iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Choose GitHub Copilot if you want AI assistance in an IDE you already use; choose Cursor if you are willing to work in an AI-focused editor; and consider Devin Desktop if you are looking for the product formerly called Windsurf. The best fit depends on your editor preference, how much agent and chat usage you expect, and the privacy controls your work requires—not a proven coding-quality ranking.
One naming change matters: Devin’s current product page says Devin Desktop is the new name for Windsurf, with existing plans, pricing, extensions, and settings carried over. “Codeium” is also part of the name readers may remember, but the current offer to evaluate is Devin Desktop.
How the three tools differ
| Tool | Workflow | Best starting point |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub Copilot | Extensions for several IDEs, plus command-line, GitHub, and mobile experiences. Supported editors include VS Code, Visual Studio, Vim/Neovim, JetBrains IDEs, and Azure Data Studio; chat availability varies by extension. | Keep your established editor and add AI suggestions or chat. |
| Cursor | An AI-focused editor with model access, agents, and cloud-agent features. | Move into a dedicated editor and evaluate its model usage and limits. |
| Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) | The current name for Windsurf, retaining its IDE foundation and presenting an agent command-center workflow. | Assess the current Devin Desktop offer rather than assuming an older Codeium or Windsurf plan is unchanged. |
These are workflow distinctions, not independent measurements of how well each product writes code. Official product and pricing pages establish features and plan terms, not a universal performance winner.
Plans, prices, and usage limits
The figures below are vendor-published snapshots accessed in October 2026. They are monthly prices in the vendors’ listed currency; taxes, geography, billing choice, availability, and actual model usage may change the cost. Check the linked plan pages before subscribing.
#1 Best Overall
| Product and plan | Published price | Included usage or billing detail |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub Copilot Pro | $10/month | 1,500 monthly AI credits. |
| GitHub Copilot Pro+ | $39/month | 7,000 monthly AI credits. |
| GitHub Copilot Max | $100/month | 20,000 monthly AI credits. |
| GitHub Copilot Business | $19 per granted seat/month | 1,900 credits per user; organization credits pool. |
| GitHub Copilot Enterprise | $39 per seat/month | 3,900 credits per user; organization credits pool. |
| Cursor Hobby | Free | See the vendor’s current plan terms for applicable limits. |
| Cursor Pro | $20/month | Includes usage; model choice affects how quickly it is consumed. On-demand usage can continue after included usage is exhausted. |
| Cursor Pro+ | $60/month | Advertised as three times Pro’s agent limits; model usage and any on-demand billing still matter. |
| Cursor Ultra | $200/month | Advertised as 20 times Pro’s agent limits; model usage and any on-demand billing still matter. |
GitHub says paid-plan inline code completions and next-edit suggestions do not consume AI credits, while agent and chat use is credit-metered. Organization excess usage is listed at $0.01 per credit. Cursor describes model-dependent usage pools and permits on-demand model use after included amounts run out, so its subscription price is a starting point rather than a reliable estimate of every user’s total.
GitHub also lists Free and Student options; this comparison does not assign them a price or credit allowance because those details are not established here. See GitHub’s current plan overview and Cursor’s pricing page for live terms. Cursor explains its usage-pool mechanics in its usage documentation.
Which workflow fits your work?
Choose Copilot if you want to keep your IDE
Copilot’s extension model makes it the natural first option if you already work in VS Code, Visual Studio, Vim or Neovim, JetBrains, or Azure Data Studio. GitHub lists inline suggestions across its supported extensions, while chat is available in VS Code, JetBrains, and Visual Studio. Confirm that the specific features you need are available in your editor before choosing a plan. Copilot also has command-line, GitHub, and mobile offerings.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesChoose Cursor if you want an AI-focused editor
Cursor is the clearest fit if you are open to moving your coding workflow into a dedicated editor. Its pricing page describes agents, cloud agents, and model access, while its documentation emphasizes that model choice affects usage. That makes a trial on representative tasks more useful than judging the tool by its subscription price alone.
Evaluate Devin Desktop if you mean Windsurf or Codeium
Devin identifies Devin Desktop as the new name for Windsurf and says existing plans, pricing, extensions, and settings carry over. Cognition announced the acquisition of Windsurf on July 14, 2025, but for the current product name and continuity, use the Devin Desktop page. Do not assume older descriptions of Codeium or Windsurf reflect every current feature or offer.
Compare privacy controls against your actual code
Privacy terms differ by product and plan, and vendor statements are not independent security audits. Read the current settings and terms that apply to your organization and data before sending proprietary code to any assistant.
Rank #4
- Cursor: Cursor says Privacy Mode can be enabled in settings or by a team administrator. Its stated assurance is that, when enabled, code data is not used for training by Cursor or its model providers. Review the Cursor page and applicable security and contractual documentation for your use case.
- GitHub Copilot: GitHub says interactions from Free, Pro, and Pro+ users may be used to train and improve models unless users opt out. GitHub notes that suggestions may use context such as nearby lines, other open files, repository or file paths, and workspace information. Do not assume this rule applies to Business or Enterprise; check the current terms and settings for the relevant plan. See GitHub’s data privacy documentation.
A practical way to choose
- Start with your editor. If you do not want to change editors, evaluate Copilot in the IDE you use. If you are open to switching, include Cursor and Devin Desktop in the trial.
- Try representative tasks. Use a small, non-sensitive change, a task that requires understanding multiple files, and a debugging or test-writing task. Check whether suggestions are relevant, whether you can review changes comfortably, and how much steering the agent needs.
- Track metered use. For chat and agent work, note which model you selected, the credits or included usage consumed, and whether on-demand billing is possible. Do not treat autocomplete as equivalent to agent usage; Copilot’s paid-plan inline completions and next-edit suggestions are not billed in AI credits.
- Check data controls before using real code. Identify what context is sent, whether training use is enabled or can be opted out of, and whether an organization administrator can enforce settings.
- Recheck the live plan and product name. Pricing, allowances, model choices, and product branding can change. Use vendor plan pages at the time you decide, especially if you remember the product as Codeium or Windsurf.
Is there a proven coding-quality winner?
No comparative benchmark or independent performance result is established by the available official product pages. They support a comparison of editor fit, published capabilities, usage economics, and stated privacy controls—not a claim that one assistant produces better code or saves a specific amount of time. Treat the choice as a workflow decision and judge each tool on the tasks, models, and policies that matter to you.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
