Direktvergleich · Profile geprüft Oct 1, 2026

Windsurf vs Claude Code in 2026: which one fits your work

Pick Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) for an AI-first IDE with a free way to start; pick Claude Code if you work in the terminal or already pay for Claude. Windsurf has a $0 Free plan and Pro at $20/mo. Claude Code has no free tier and starts at $20/mo, or $17/mo billed annually. Only Claude Code was benchmarked.

Starting price$20/mo (Pro) · $20/mo (Pro, billed monthly)Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) · Claude Code
Free tierYes · NoDevin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) · Claude Code
Plans documented5 · 5Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) · Claude Code
Top self-serve tierMax $200/mo · Max 20x $200/moDevin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) · Claude Code

We based this comparison on our verified profiles (Windsurf checked Oct 1, Claude Code checked Sep 29) and one Claude Code benchmark run on Oct 2; it uses no third-party benchmarks and no vendor payments.

Ist Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) besser als Claude Code? Die kurze Antwort

Windsurf, now presented as Devin Desktop, is a full IDE with a free plan and Pro at $20/mo. Claude Code starts at $20/mo billed monthly, has no free tier, and runs in the terminal, IDE extensions, desktop app and web. Pick Windsurf if you want an AI-first editor and a free way to try it. Pick Claude Code if you work in the terminal or already pay for a Claude subscription. We have no head-to-head benchmark: only Claude Code was run.

Based on our profiles, verified Oct 1 (Windsurf) and Sep 29 (Claude Code), and one Claude Code benchmark run on Oct 2; Windsurf was not benchmarked.

Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) oder Claude Code: Was für welche Aufgabe passt

Wenn Sie nur die Antwort wollen, ist das die Tabelle. Alles darunter sind die Belege aus den beiden dokumentierten Profilen.

Direktvergleich
Sie möchtenVerwendenWarum
Autocomplete code as you typeDevin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)Windsurf offers unlimited Tab completions and inline edits on all plans; Claude Code does not list autocomplete
Work inside a full code editorDevin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)Windsurf is a full IDE with autocomplete and debugging; Claude Code adds a panel to VS Code and JetBrains
Work from the terminalClaude CodeClaude Code starts with `claude` in a project folder and runs commands there; Windsurf lists a Devin CLI
Change many files at onceEitherWindsurf and Claude Code both document multi-file changes: Windsurf agentic code changes, Claude Code features across multiple files
Fix a bug from a pasted errorClaude CodeClaude Code documents tracing the cause in the repo from an error message and proposing a fix
Run several agents side by sideDevin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)Windsurf has an Agent Command Center with Spaces and Kanban; Claude Code desktop lists side-by-side sessions
Write tests and fix failuresClaude CodeClaude Code documents writing tests, running them and fixing failures
Code in a browser or on a phoneClaude CodeClaude Code has a web version and iOS and Android apps; Windsurf is desktop-only
Try it without payingDevin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)Windsurf has a $0 Free plan; Claude Code is not in the Free Claude plan
Run on a team with central billingEitherWindsurf Teams has an admin dashboard; Claude Team has SSO and central billing

Wer was wählen sollte

Pick Windsurf for a full IDE, a free plan and team seats; pick Claude Code for terminal work and pay-per-use Which one? Pick Windsurf ifFull IDE with autocomplete, debugFree plan ($0), unlimited TabTeams $80/mo plus $40/mo per seat$20/mo (Pro) · free tier: YesPick Claude Code ifTerminal agent that runs testsAlready on Claude Pro or MaxPay-per-use via Anthropic Console$20/mo (Pro, billed monthly) · free tier: No Windsurf vs Claude Code in 2026: which one fits your work
Which to pick: Windsurf for a full IDE and free plan, Claude Code for terminal work and pay-per-use

Wählen Sie Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf), wenn

  • You want a full IDE with autocomplete, debugging, Tab completions and inline edits
  • You want a free plan ($0) with unlimited Tab completions before paying
  • You need team features: Teams is $80/mo plus $40/mo per full seat, and Enterprise is contact sales
  • You want multi-agent work in an Agent Command Center, or cloud agents on paid plans

Wählen Sie Claude Code, wenn

  • You mostly work in the terminal and want an agent that runs commands and tests there
  • You already have a Claude Pro or Max subscription, which includes Claude Code
  • You want to stay in VS Code or JetBrains through extensions, or use the desktop app or web
  • You prefer pay-per-use through an Anthropic Console account, billed by API token consumption

Was Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) besser kann und was Claude Code besser kann

Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)
  • Full IDE with syntax highlighting, autocomplete and debugging
  • Unlimited Tab completions and inline edits, including on the Free plan
  • Agent Command Center with Spaces, Kanban and multi-agent management
  • Cloud agents (Devin Cloud) on paid plans
Claude Code
  • Terminal CLI that reads and edits files and runs commands in your project
  • Runs on the web and on iOS and Android, not only on the desktop
  • VS Code, Cursor and JetBrains extensions, plus a desktop app with scheduled tasks
  • Entry points for GitHub and Slack, and Console billing by API token use

Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) vs. Claude Code Preise: Tarife und kostenlose Stufen

Direktvergleich
TarifToolPreisLimits
Windsurf FreeDevin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)$0Light agent quota, resets daily and weekly; limited model availability; up to 10 concurrent sessions
Windsurf ProDevin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)$20/moIncreased quotas; full model availability; up to 10 concurrent sessions
Windsurf MaxDevin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)$200/moSignificantly higher quotas than Pro; unlimited concurrent sessions
Windsurf TeamsDevin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)$80/mo team base + $40/mo per full dev seatUp to 200 users; unlimited concurrent sessions
Windsurf EnterpriseDevin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)Contact salesCustom quotas; unlimited users with custom terms
Claude ProClaude Code$20/mo billed monthly, or $17/mo billed annually ($200 up front)Usage limits apply; more usage than Free
Claude Max 5xClaude Code$100/mo5x the usage of Pro; usage limits apply
Claude Max 20xClaude Code$200/mo20x the usage of Pro; usage limits apply
Claude Team (standard seat)Claude Code$25/seat/mo billed monthly, or $20 billed annuallyTeams of 2 to 150; more usage than Pro
Claude EnterpriseClaude CodeSeat plus usage at API rates (page states $20/seat/mo billed annually)Spend limits set by admins

USD laut Preisseite des jeweiligen Anbieters, geprüft Oct 1, 2026. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) Preise im Detail · Claude Code Preise im Detail

Nutzungslimits: Angaben der Anbieter

Direktvergleich
Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)Claude Code
Rate limits and quotasFree and Pro use daily and weekly refreshing quotas; Max has significantly higher quotasSubscription usage limits apply; Max is 5x or 20x Pro usage
Context / file sizeNot statedUp to 1M tokens, varies by model
Seats / teamTeams up to 200 users; Enterprise unlimited usersTeam of 2 to 150 seats; Enterprise spend limits set by admins
Concurrent sessionsUp to 10 on Free and Pro; unlimited on Max and TeamsNot stated

Funktionsvergleich

Direktvergleich
FunktionDevin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)Claude Code
Autocomplete and inline editsYesNot stated
Full IDEYesNo. Extensions for VS Code and JetBrains
Terminal / CLIDevin CLIYes
Agents / toolsLocal and cloud agents, Agent Command CenterAgent that edits files and runs commands; GitHub and Slack entry points
Desktop appmacOS, Windows, LinuxmacOS and Windows; Linux beta
Web accessNo. Desktop-onlyYes, claude.ai/code
Mobile appsNoiOS and Android
JetBrainsPluginPlugin (needs the CLI installed separately)
APIExtra usage bought at API pricingConsole account billed by API token use

Datenschutz und Datentraining

Direktvergleich
Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)Claude Code
Training on your dataNot stated in our profileOpt-out on Free, Pro and Max; none by default on Team and Enterprise
RetentionNot stated in our profileCustom data retention controls on Enterprise only
Business controlsAdmin controls (Teams, Enterprise); SAML/OIDC SSO and dedicated deployment (Enterprise)SSO and SCIM, audit logs and Compliance API, IP allowlisting, HIPAA-ready offering

Entnommen aus den veröffentlichten Richtlinienseiten des jeweiligen Anbieters zum Zeitpunkt unserer Prüfung. Richtlinien ändern sich; die Quellenlinks stehen unten.

Wechsel zwischen Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) und Claude Code: was mitgenommen wird

Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) → Claude CodeWird übernommen
  • Your Git repositories and pull request workflow
  • Multi-file agent tasks written in plain language
  • JetBrains use, through the Claude Code plugin
Sie verlieren
  • Unlimited Tab completions and inline edits
  • The Agent Command Center with Spaces and Kanban
  • The free plan and Devin Cloud agents
Claude Code → Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)Wird übernommen
  • Your Git repositories and pull request workflow
  • Multi-file agent tasks written in plain language
  • JetBrains use, through the Windsurf plugin
Sie verlieren
  • Web and mobile access
  • Use of Claude Code under an existing Claude subscription
  • Scheduled tasks and cloud sessions in the desktop app

Vor- und Nachteile

Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)
  • Free plan with unlimited Tab completions
  • Downloads for macOS, Windows and Linux
  • Plans and settings migrate from Windsurf automatically
  • Free plan has light agent quota and limited models
  • Max plan costs $200/month
  • Desktop-only; no web or browser-based IDE
Claude Code
  • Available on terminal, IDE, desktop and web
  • Included in Pro and Max subscription plans
  • Native installs update automatically in the background
  • Not included in the Free Claude plan
  • Most surfaces require a Claude subscription or Console account
  • Subscription usage limits apply

Die beiden Tools

Noch keine Nutzerbewertungen

AI coding IDE, formerly Windsurf, now Devin Desktop: manage local and cloud coding agents inside a full IDE.

Kostenlos bis: Light quota for agent usage, resets daily and weekly, Limited model availability

Listed Noch nicht bewertet

Geprüft windsurf.com (öffnet die Website von Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) in einem neuen Tab)

Kostenlos · kostenpflichtig ab $20/mo US · geprüft Sep 29

Claude Code

Web · Desktop

Noch keine Nutzerbewertungen

Das agentische Coding-Tool von Anthropic, das Ihre Codebasis liest, Dateien bearbeitet und Befehle ausführt, im Terminal, in IDEs, in der Desktop-App oder im Browser.

Kostenlos bis: Kein kostenloser Tarif: Claude Code ist in den bezahlten Claude-Abonnements (Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise) enth…

Listed Noch nicht bewertet

Geprüft code.claude.com (öffnet die Website von Claude Code in einem neuen Tab)

Ab $20/mo US · geprüft Sep 29

Live-Vergleichstabelle öffnen

Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) oder Claude Code: So treffen Sie die Wahl

  • Need a free plan to start? Windsurf has one; Claude Code does not.
  • Live in the terminal? Claude Code is built for the terminal.
  • Want a full editor with autocomplete and debugging? Windsurf is the IDE.
  • Already pay for Claude Pro or Max? Claude Code is included.
  • Need browser or phone access? Only Claude Code has web and mobile.
  • Our pick: Windsurf for an AI-first editor and a free start; Claude Code for terminal work or an existing Claude plan.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

Is Windsurf the same as Devin Desktop?

Yes, Devin Desktop is the new name for Windsurf. windsurf.com now presents the product as Devin Desktop, the new name for Windsurf. Plans and settings migrate from Windsurf automatically.

Is Windsurf or Claude Code cheaper?

Windsurf has a $0 Free plan, which Claude Code lacks. Paid entry is close: Windsurf Pro is $20/mo, and Claude Pro is $20/mo billed monthly or $17/mo billed annually. Both have a $200 tier or higher: Windsurf Max is $200/mo, Claude Max starts at $100/mo.

Can I use Claude Code inside an IDE instead of the terminal?

Yes, Claude Code runs inside IDEs too. Claude Code has VS Code and JetBrains extensions, plus a desktop app and web access. Windsurf is itself an IDE and also has a JetBrains plugin.

Did Windsurf or Claude Code perform better in your tests?

No winner: Windsurf and Claude Code have no head-to-head result. Claude Code passed 5 of 5 tests on our orders-report task in 48 s for $1.22. Windsurf was not benchmarked, so there is no head-to-head result.

Quellen

Nur offizielle Anbieterseiten. Es wurden keine Benchmarks Dritter, Forenbeiträge oder Presseberichte verwendet. So testen wir.