Zed vs Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

Zed and Windsurf (Devin Desktop) are both AI Coding tools (AI Code Editors). Below: what each costs, what it does well, its biggest catches, and who should pick which, all from public sources rather than our own testing.

Renamed: Windsurf is now Devin Desktop. Cognition renamed the editor, and windsurf.com now redirects to devin.ai/desktop. Sources: [1] [2]

Side by side

ZedWindsurf (Devin Desktop) Renamed
CategoryAI Programming · Smart ProgrammingAI Coding Assistants · Code Editors
PricingFree tier: yes. Pro $10/mo with $5 token credit, then usage at list price +10%. (checked Oct 11, 2026)Free tier: yes. Pro $20/mo. Teams from $80/mo ($40 full seats). (Third-party reports) (checked Oct 11, 2026)
Pros
  • Very fast, native Rust editor with real-time collaboration
  • Pro is cheap: $10/mo with unlimited edit predictions
  • Bring your own API keys or use hosted models at list price +10%
  • Free plan with unlimited Tab completions and inline edits
  • Pro at $20/mo shares quotas across Desktop, CLI and cloud agents
  • Runs local and cloud coding agents from one editor
Catches
  • Pro includes only $5 of hosted-model tokens. More usage is billed on top
  • The default spend limit allows up to $10 extra a month unless you set it to $0
  • Smaller extension ecosystem than VS Code
  • Over-quota usage is pay-as-you-go and hard to predict
  • Reviewers report inconsistent agent quality
  • The rebrands (Codeium, Windsurf, Devin Desktop) make docs and plans confusing
Best forDevelopers who want speed and collaboration with cheap AI.Developers who want an agent-centric editor with a usable free tier.
Skip it ifYou depend on specific VS Code extensions.You need fixed monthly AI costs.

Which should you pick?

Pick Zed if…

you fit this: developers who want speed and collaboration with cheap AI.

But not if: you depend on specific VS Code extensions.

Watch out for: Pro includes only $5 of hosted-model tokens. More usage is billed on top.

Pick Windsurf (Devin Desktop) if…

you fit this: developers who want an agent-centric editor with a usable free tier.

But not if: you need fixed monthly AI costs.

Watch out for: Over-quota usage is pay-as-you-go and hard to predict.

More options

Sources

Zed

Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

Pros, catches and prices are compiled from public sources (official pricing and docs pages, published reviews, user reports), not hands-on testing. Prices change often, so check the vendor page before you buy.