Cursor
The AI-native code editor with autonomous agent mode
GitHub Copilot
AI coding platform with IDE extensions, autonomous agents, and CLI — deeply integrated into GitHub
Windsurf
The AI-powered IDE that keeps you in flow
/// THE_VERDICT
Cursor leads the pack with best-in-class multi-file editing and agentic capabilities that consistently impress across all three judges. Its deep contextual understanding of entire codebases makes it the go-to for complex refactoring and feature work. Windsurf closes the gap with its polished Cascade agent and aggressive pricing, making it the strongest value play for developers who want agent-level power without the Cursor price tag. GitHub Copilot remains the most pragmatic choice for teams embedded in the GitHub ecosystem — its inline completions are snappy, the free tier is generous, and the tight pull request integration is unmatched.
SCORE BREAKDOWN
DEEP DIVE
Cursor
The AI-native code editor with autonomous agent mode
/// JUDGE_SUMMARIES
"Cursor remains the benchmark AI coding editor, with Composer mode and intelligent tab completions that set the standard competitors chase. Its model-agnostic architecture supporting all major LLM providers future-proofs it against the rapidly shifting model landscape. The $20/mo price is justified for daily professional use but adds up quickly for teams."
"Cursor is an AI-first code editor with strong inline completions and a multi-file editing workflow that can apply coordinated changes across a project. Recent releases added subagents and skills to improve longer-running agent tasks and context management, alongside ongoing editor and CLI improvements. Pricing/quotas and occasional performance issues on very large repos are the main drawbacks."
"Cursor remains the undisputed king of AI IDEs in 2026. Version 2.4's introduction of 'Subagents' and the new 'Self-driving' research preview demonstrate an engineering lead that others are still chasing. Its deep integration of custom models (including the 'Tab' model) provides a latency/quality balance that feels like magic."
/// SYSTEM_DIAGNOSTICS
Power users who want the deepest AI integration in their editor with autonomous agent mode for complex multi-file tasks
GitHub Copilot
AI coding platform with IDE extensions, autonomous agents, and CLI — deeply integrated into GitHub
/// JUDGE_SUMMARIES
"GitHub Copilot has evolved from a code completion extension into a multi-surface AI platform spanning IDE extensions, agent mode, an autonomous coding agent, and a CLI with sub-agents. Its deep GitHub ecosystem integration — PR reviews, issue context, Actions — creates a unified workflow no competitor matches. The $10/month Pro plan remains the best value in AI coding, though dedicated AI editors still lead on multi-file editing."
"GitHub Copilot covers inline completions, chat, and agent workflows, with optional automation that can turn issues into draft pull requests in a GitHub-centric loop. It’s easy to roll out across a team and is strongest when you want suggestions anchored to repository and PR context. The trade-offs are inconsistent performance on large refactors and feature depth that varies by plan tier."
"GitHub Copilot in 2026 has evolved into a comprehensive AI platform. The new 'Pro+' tier (9/mo) unlocks top-tier models like Claude Opus 4.6 and GPT-5, addressing previous complaints about model staleness. With 'Secure MCP integrations' and ubiquitous availability (VS Code, JetBrains, Xcode, Zed), it remains the safe, default choice for enterprises, though it still feels less 'agentic' than Cursor."
/// SYSTEM_DIAGNOSTICS
Developers and teams on GitHub who want a comprehensive AI coding platform spanning IDE, agents, and CLI at an unbeatable price
Windsurf
The AI-powered IDE that keeps you in flow
/// JUDGE_SUMMARIES
"Cascade delivers genuinely impressive multi-step reasoning that handles complex coding tasks with minimal intervention, and the flow-state philosophy translates into less interruption during productive coding sessions. Core AI capabilities are top-tier with strong multi-file editing. The OpenAI acquisition introduces meaningful uncertainty about future direction, pricing, and model independence that tempers an otherwise excellent tool."
"Windsurf is an AI-first editor that combines fast completions with an agentic mode (Cascade) for multi-step changes across a project. It's great for iterative refactors, file creation, and wiring features end-to-end without constantly context-switching, with recent updates adding Arena and Plan Mode for tighter iteration loops. Expect occasional rough edges on very large repos, and keep an eye on credit usage for heavy agent work."
"Windsurf (rebranded from Codeium in 2025) has rapidly matured into a formidable Cursor competitor, focusing on 'Flow' over raw feature count. The 'Cascade' agent and 'Tab Tab Tab...Ship' workflow offer a more polished, less chaotic experience. Its 'Memories' feature for persistent project context is a standout engineering achievement."
/// SYSTEM_DIAGNOSTICS
Developers seeking Cursor-level AI capabilities at a more competitive price point with excellent agentic coding features
PRICING COMPARISON
| Metric | Cursor | GitHub Copilot | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ 2000 completions, 50 slow premium requests/mo | ✓ 2,000 completions and 50 chat messages per month for all users | ✓ Limited AI interactions per month |
| Pro Price | $20/mo | $10/mo | $15/mo |
| Team / Enterprise | $40/mo/seat | $19/mo/seat | $30/mo/seat |
RELATED BATTLES
Methodology & Disclosure ▼
How we rate: Each AI model receives the same structured prompt asking it to evaluate each tool across our criteria on a 1-10 scale. Models rate independently — no model sees another's scores. Consensus score = weighted average. Agreement level = score spread.
Data verification: Pricing and feature data is manually verified against official sources weekly.
Affiliate disclosure: Links to tool signup pages may earn us a commission. This never influences AI ratings.