Claude Desktop and Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) both have a chat box, which is where the similarity mostly ends. Claude Desktop is Anthropic's chat app for Mac and Windows. Devin Desktop is an AI code editor from Cognition, and its docs and pricing now live on Devin's sites, so older tutorials may not match.
The short version
| Claude Desktop | Devin Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A chat app with connectors and extensions | An AI code editor |
| Built for | Everyday assistant work | Writing and editing code |
| Free plan | Yes (free Claude account) | Yes: unlimited Tab completions and inline edits, light agent quota |
| MCP | Yes: remote connectors, local MCP servers, extensions | Yes (stdio, Streamable HTTP, SSE) |
| Works across a codebase | No | Yes, that's the point |
Check claude.com/pricing and devin.ai/pricing for current plans.
What they have in common
- Chat in plain English. You ask, the AI responds or acts.
- MCP support. Both can connect to outside tools through MCP, so there's overlap in the kinds of services you can plug in.
- Free to try. Both have free plans with limits.
Key differences
Purpose. Claude Desktop is a general assistant: it can use connectors to work with calendars, documents and project trackers. Devin Desktop is where you write software, with autocomplete, inline edits and an agent working on a project.
Codebase awareness. Claude Desktop is a chat app, not a coding agent, and it doesn't work across a codebase. If you want an Anthropic tool for that, look at Claude Code. Devin Desktop is built around your project files.
Learning curve. Claude Desktop is a normal app you sign in to. Devin Desktop is a full code editor, which is a lot to take in if you've never used one.
Free plan shape. Claude Desktop's free account has usage limits, with higher limits on paid plans. Devin Desktop's free plan is generous for autocomplete and inline edits, but agent use is a light quota.
Naming churn. The rename means older tutorials may not match what you see.
Using them together
It's reasonable to keep both. Use Claude Desktop to plan, write specs, summarise documents or check something across your connected apps, and use Devin Desktop to apply the work to code. Both support MCP, though you'll configure each separately.
Who should pick what
- You don't write code: Claude Desktop.
- You write code daily and want AI in your editor: Devin Desktop.
- You're a beginner wanting a web app: Neither is the easiest route. An app builder such as Lovable or Bolt is closer to that goal.
Our verdict
Decide by the work. For general assistant tasks, Claude Desktop. For code, Devin Desktop. If you find yourself pasting code into a chat app and back, that's the signal you want an editor.