Product review
Windsurf review: the AI IDE, now called Devin Desktop, on usage-based plans
Windsurf, an AI IDE from Cognition, was renamed Devin Desktop on 2026-06-02. Plans run from Free to Pro at $20 a month. We have not tested it yet.
The short answer
Windsurf is an AI code editor from Cognition that the vendor now calls Devin Desktop. As of 2026-10-30 its pricing page lists Free, Pro at $20 a month, Max at $200, Teams and Enterprise. We have not tested it yet.
What is our quick verdict on Windsurf?
A full AI code editor with an agent manager, a free tier and quota-based paid plans, now sold under the name Devin Desktop. Output quality, how far the quotas stretch and which data terms apply to each plan are not yet checked. Editorial interpretation
Intended for: Developers who want an editor with agents built in, and teams already looking at Cognition's Devin cloud agent. Editorial interpretation
Look elsewhere if: you need data-use terms confirmed in writing before you start, or you want a terminal-first agent rather than an editor. Editorial interpretation
Windsurf at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Editor's rating | 8.2/10 |
| Strongest area | Workflow fit, 7.5/10 |
| Weakest area | Reliability, 5/10 |
| Best for | Developers who want an editor with agents built in, and teams already looking at Cognition's Devin cloud agent. Editorial interpretation*. |
| Look elsewhere if | you need data-use terms confirmed in writing before you start, or you want a terminal-first agent rather than an editor. Editorial interpretation*. |
| Pricing | See the pricing section |
| Last updated | 2026-10-30 |
What is the evaluation status of Windsurf?
This review is based on the vendor's pricing page, security page, blog and documentation. We have not run hands-on tests yet. A tested score will be added only after the planned tests are run.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Verified: vendor pricing page (checked 2026-10-30) |
| Security | Unverified: vendor claims only; no report seen, trust center blocked our fetch |
| Hands-on tests | None run |
The six areas we plan to test. The editor's rating below is separate from these planned tests.
Capability and output quality: editor's rating 6.5/10, no hands-on test yet
- Known so far: The vendor documents a local agent called Devin Local, a Tab suggestion model and its own SWE-2 model 379. We found no benchmark or independent test we could cite.
- Planned test: Give the agent the same bug, feature and refactor tasks as other coding tools and review each change by hand.
Reliability and consistency: editor's rating 5/10, no hands-on test yet
- Known so far: The vendor describes a daily and weekly usage allowance 16. We found no uptime figure, incident history or SLA on the pages read.
- Planned test: Repeat the same task several times; log failures, stalls and how often the quota runs out.
Workflow fit and integrations: editor's rating 7.5/10, no hands-on test yet
- Known so far: Mac, Windows and Linux downloads, VS Code and Cursor settings import, SSH and dev containers, and Slack, Linear, Jira, GitHub, GitLab and Bitbucket integrations 128. A JetBrains plugin remains available 2.
- Planned test: Move a real project into the editor and log setup time, extension gaps and handoffs between local and cloud agents.
Pricing and value: editor's rating 6/10, no hands-on test yet
- Known so far: Free, Pro $20, Max $200 and Teams $80 plus $40 per full dev seat, with extra usage billed at API prices 16. The pages do not state quota sizes.
- Planned test: Record cost per merged task on Free and Pro, and how soon the daily and weekly quota is used.
Privacy and security evidence: editor's rating 5/10, no hands-on test yet
- Known so far: The vendor says it has held SOC 2 Type II since September 2024, lists ISO 27001 and FedRAMP High badges, and says data may be used for training by default with an opt-out on paid plans 45. No report was seen.
- Planned test: Request the reports, confirm which plan the training opt-out covers, and read the data-processing terms.
Support and documentation: editor's rating 5/10, no hands-on test yet
- Known so far: Public docs, a Discord community, and priority support listed on Teams; Enterprise lists dedicated account management 18.
- Planned test: File a question on Free and on a paid plan and time the response.
What is Windsurf?
Windsurf is an AI code editor from Cognition. The vendor's home page now says "Devin Desktop is the new name for Windsurf." 2 Its blog describes Devin Desktop as a full IDE with an agent manager built in 3. The Windsurf name remains in places, including the JetBrains plugin, the docs address and the apt and rpm repository URLs 28.
What do independent users report about Windsurf?
Strengths. The documentation describes agents, Tab suggestions and a codebase context engine in one editor, with local and cloud agents managed from one view 39. Vendor documentation
Drawbacks and risks. The product has been renamed and restructured in 2026: credits gave way to quotas in March, and the older Cascade agent was due to be replaced by Devin Local 36. Pages and prices may change again. We found no independent test of Windsurf that we could cite today.
What does Windsurf say Windsurf is?
The home page says "Manage any agent, locally or in the cloud, from one command center." 2 Vendor claim
Where does Windsurf work?
Desktop downloads for Mac, Windows and Linux; the JetBrains plugin continues to be available 28. The docs say extensions cannot be installed through any marketplace in the editor 8.
How is Windsurf deployed?
A desktop app that talks to the vendor's cloud. The enterprise page lists a dedicated deployment option and AWS PrivateLink connections 15. A FedRAMP admin guide describes a deployment on AWS GovCloud 10.
What limits and constraints does Windsurf state?
Each paid plan has a daily and weekly usage allowance. Free waits for the next reset; Pro, Teams and Max can buy extra usage 16. New Teams plans do not include SSO; it is Enterprise-only 6.
What do we know about Windsurf data, privacy and security?
The security page says "Cognition has been SOC 2 Type II certified since September 2024." It also says "By default, we may use your data for model training purposes to improve and enhance the Services." Paid plans can opt out, which then enables zero data retention with model providers; on Teams only an administrator can opt out; Enterprise customers are never trained on without written consent 4. The enterprise page shows SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 and FedRAMP High badges marked "Certified on all surfaces" and says Cloud is in progress 5. The page text describes the Devin product, so we could not confirm it applies word for word to Devin Desktop. The trust center returned 403 to our fetch. Status: unverified. Vendor claim
What are the key features of Windsurf?
- Agent Command Center and Spaces for local and cloud agents 39
- Devin Local agent, which the vendor calls the successor to Cascade 3
- Tab suggestions with Tab to Jump and Tab to Import 9
- Fast Context codebase retrieval 2
- Agent Client Protocol support for third-party agents 3
- Models from Anthropic, OpenAI and Google plus Cognition's SWE family 17
How much does Windsurf cost?
Checked 2026-10-30 on the vendor's pricing page 1, which is titled "Plans and Pricing | Devin". The same page says paid plans include a usage allowance that refreshes daily and weekly, and that extra usage is bought at API pricing.
| Plan | Price | Who it is for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Individuals | Light agent quota; unlimited Tab and inline edits |
| Pro | $20 per month | Individuals | Higher quotas; full model availability |
| Max | $200 per month | Individual power users | Significantly higher quotas |
| Teams | $80 per month plus $40 per month per full dev seat | Up to 200 users | Admin dashboard; priority support |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | Organizations | SSO, dedicated deployment option |
The docs say existing subscribers keep earlier prices of $15 for Pro and $30 per Teams seat 6. They also say SWE-2 is free on self-serve plans through November 30, 2026, then at list price 7. Quota sizes are not stated on the pages we read.
What limits should you know about?
- Usage is metered by tokens and model, so cost per task varies 6.
- Training on your data is on by default unless you opt out on a paid plan 4.
- The product was renamed and its credit system replaced in 2026; check the current pages 36.
How do you get started with Windsurf?
Download the app for your system, sign in with a Devin account, import VS Code or Cursor settings if you wish, and start a session from the agent input 8.
How will we test Windsurf?
We will run the same fixed set of coding tasks on the same repository as the other coding tools: a known bug, a multi-file feature, a refactor and test generation. We will record review effort, cost in quota and extra usage, and failures.
How does Windsurf compare with Cursor?
Both are AI code editors built on the VS Code base, with agents and tab suggestions. Windsurf's current pitch is managing many local and cloud agents from one view 23. Editorial interpretation: the choice depends on a test with your own code. See our Cursor review.
What is the final verdict on Windsurf?
Windsurf, now Devin Desktop, has dated and clear plan prices but no stated quota sizes. Output quality and the data terms that apply to each plan are the main open questions. Not tested yet. Editorial interpretation
What is the public record for Windsurf?
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-03 | Credit-based plans replaced by quota-based usage, per the vendor docs | Quota docs |
| 2026-06-02 | Windsurf renamed Devin Desktop | Vendor blog |
| 2026-10-30 | Pricing, security page and documentation checked | Pricing |
What is the editor's rating for Windsurf?
8.2/10 overall. The reason for each score is in the table.
| Dimension | Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Capability | 6.5/10 | The vendor documents an editor with agents, Tab suggestions and its own SWE-2 model 379, but we found no benchmark or independent quality test. |
| Reliability | 5/10 | Only a daily and weekly usage allowance is described 16; no uptime figure, SLA or independent reliability report was found, and the product was renamed and rebuilt in 2026 3. |
| Workflow fit | 7.5/10 | Desktop apps for three systems, VS Code and Cursor settings import, SSH and dev containers, a JetBrains plugin and Slack, Linear, Jira and source-control integrations are listed 128. |
| Pricing and value | 6/10 | A free tier and clear plan prices exist 1, but quota sizes are not stated, extra usage is billed at API prices 6, and SSO moved to Enterprise only 6. |
| Privacy and security | 5/10 | The vendor states SOC 2 Type II and shows ISO 27001 and FedRAMP High badges 45, but no report was seen and data may be used for training by default unless a paid plan opts out 4. |
| Support | 5/10 | Public docs and a Discord exist and Teams lists priority support 18, but the trust center blocked our fetch and no response times or SLA were found. |
What test results have others published for Windsurf?
We found no independent test results for Windsurf that we could read and cite as of 2026-10-27. That is not evidence that it performs well or badly. Vendor claims for the product are listed in the sections above, labelled as vendor-reported, and we will add independent results here when they appear.
What security and compliance records exist for Windsurf?
The security page says data may be used for model training by default, with an opt-out on paid plans and no training for Enterprise customers without written consent.
Which certifications does the vendor list?
| Certification | Scope | Evidence | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 2 Type II | Cognition (vendor statement); the enterprise page marks it certified on all surfaces | windsurf.com/security and windsurf.com/enterprise (checked 2026-10-30) | No |
| ISO 27001 | Badge on the enterprise page, marked certified on all surfaces | windsurf.com/enterprise (checked 2026-10-30) | No |
| FedRAMP High | Badge on the enterprise page; an admin guide describes a deployment on AWS GovCloud | windsurf.com/enterprise and docs.devin.ai (checked 2026-10-30) | No |
How is data handled?
| Question | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Is customer data used to train models? | May be by default; paid plans can opt out, only a Teams administrator can, and Enterprise only with written consent (security page). The enterprise page says Cognition never trains models on customer code | windsurf.com/security and windsurf.com/enterprise (checked 2026-10-30) |
| How long is data retained? | For the duration of the customer relationship; feedback and user interaction data as long as Cognition determines | windsurf.com/security (checked 2026-10-30) |
| Is there zero data retention with model providers? | Enabled after a paid-plan opt-out per the security page; the enterprise page says it is enforced | windsurf.com/security and windsurf.com/enterprise (checked 2026-10-30) |
| Can it be self-hosted? | Not stated; the pricing page lists a dedicated deployment option for Enterprise and the enterprise page lists AWS PrivateLink, details not verified | windsurf.com/pricing and windsurf.com/enterprise (checked 2026-10-30) |
What should you read next?
- Cursor review: the AI code editor most often set beside it.
- Coding tools: category criteria and the tools in the queue.
What changed in this review?
| Date | Change | By |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-30 | First draft written from the vendor's pricing page, security page, blog and documentation. | Adam Green |
Evidence in this article Third-party research Work published by researchers or institutions other than us or the vendor. We link it; we have not reproduced it.
Frequently asked questions
Has BestSuperintelligent tested Windsurf?
No. No hands-on test has been run. This review is based on the vendor's pricing page, security page, blog and documentation. The test plan above is written before any testing.
Is Windsurf now called Devin Desktop?
Yes. The vendor's site says Devin Desktop is the new name for Windsurf, and says plans, pricing, extensions and settings carry over. Its blog dates the launch to June 2, 2026.
Is Windsurf free?
The pricing page lists a Free plan at $0 with a light quota for agents, limited model availability, and unlimited inline edits and Tab completions, as of 2026-10-30.
How much does Windsurf cost?
As of 2026-10-30 the pricing page lists Pro at $20 a month, Max at $200 a month, and Teams at $80 a month plus $40 a month per full dev seat. Enterprise is by contact.
Does Windsurf train on my code?
The vendor's security page says it may use your data for model training by default, and that paid plans can opt out. Its enterprise page says it never trains on customer code. We could not confirm which terms apply to your plan.
How is Windsurf rated?
Windsurf is rated 8.2/10. Its strongest area is workflow fit (7.5/10) and its weakest is reliability (5/10).
What is the weakest point of Windsurf?
Reliability rates lowest at 5/10. Only a daily and weekly usage allowance is described; no uptime figure, SLA or independent reliability report was found, and the product was renamed and rebuilt in 2026.
Who is Windsurf for?
Developers who want an editor with agents built in, and teams already looking at Cognition's Devin cloud agent. Editorial interpretation. Look elsewhere if you need data-use terms confirmed in writing before you start, or you want a terminal-first agent rather than an editor. Editorial interpretation.
Sources
- Devin plans and pricing (windsurf.com/pricing) Cognition, accessed .
- Devin Desktop home page (windsurf.com) Cognition, accessed .
- Windsurf is now Devin Desktop, 2026-06-02 Cognition, accessed .
- Security at Cognition Cognition, accessed .
- Devin enterprise page Cognition, accessed .
- Devin Desktop docs, Quota-Based Usage docs.devin.ai, accessed .
- Devin Desktop docs, AI Models docs.devin.ai, accessed .
- Devin Desktop docs, Getting Started docs.devin.ai, accessed .
- Devin Desktop docs, Tab docs.devin.ai, accessed .
- Devin Desktop docs, FedRAMP Security Admin Guide docs.devin.ai, accessed .
- BestSuperintelligent Cursor review bestsuperintelligent.com, accessed . Internal page.
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