Windsurf (Devin Desktop) vs Zed (2026): $20/mo vs Free
Windsurf (Devin Desktop) is $20/mo, Zed is Free. 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 Windsurf (Devin Desktop) and Zed actually differ
These are the only dimensions on which the two record different values. Everything else we track, they match on.
| Windsurf (Devin Desktop) | Zed | |
|---|---|---|
| Custom models | no | yes |
| Runs in JetBrains | not verified | no |
| Open source | no | yes |
| Usage model | Quota-based | Free + flat tiers |
“Not verified” means we have not confirmed it against the vendor — it never means no.
| Feature | W Windsurf (Devin Desktop) | Z Zed |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $20/mo | Free |
| Autocomplete | Good | Good |
| Chat | ||
| Multi-file editing | ||
| Codebase context | Full project | Full project |
| Custom models | ||
| VS Code compatible | ||
| Terminal AI | ||
| Free tier | ||
| Try Devin Desktop Free | Try Zed Free |
What each one costs
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 |
Zed — Free, verified 6 August 2026
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Personal | Free |
| Pro | $10/mo |
| Business | $30/seat/mo |
Full detail: Windsurf (Devin Desktop) pricing · Zed 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.
-
Zed, 5 July 2026 — Zed added to tracking — Personal free, Pro $10/mo, Business $30/seat/mo.
-
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)
Windsurf (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 FreeZed
Zed
Rust-native, open-source code editor with agent-agnostic AI via ACP and real-time collaboration.
Rust-native, open-source code editor with agent-agnostic AI via ACP and real-time collaboration. We rate it 4/5 in our Zed review.
Try Zed FreeAt a Glance
- Which is better, Windsurf (Devin Desktop) or Zed?
- DevTools Review rates Windsurf (Devin Desktop) 3.5/5 and Zed 4/5. They differ on 4 of the 15 dimensions we track, listed above.
- Is Windsurf (Devin Desktop) cheaper than Zed?
- Windsurf (Devin Desktop) is $20/mo and Zed is Free. Both figures were re-checked against each vendor’s own pricing page — Windsurf (Devin Desktop) on 13 August 2026, Zed on 6 August 2026.
- Can you use Windsurf (Devin Desktop) and Zed 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
Windsurf (Devin Desktop) at $20/mo and Zed at Free differ on 4 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.