Continue vs Windsurf
AI Coding tools comparison · Updated 2026
Choosing between Continue and Windsurf? Both are popular AI Coding tools. Continue is free to use and focuses on Multi-LLM support. Windsurf starts at Freemium and specializes in Cascade agentic AI. Here's a detailed side-by-side comparison to help you decide.
At a Glance
Feature Comparison
| Continue | Windsurf |
|---|---|
| ✓ Multi-LLM support | ✓ Cascade agentic AI |
| ✓ Autocomplete | ✓ Multi-file editing |
| ✓ AI chat | ✓ Terminal command execution |
| ✓ Inline editing | ✓ Codebase-aware context |
| ✓ Custom slash commands | ✓ Inline suggestions |
| ✓ Context providers | ✓ Flow mode |
Pricing Comparison
Continue
freeFree and open source. Use with any LLM provider or local models.
Windsurf
freemiumFree tier available. Pro plan at $15/mo with advanced features.
Pros & Cons
Continue
Pros
- Fully open source
- Extremely customizable
- Works with any LLM
- Active development
Cons
- Requires configuration
- No built-in model hosting
- Quality depends on chosen LLM
Windsurf
Pros
- Deep codebase understanding
- Smooth agentic workflow
- Free tier available
- Fast completions
Cons
- Relatively new product
- Smaller extension ecosystem than VS Code
- Heavy resource usage
The Verdict
Both Continue and Windsurf are strong AI Coding tools. Continue stands out for Fully open source, making it ideal if that's your priority. Windsurf excels at Deep codebase understanding, which may be more important for your workflow. Price-wise, Continue is free while Windsurf is freemium, so budget may also factor in.
Related Topics
Also Consider
Other popular AI Coding tools you might want to compare.