Free
Individual
Free
VerifiedClaude chat only. Claude Code is not included.
Do not plan a coding workflow on the free plan.
Claude Code vs Windsurf
A decision for a beginner, not a spec sheet. Scores are our weights. Prices are the public plans, and anything marked verify on the tool page should be re-checked before you pay.
The call
- Claude Code: Terminal agent, plus the Claude apps that share one usage pool. Windsurf: Devin Desktop editor, CLI, and Devin Cloud on paid plans.
- Neither tool is a clear no-code winner over the other. Read the skill scores before you decide on comfort.
- On the kind of project, these two are close. Budget and where you want to work should break the tie.
Pick Claude Code if you want an agent in the terminal on an existing repo.
Pick Windsurf if you want an editor agent at $20 with frontier models and cloud agents.
Claude Code
A terminal coding agent that shares your Claude plan.
Cheapest verified paid plan: Pro · $20/mo
Pick it when
- Developers who want an agent in the terminal on an existing repo
- Web app and automation work where you already have a project
- People who also want Claude chat and are fine sharing one allowance
Leave it when
- Anyone who needs a free coding agent (free Claude does not include Claude Code)
- No-code site or app building in the browser
- Native mobile publishing or game engines
Windsurf
The editor formerly called Windsurf, now sold as Devin Desktop.
Cheapest verified paid plan: Pro · $20/mo
Pick it when
- An editor agent at $20 with frontier models and cloud agents
- Developers comparing Windsurf with Cursor's current plans
- People who still search for Windsurf and need the current product name
Leave it when
- Anyone expecting the old Windsurf credit tables (those plans are gone)
- No-code browser app building
- A published quota you can budget to the prompt
Where the weights differ
Web app or SaaS
Claude Code5/5
Windsurf5/5
Mobile app
Claude Code2/5
Windsurf2/5
Game
Claude Code2/5
Windsurf2/5
Website or landing page
Claude Code2/5
Windsurf3/5
Automation or script
Claude Code5/5
Windsurf4/5
No code
Claude Code0/5
Windsurf1/5
I can follow a change
Claude Code3/5
Windsurf4/5
I already develop
Claude Code5/5
Windsurf5/5
Claude Code plans
Last verified 2026-10-19
Pro
Individual
$20/mo
Verified$17/mo when billed annually ($200 up front).
Includes Claude Code. At least 5x Free chat usage per five-hour session, plus weekly limits. Shared with claude.ai. No fixed prompt count.
Anthropic's pricing page lists $20 monthly and $17/mo annual.
Max 5x
Individual
$100/mo
Verified5x Pro usage per five-hour session, higher output limits, and a weekly cap. Max also has a separate weekly limit for Fable, and the pricing table caps Fable at 50% of weekly limits. Includes $100/mo of platform API credits that Anthropic says cannot be spent inside Claude Code.
Price is from Anthropic's Max plan help article. The marketing page says Max starts at $100.
Max 20x
Individual
$200/mo
Verified20x Pro usage per five-hour session, plus a separate weekly limit for Fable (50% of weekly limits on the pricing table). Includes $200/mo of platform API credits that do not spend inside Claude Code.
Price is from Anthropic's Max plan help article, which lists Max 20x at $200/mo.
Windsurf plans
Last verified 2026-10-19
Free
Individual
Free
VerifiedLight agent quota, limited models, unlimited inline edits, and unlimited Tab. Quota size is not published.
Price and qualitative limits are from the Devin pricing page. The missing number is stated, not invented.
Pro
Individual
$20/mo
VerifiedDaily and weekly quotas, frontier models, free use of SWE-2, Devin Cloud, and extra usage at API pricing. One user. Quota size is not published.
Devin docs describe Pro as the entry individual plan at $20/mo. The pricing page lists free use of SWE-2 and does not print an end date for it.
Max
Individual
$200/mo
VerifiedEverything in Pro with a significantly larger weekly quota and no daily cap. The quota multiple is not published as a number.
The no-daily-cap rule is on Devin's self-serve plan docs. The pricing page says significantly higher quotas and does not print a number.
When Claude Code runs out
A rolling five-hour window, plus weekly limits on paid plans. Chat and Claude Code share one pool.
Wait for the five-hour window or the weekly reset. There is no fixed message count.
When Windsurf runs out
Pro has daily and weekly quotas. Max has a weekly quota and no daily cap. Cognition does not publish the size. Past the quota, paid plans can buy extra usage at API pricing.
Check the in-app quota before you assume you need a new tool. Pro resets daily and weekly. Max has no daily cap, so a heavy afternoon may not clear overnight.
Questions people actually ask
Which is cheaper, Claude Code or Windsurf?
Claude Code Pro and Windsurf Pro are both listed at $20/mo.
Who is Claude Code for?
Claude Code is for developers who want an agent in the terminal on an existing repo, web app and automation work where you already have a project, and people who also want Claude chat and are fine sharing one allowance.
Who is Windsurf for?
Windsurf is for an editor agent at $20 with frontier models and cloud agents, developers comparing Windsurf with Cursor's current plans, and people who still search for Windsurf and need the current product name.
Which is a better fit if I do not want to read code, Claude Code or Windsurf?
Claude Code scores 0 out of 5 for someone who does not want to read code. Windsurf scores 1 out of 5. Windsurf has the higher no-code score. Skip it. Claude Code assumes a terminal, a repo, and comfort with commands. You are in an IDE. Do not start here if you wanted a form.
Do Claude Code and Windsurf have free plans?
Claude Code: Free Claude does not include Claude Code. You need Pro or Max before this tool exists for you. Windsurf: A light agent quota, limited model access, unlimited inline edits, and unlimited Tab. Cognition does not publish the quota as a number.