Cursor and Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) are the same kind of tool: a code editor with AI built in. Because they're so alike, the useful comparison is about the details and how each vendor presents the product.
The short version
| Cursor | Devin Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | AI-first editor on a VS Code foundation | AI code editor from Cognition |
| Free plan | Yes, limited agent and chat requests | Yes: unlimited Tab completions and inline edits, light agent quota |
| MCP servers | Yes, via mcp.json | Yes (stdio, Streamable HTTP, SSE) |
| Project instructions | .cursor/rules and AGENTS.md | Reads AGENTS.md, imports older .windsurf/rules files |
| Branding | Cursor | Recently renamed |
Plans change often. See cursor.com/pricing and devin.ai/pricing.
What they have in common
- AI in the editor. Chat, agent-style editing and autocomplete in both.
- MCP. Both let you plug in extra tools via the Model Context Protocol.
AGENTS.md. Both read it, so one instruction file can serve both editors.- Free plans. Both let you try before paying, with limits.
Key differences
The free plan. Cursor's free plan has limited agent and chat requests. Devin Desktop's includes unlimited Tab completions and inline edits, with only a light quota for agents. If you mostly want autocomplete, that may matter. If you want to lean on the agent, expect to hit limits in either and check the pricing pages.
Project rules. Cursor has its own .cursor/rules format. Devin Desktop imports older .windsurf/rules files and reads AGENTS.md. If you plan to use both, AGENTS.md is the portable choice.
Setting up MCP. Cursor uses a simple mcp.json file. Devin Desktop lists support over stdio, Streamable HTTP and SSE. We haven't compared the setup experience in depth.
Product churn. The rename came with a reorganisation, with docs and pricing now on Devin's sites. Older tutorials may not match what you see.
Learning curve. Both are full code editors, which is a lot to take in if you have never used one. Cursor's layout will feel familiar if you've used VS Code, since it's built on a VS Code foundation. We haven't verified how Devin Desktop compares, so try it yourself.
Using them together
You can install both and open the same project. Running two AI editors on one repo can make it unclear which one made a change, so commit often.
Who should pick what
- You want guides that match the product: Cursor, given the recent rename.
- You mostly want strong free autocomplete and inline edits: Devin Desktop.
- You use
AGENTS.mdand want to stay portable: Either. - You can't decide: Spend an hour with each on the same task.
For a different kind of comparison, see Claude Code vs Cursor.
Our verdict
There's no clear winner on the features we could confirm. Let the free plans decide: use both on one real task and keep whichever you reach for.