Codeium vs Cursor: Which is Better?

You would want Codeium (now Windsurf) if you need a drop-in AI assistant inside the IDEs you already use (VS Code, JetBrains, Vim/Neovim, etc.) with a generous free individual tier and enterprise/self-host options.

Cursor will be a better fit if you want an AI-native editor purpose-built for multi-file context, background agents, and org controls – plus optional Bugbot for AI-assisted PR reviews. Pricing uses plan credits with at-cost overages for heavy usage.

Tools overview

Codeium is now called Windsurf, it is a plug-in AI assistant that slots into your existing editor. You get fast autocomplete, in-editor chat, and broad IDE coverage, with a free-forever individual tier; teams can move up to paid plans or pursue enterprise deployment.

Cursor is an AI-centric fork of VS Code that treats AI as the primary workflow: whole-project edits, repo-aware refactors, background agents, and an optional Bugbot add-on for PR reviews. Cursor’s current pricing model mixes monthly plans with usage credit pools and at-cost overages for frontier models.

Day-to-day coding experience

Codeium allows you to stay in your current IDE. If your team is split across JetBrains, VS Code, and terminal editors, Codeium is the least disruptive path: install, index, and you’re getting inline suggestions and chat where you already work.

Cursor helps you to lean into an AI-first editor. Cursor’s loop is built around giving the model more context and permission to act: multi-file edits, background agents, and tight Git workflows. With Bugbot, you also get AI PR reviews that aim to catch logic/security issues early.

Context & scale

Codebase awareness. Both tools build context, but Cursor’s “AI-native editor” angle makes large, cross-file transformations feel first-class. Codeium improves relevance with indexing and search while letting you keep your editor muscle memory.

Team standardization. Cursor shines if you standardize on one editor and want shared org controls and agent workflows. Codeium shines when your reality is heterogeneous IDEs.

Pricing, limits, and the 2025 reality

Codeium (Windsurf): users can start free, but teams/enterprise plans unlock larger contexts, admin/analytics, and deployment options. If you need air-gapped or self-hosted deployments, Codeium offers enterprise paths.

Cursor: Plans include monthly credits; heavy workloads draw overages at raw API rates. If you add Bugbot, budget for a per-user add-on. (This shift toward usage-based pricing is common across AI coding tools in 2025.)

Security & enterprise fit

Codeium (Windsurf): Emphasizes enterprise controls and deployment flexibility (including self-host options) for teams with strict compliance requirements.

Cursor: Enterprise/Teams bring SSO/RBAC, pooled usage, and admin controls; Bugbot integrates at the PR level for review compliance.

UI Bakery’s AI App Generator as an alternative

If your goal isn’t “assist me while coding” but rather “ship a working internal tool quickly,” consider UI Bakery’s AI App Generator. The tool turns prompts into functional web apps (dashboards, admin panels, workflows) on a secure low-code platform, with a free tier for small teams and affordable paid seats – plus on-prem options for enterprises.

Bottom line

Codeium supercharges the editors you already use, while Cursor is an editor rethought around AI loops and agents. Codeium’s free individual plan is great for adoption, but Cursor’s credit-plus-overage model is predictable if you monitor usage.

If you need an app, not an assistant, UI Bakery’s AI App Generator may get you to a deployed internal tool faster than wiring everything by hand.