Trae vs Windsurf
Two of the most-asked-about agents in the coding space. Here's how they actually stack up.
Trae
ByteDance's free AI-native IDE: VS Code fork with built-in models and no subscription required
Free
Read full review →Windsurf
AI-first code editor with the Cascade agent baked into a VS Code fork
Free + $15/mo
Read full review →Side-by-side comparison
| Trae | Windsurf | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | ByteDance's free AI-native IDE: VS Code fork with built-in models and no subscription required | AI-first code editor with the Cascade agent baked into a VS Code fork |
| Pricing | Free | Free + $15/mo |
| Categories | coding, ide | coding, ide |
| Made by | ByteDance | Cognition |
| Launched | 2024-11 | 2024-11 |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Status | active | active |
Trae highlights
- + Built-in AI chat and inline completions at no cost
- + Multi-file Composer-style agent for cross-file edits
- + Supports multiple models including Claude and GPT-4o via settings
- + VS Code extension compatibility out of the box
- + Builder mode for autonomous task execution
Windsurf highlights
- + Cascade agentic mode for multi-step autonomous coding tasks
- + Tab completion trained on the Codeium model, runs locally with low latency
- + Persistent Memories that carry project context across sessions
- + Multi-file edit proposals with a unified diff review UI
- + MCP (Model Context Protocol) support for external tool integrations
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Trae or Windsurf?
Neither is universally better. Trae (Free) leans into coding, while Windsurf (Free + $15/mo) is closer to coding. Pick based on which workflow you actually do every day.
What is the price difference between Trae and Windsurf?
Trae is free. Windsurf is free + $15/mo. See the pricing row in the comparison table.
Can I use Trae and Windsurf together?
In most cases, yes. They serve overlapping but distinct needs, so running them side by side is common until you decide which fits your workflow.