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Solo IDE vs Windsurf

Two agentic approaches to AI coding. One is an enhanced IDE. One is a unified development environment.

At a Glance

Windsurf

AI-powered code editor built by Codeium on top of VS Code. Features Cascade for agentic coding and AI Flows for automated workflows. Popular as a Cursor alternative with a generous free tier and $15/month Pro plan.

Solo IDE

Agent-first UDE (Unified Development Environment). Built for everyone—developers, PMs, vibe coders. Zero config, everything unified in one app. AI agents do the work, you provide direction.

Feature Comparison

Approach

Windsurf

AI-enhanced IDE

Solo IDE

Agent-first UDE

Base

Windsurf

VS Code fork

Solo IDE

Purpose-built platform

AI Model

Windsurf

Codeium's models + GPT-4

Solo IDE

Multi-model (Claude, GPT, Gemini)

Target user

Windsurf

Developers seeking Cursor alternative

Solo IDE

Developers, PMs, vibe coders

Key AI feature

Windsurf

Cascade (agentic coding)

Solo IDE

Multi-agent orchestration

Setup required

Windsurf

Some (extensions, config)

Solo IDE

None (1-click everything)

Built-in browser

Windsurf

No

Solo IDE

Yes (full Chromium + DevTools)

Built-in deployment

Windsurf

No

Solo IDE

Yes

Workflows

Windsurf

AI Flows (automated tasks)

Solo IDE

Agent workflows (end-to-end)

Free tier

Windsurf

Yes (25 credits/month)

Solo IDE

Yes (free during beta)

Pro pricing

Windsurf

$15/month

Solo IDE

Free during beta

Philosophy

Windsurf

Agentic IDE experience

Solo IDE

Everything unified, AI-native

What is Windsurf?

Windsurf is an AI-powered code editor built by Codeium, the company behind the popular Codeium autocomplete extension. It's a VS Code fork with deep AI integration, positioning itself as "the first agentic IDE."

Key features include:

  • Cascade: An advanced AI system that understands your codebase context and can execute multi-step coding tasks across multiple files
  • AI Flows: Automated workflows for code reviews, test generation, and documentation
  • Supercomplete: Enhanced autocomplete that predicts your next actions
  • Familiar VS Code interface with all extensions supported

Windsurf has grown rapidly, with over 800,000 active developers using the platform. It's particularly popular among developers looking for a Cursor alternative at a lower price point.

Where Windsurf Shines

Windsurf has genuine strengths worth considering:

  • Generous free tier: 25 credits/month lets you try Cascade without paying
  • Affordable Pro: $15/month is cheaper than Cursor's $20/month
  • Cascade is powerful: Multi-file refactoring and context-aware suggestions work well
  • Familiar VS Code experience—minimal learning curve
  • AI Flows automate repetitive tasks like test generation
  • Large community and active development

If you're looking for a capable AI coding assistant at a lower price than Cursor, Windsurf is a solid choice.

Where Solo IDE is Different

Solo IDE isn't trying to be a better Windsurf. It's a different category entirely:

  • Multi-model flexibility: Choose Claude, GPT, Gemini, or others—use the best model for each task
  • Truly unified: Browser, terminal, editor, chat, canvas, notes—all in one window
  • Zero config: Docker, Git, deployment all work with one click
  • Built for everyone: PMs, founders, vibe coders—not just experienced developers
  • Purpose-built architecture: Not a VS Code fork—designed from scratch for AI-native workflows
  • Never leave the app: Preview, debug, and deploy without switching tools

The philosophy is different: Windsurf makes coding with AI easier. Solo IDE makes building software easier—whether or not you know how to code.

Learn more about UDEs vs traditional IDEs →

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Windsurf if:

  • You want a free or low-cost alternative to Cursor
  • You're comfortable with VS Code and want that familiar experience
  • You prefer Codeium's AI models over others
  • You want AI Flows for automated code reviews and testing
  • You need specific VS Code extensions for your workflow

Choose Solo IDE if:

  • You want multi-model flexibility (Claude, GPT, Gemini, etc.)
  • You want everything in one app (no more alt-tabbing)
  • You hate configuration and setup
  • You're a PM, founder, or non-developer who wants to build
  • You want a purpose-built platform, not a VS Code fork
  • You value shipping speed over environment customization

The Verdict

Both Windsurf and Solo IDE represent the future of AI-assisted development, but they're solving different problems.

Windsurf is an excellent choice if you want an affordable, capable AI coding assistant that feels like VS Code. Cascade is genuinely impressive for multi-file editing, and the pricing is competitive.

Solo IDE is for those who want to rethink the entire development experience. If you're tired of juggling browser tabs, terminal windows, and deployment dashboards—or if you're not a developer but want to build software—Solo IDE offers a fundamentally different approach.

The best way to decide? Try both. Windsurf has a free tier, and Solo IDE is free during beta.

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