Codeium
by Exafunction (Windsurf/Codeium)
AI-powered code editor and assistant with a generous free tier.
Score
Score
Our verdict
Codeium (now Windsurf) offers one of the most capable free AI coding experiences available, with its Windsurf Editor providing Cascade — an agentic AI feature that can make multi-file edits autonomously. It stands as a strong alternative to both Cursor and GitHub Copilot, particularly for developers who want powerful AI assistance without premium pricing. The main caveat is that the Windsurf editor is newer and less polished than Cursor, and extension compatibility can be inconsistent.
Overview
Screenshot
Score breakdown
Overall score
Scores are editorial assessments by the Compare Best AI team on a 0–10 scale.
Expert review
CBAI Editorial Team
Compare Best AI · Editorial Team
Codeium has undergone a significant transformation, evolving from a code completion extension into Windsurf, a full AI-native code editor that competes directly with Cursor. The rebranding reflects an ambitious expansion of capabilities — Windsurf is a VS Code fork with deep AI integration, including Cascade (an agentic multi-step coding feature), Supercomplete (context-aware completions), and an AI chat assistant.
How we tested
Days tested
14 days
Tasks evaluated
- ·Cascade multi-file editing test
- ·Autocomplete accuracy comparison
- ·Codebase context awareness
- ·Extension stability across IDEs
- ·Free tier capability assessment
- ·Agent mode vs Cursor Composer
Method
Side-by-side with Cursor Pro and GitHub Copilot Pro on identical projects
Reviewer
CBAI Editorial Team
Plans & pricing
Free
Individual developers wanting powerful free AI coding
- Unlimited autocomplete
- Cascade agentic editing (limited)
- AI chat
- Windsurf editor access
- VS Code/JetBrains extension
- 70+ languages
- Limited Cascade credits
- No priority processing
Pro
Professional developers wanting full AI capabilities
- Everything in Free
- More Cascade credits
- Faster AI models
- Priority processing
- Advanced context understanding
- Custom AI rules
- Priority support
Enterprise
Teams needing admin controls and deployment flexibility
- Everything in Pro
- Admin dashboard
- SSO and SCIM
- Usage analytics
- Self-hosted options
- Custom model selection
- Dedicated support
Pricing may vary by region. Always verify on the vendor's website.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Codeium | GitHub Copilot | Cursor |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Editing | |||
| Agentic multi-file editing | |||
| Codebase-wide context | |||
| Completions | |||
| Fast autocomplete | |||
| Multi-model support | |||
| IDE Support | |||
| Standalone editor | |||
| JetBrains extension | |||
| Pricing | |||
| Free agentic editing | |||
| Under $15/month paid | |||
Is it right for you?
Good fit for
Budget-conscious developers
The most capable free AI coding experience available, with unlimited autocomplete and agentic editing.
Cursor alternatives seekers
Windsurf offers Cascade (similar to Composer) at a lower price point with comparable core capabilities.
Multi-IDE users
Works as both a standalone editor and an extension in VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, and Eclipse.
Full-stack developers
Cascade handles multi-file edits across frontend and backend with codebase-wide context awareness.
Less suited for
Stability-first teams
Windsurf is newer and less polished than Cursor; occasional bugs and extension issues may frustrate teams.
Enterprise compliance needs
Tabnine's self-hosted and zero-retention options are more mature for strictly regulated environments.
GitHub-integrated workflows
GitHub Copilot's PR reviews, coding agent, and Spaces features offer deeper ecosystem integration.
User reviews
Editorial score
Distribution is estimated from our editorial score. Verified user reviews coming soon.
Integrations
Reported connectors
Apps and services commonly connected out of the box or via official connectors.
- ["[\"VS Code\", \"JetBrains IDEs\", \"Neovim\", \"Windsurf Editor\", \"GitHub\", \"GitLab\", \"Eclipse\"]"]
Details
Category
Price
- Free (unlimited autocomplete)
- Pro $15/mo
- Enterprise custom
Free version
Best for
- Free AI code completions for individual developers
- Multi-language coding support across all major IDEs
- Teams needing affordable AI coding with privacy controls
Frequently asked questions
Codeium
Developer
Ready to get started?
Visit the Codeium website to explore plans and start your free trial.
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