Aider vs Windsurf (Devin Desktop) (2026): Free (OSS) vs $20/mo
Aider is Free (OSS), Windsurf (Devin Desktop) is $20/mo. Where they actually differ on the 15 dimensions we track, with prices re-verified against each vendor's own page.
DevTools Review
We track 11 AI coding tools and re-check every price against the vendor’s own pricing page. Where we have not tested something ourselves, we say so.
Where Aider and Windsurf (Devin Desktop) actually differ
These are the only dimensions on which the two record different values. Everything else we track, they match on.
| Aider | Windsurf (Devin Desktop) | |
|---|---|---|
| Autocomplete | no | Good |
| Custom models | yes | no |
| Runs in JetBrains | no | not verified |
| Works alongside any editor | yes | no |
| Open source | yes | no |
| MCP support | not verified | yes |
| Team admin & SSO | no | yes |
| Usage model | BYO API key | Quota-based |
“Not verified” means we have not confirmed it against the vendor — it never means no.
| Feature | A Aider | W Windsurf (Devin Desktop) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (OSS) | $20/mo |
| Autocomplete | Good | |
| Chat | ||
| Multi-file editing | ||
| Codebase context | Full project | Full project |
| Custom models | ||
| VS Code compatible | ||
| Terminal AI | ||
| Free tier | ||
| Get Aider Free | Try Devin Desktop Free |
What each one costs
Aider — Free (OSS), verified 1 September 2026
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Open Source | Free |
| API costs | Pay your LLM provider |
Windsurf (Devin Desktop) — $20/mo, verified 13 August 2026
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | Free (daily quota) |
| Pro | $20/mo |
| Max | $200/mo |
| Teams | $40/user/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom |
Full detail: Aider pricing · Windsurf (Devin Desktop) pricing
What has changed recently
-
Windsurf (Devin Desktop), 5 August 2026 — Renamed to Devin Desktop following Cognition’s acquisition. Pricing unchanged; we still file it under Windsurf, the more-searched name.
-
Windsurf (Devin Desktop), 6 July 2026 — Pro rose from $15/mo to $20/mo, and Teams from $30 to $40/user/mo.
-
Windsurf (Devin Desktop), 6 July 2026 — Free tier changed from a 25-credit monthly allowance to a daily quota, and a $200/mo Max tier appeared.
-
Windsurf (Devin Desktop) — Windsurf is now Devin Desktop. windsurf.com returns a permanent redirect to devin.ai/desktop after Cognition acquired it, so a tool you evaluate under one name is billed and supported under another. (source)
Aider
Aider
Open-source terminal AI pair programmer with git integration and multi-LLM support.
Open-source terminal AI pair programmer with git integration and multi-LLM support. We rate it 4/5 in our Aider review.
Get Aider FreeWindsurf (Devin Desktop)
Windsurf (Devin Desktop)
Agentic IDE (now part of Cognition) with the SWE-1.5 model and quota-based plans for multi-step coding.
Agentic IDE (now part of Cognition) with the SWE-1.5 model and quota-based plans for multi-step coding. We rate it 3.5/5 in our Windsurf (Devin Desktop) review.
Heads up:Windsurf is now Devin Desktop. windsurf.com returns a permanent redirect to devin.ai/desktop after Cognition acquired it, so a tool you evaluate under one name is billed and supported under another. Source.
Try Devin Desktop FreeAt a Glance
- Which is better, Aider or Windsurf (Devin Desktop)?
- DevTools Review rates Aider 4/5 and Windsurf (Devin Desktop) 3.5/5. They differ on 8 of the 15 dimensions we track, listed above.
- Is Aider cheaper than Windsurf (Devin Desktop)?
- Aider is Free (OSS) and Windsurf (Devin Desktop) is $20/mo. Both figures were re-checked against each vendor’s own pricing page — Aider on 1 September 2026, Windsurf (Devin Desktop) on 13 August 2026.
- Can you use Aider and Windsurf (Devin Desktop) together?
- Yes. They are separate tools and many developers run more than one — a completion tool in the editor alongside an agent for larger tasks. You pay for both.
The bottom line
Aider at Free (OSS) and Windsurf (Devin Desktop) at $20/mo differ on 8 of the 15 dimensions we track. The table above lists exactly which, so you can decide against your own constraints rather than ours.
Still unsure? Our 30-second picker narrows all 11 down using four questions.
Disclosure: we earn nothing from the links in this article. We are not enrolled in an affiliate programme for any tool here — most of them do not run one. Nobody pays to be ranked, and where we have not used a tool ourselves we say so.
Written by DevTools Review
We're developers who use AI coding tools every day. Our reviews are based on real-world experience, not press releases. We test with real projects and share what we actually find.