desktop. The company's own announcement and help pages say it's the same editor under a new name, with the same features, and that Windsurf's settings carry across. People still search for the old name, and plenty of them are weighing up what else is out there before they settle.
This page doesn't list Windsurf or anything from the same company. Instead it covers ten Windsurf alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically: editors with AI built in, agents that run in the terminal and a browser-based builder. I've taken descriptions from each tool's own website, so check the current details there. If you're not sure which type of helper suits your work, my guide to which AI agents are free to try is a calm place to begin.
Windsurf alternatives at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a free plan, a free mode or free open-source software. Trial only means a free trial and no ongoing free plan. No means neither is stated. Offers move around, so confirm on the site itself.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antigravity | Agent-first IDE | Running agents side by side in an editor | Yes |
| Cline | Open-source agent | An agent inside your own editor | Yes |
| Cursor | AI code editor | Desktop editor with agent and chat | Yes |
| Kilo Code | Open-source agent | Editors, JetBrains and the command line | Yes |
| Kiro | Agentic IDE | Turning a plan into working code | Yes |
| Mistral Vibe | Terminal agent | A minimal command-line coding agent | Yes |
| Replit | Browser app builder | Building and hosting apps from a browser | Yes |
| Theia IDE | Open-source IDE | Cloud or desktop IDE with AI built in | Yes |
| Trae | AI coding tool | Downloadable app and web version | Yes |
| Zed | Code editor | A quick open-source editor with optional AI | Yes |
Ten code editors and builders to look at next
Antigravity
Best for: Developers who want an editor built around agents, with an individual option they can start with.
Cline
Best for: Developers who want an open-source agent they can run in the editor they already use.
Cursor
Best for: People who want an AI-first desktop editor with a free plan that has limited requests.
Kilo Code
Best for: Developers who want an open-source agent across several editors with a wide choice of models.
Kiro
Best for: Developers who like a written plan and specification before an agent starts building.
Mistral Vibe
Best for: Developers who would rather work in the terminal than switch to a new editor.
Replit
Best for: Beginners and makers who want to describe an app and build it in the browser, using a free mode.
Theia IDE
Best for: Teams who want an open-source IDE with AI features and the freedom to bring their own models.
Trae
Best for: Newcomers who want to try an AI coding tool with a free plan, on the desktop or the web.
Zed
Best for: Developers who want a fast open-source editor and would like the AI side to stay optional.
Why people look past Windsurf after the rename
A rename on its own is no reason to leave. But when a product changes name, bundles in new agent features and moves its help pages, it's a natural moment to ask whether it still fits your habits. Check what has changed in the settings you rely on, such as rules files and keyboard shortcuts.
It's also a good time to try one or two other tools on a small project, so you know what you'd be moving to if you ever needed to. Keep your project under version control, and you can swap editors without losing work.
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Editor, plug-in or browser builder: matching the type to your work
An AI code editor replaces the program you write code in. A plug-in adds AI to the one you have. A browser builder skips the editor altogether and lets you describe an app and see it running. Each suits a different person, so start by asking how often you write code and how comfy you feel with files and folders.
- AI editor. Best if you code most days and want the agent and the editor to work as one.
- Plug-in or agent. Best if you like your current editor and want the smallest change.
- Terminal agent. Best if you're at home on the command line.
- Browser builder. Best if you want a working app without setting up a computer for coding.
Moving your Windsurf settings, rules and habits to a new editor
Many editors in this area are built from the same open-source base as VS Code, so themes, shortcuts and a lot of extensions come across. Some tools offer an import for your settings, and others don't, so look in the help pages before you commit. Extensions can differ between editors, so list the ones you can't live without.
Rules files are worth a note. If you've written instructions for an agent, such as how you like code formatted, copy them somewhere safe first. Some tools read a common instructions file, and others use their own format.
Checking what your editor sends to the cloud
Review code before you run it. An agent can change several files quickly, and a confident-looking edit can still be wrong. Read the changes, test on a copy, and never paste secrets or API keys into a prompt or a shared file.
Look at each tool's privacy and data pages to see what leaves your computer, whether prompts are stored and how to turn that off. If you work with client material, ask first. For ideas on writing safer, clearer prompts, read my notes on ChatGPT prompts for coding work.
Questions to ask before switching from Windsurf
- Does it import my settings and rules, or do I start again?
- Which models can I use, and can I bring my own?
- What does the free route include, and when does it run out?
- Does the agent ask before it edits files or runs commands?
- Does it work on my computer and with the languages I use?
- Can I leave easily if it doesn't suit me?
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Why a smaller Windsurf alternative can be a good test run
Smaller tools are often easier to try, with less to learn and fewer settings. They also change quickly, and one editor I came across while researching had stopped being updated, so look at the date of the latest release first. Try one small project before you move anything important.
Do you make an AI code editor or coding agent? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
A short checklist before you choose a Windsurf replacement
Pick two tools that match the way you work. Give each the same small task, compare what they produce, and check the data settings. Keep the one that feels clearest and set a date to review the decision.
Frequently asked questions
What can I use instead of Windsurf?
You can use another AI code editor, an agent that adds to the editor you already have, or a terminal tool. Which is best for you depends on how often you code and how much you want the tool to do.
Has Windsurf been renamed?
Yes. The company's own announcement and help pages say Windsurf is now called Devin Desktop, with the same editor and features under the new name.
Do I need to know how to code?
It helps. Editors and agents change real files, so you need to read the changes and spot when something looks wrong. Browser builders are gentler for beginners.
Are there free options?
Several tools describe a free plan, a free mode or free open-source software on their own sites. Allowances change, so check each site for the current details.
Will my settings move across?
Often some of them will, especially between editors built on the same base. Check each tool's help pages for how to import settings, and keep a copy of any rules files.
