Cursor vs GitHub Copilot vs Windsurf vs Replit: Which AI Coding Tool Fits You?
All four sit in the directory's AI Coding category, but they solve different problems. Copilot assists inside the editor you already use; Cursor and Windsurf replace the editor; Replit replaces the whole setup. Choose by how you build, not by the score alone.
| Cursor | GitHub Copilot | Windsurf | Replit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $20/mo (Pro) | $10/mo (Pro) | $15/mo (Pro) | $25/mo (Core) |
| Free tier | Hobby plan, limited completions | Monthly limits; free Pro for verified students | Weekly credits | Free starter workspace |
| How you use it | AI-first editor, whole codebase | Inside VS Code and other editors | Agentic editor, flows | Describe an app; it builds and hosts it |
| Best for | Multi-file edits | Everyday assistance at $10 | Budget agent features | Idea to live app, no setup |
The verdict: Cursor vs Copilot vs Windsurf vs Replit
Developers who live in an editor: Cursor is the current default for whole-codebase, multi-file work; Windsurf is the serious rival with the friendlier free plan. Best value: GitHub Copilot at $10/mo, and free for verified students — hard to beat if you already use VS Code. Non-developers and fast prototypes: Replit, because describing an app and getting a hosted result needs no terminal, no setup and no excuses. Try the free tiers in the order of your own job, not in the order of the scores.
Before you pay $20–$25: every one of these four has a free tier in the directory. A week on the free tier, on your real project, tells you more than any comparison — including this one.