Windsurf (Devin Desktop)
The AI code editor that became an agent command centre after its Devin Desktop rebrand
- Freemium
- New
Windsurf launched in late 2024 from Codeium as an AI-native code editor, and its headline feature was Cascade: an agent that understands your project, edits multiple files, and runs terminal commands — narrating each step before executing it.
The story has changed twice since. At the end of 2025, Cognition (makers of the Devin coding agent) acquired it in a deal reported around $250M, and on 2 June 2026 officially rebranded the app to Devin Desktop. If you were a Windsurf user, the update simply arrived — same plan, same settings, different shell.
Note: most people still search for this tool as “Windsurf”, which is why we’ve kept the old name in the title. What you download today is called Devin Desktop.
What the rebrand actually changed
The important difference is philosophical, not cosmetic. Windsurf was an editor with an agent in it. Devin Desktop is an agent manager wrapped in an editor. The app no longer opens on your code — it opens on a Kanban-style board where you run agents locally and in the cloud, each on its own task.
That’s excellent if your style is to delegate and review. It’s friction if all you wanted was an editor that suggests code while you type.
Key features
- Cascade: the core agent. Reads the project, proposes a plan, executes across multiple files, and surfaces the changes for review.
- Agent board: run several tasks in parallel and track their state in one place.
- Fast autocomplete: lighter than its rivals, and you feel it on mid-sized projects.
- Quotas instead of credits: since March 2026 the credit system was replaced with daily and weekly quotas — easier to predict, fewer billing surprises.
- VS Code compatibility: imports your extensions and keybindings easily.
How to use it
- Download from
devin.ai(or just update an existing Windsurf install) - Import your VS Code setup if you want it
- Open your project and let it index
- From the agent board, create a task and describe it in plain language
- Follow Cascade’s steps and read the diff before accepting
Who it’s for
Good fit if you like delegating whole tasks and reviewing the output, run several jobs in parallel, or are budget-conscious enough that a generous free tier matters. Poor fit if you want a traditional editor with a light assistant — Cursor is closer to that — or you depend on a mature, broad extension ecosystem.
Limits worth knowing
The agent will tell you confidently that it finished, and sometimes it has changed things you didn’t ask for or broken existing tests. Read the full diff and run your test suite after every task. Also factor in that the tool is under new ownership and has changed pricing and structure more than once in a year — if you’re building a team workflow on it, plan for more change ahead.
✅ Pros
- Cascade is one of the cleanest agent experiences — it explains each step and asks before acting
- Lighter and faster to launch than most VS Code-based editors
- Since the rebrand it manages both local and cloud agents from a single board
- A more generous free tier than its closest rival — usable, not just a trial
- Daily and weekly quotas are easier to predict than a credit pool
- Imports VS Code settings and extensions without fuss
❌ Cons
- The Devin Desktop rebrand changed how the app opens and how you work in it
- Docs and community answers are split between the old Windsurf name and the new one
- Smaller user base and extension ecosystem than older editors
- Changed pricing and plan structure more than once in a year — less stable for teams
- The agent-first focus gets in the way if you just want a normal editor with light AI
💰 Pricing
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited daily and weekly quotas for Cascade and autocomplete |
| Pro | $20 / month | Much larger quotas, frontier model access, and parallel agent runs |
| Max | $200 / month | Highest quotas, for heavy use and long-running agents |
| Teams | $40 / user / month | Central admin, privacy controls, and pooled billing |
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Windsurf become Devin Desktop?
Cognition — the company behind the Devin coding agent — acquired Windsurf at the end of 2025, and on 2 June 2026 officially rebranded the app to Devin Desktop via an automatic update. Subscriptions, settings, and extensions carried over unchanged, but the entry point moved: instead of opening straight into the editor, it opens on an agent management board.
If I already use Windsurf, do I need to install anything?
No. The update arrived automatically, and the app opens under its new name after a restart. Your plan, price, and settings are unchanged.
How does it compare to Cursor?
Cursor optimises for speeding you up while you type — its Tab prediction is stronger and more accurate. Windsurf/Devin Desktop optimises for handing a whole task to an agent. If you want to stay at the wheel, pick Cursor. If you want to delegate tasks and review the result, pick Devin Desktop.
Is the free tier enough?
It's enough for personal projects, learning, and occasional use — and noticeably more generous than Cursor's free tier. If you work in it daily you'll hit the weekly quota quickly.
Is my code safe?
As with any cloud assistant, parts of your code go to the models for processing. There are privacy settings, and team plans with clearer controls — review them before opening client code or anything under an NDA.
Should I switch from Windsurf to something else after the rebrand?
Only if the new agent-first workflow gets in your way. The underlying model quality and Cascade didn't get worse — the shell around them changed. Give it two weeks before deciding; most of the friction is muscle memory, not capability.