Windsurf (Devin Desktop) vs Claude Code
Windsurf, now called Devin Desktop, against Claude Code: plans, models, MCP, skills and where each one runs.
- Local servers
- Yes
- runs stdio servers
- Hosted servers
- Yes
- connects by URL
- Config
- CLI + JSON
- how servers are added
- Plugins
- Yes
- plugin marketplaces
Windsurf is now Devin Desktop, a full code editor with built-in agents. Claude Code is Anthropic's coding agent, and it runs in your terminal, VS Code, JetBrains, a desktop app and the web.
Devin Desktop has a free plan, while Claude Code starts at Claude Pro for $20 a month, and Devin's $20 Pro plan lists Claude models too. Our advice: choose on where you want to work, an editor or a terminal.
Good for
- Windsurf users who now see Devin Desktop and wonder about Claude Code
- Developers choosing between a full editor and a terminal agent
- People who want a free coding agent to start with
- Teams comparing per-seat plans
Side by side
Use Claude Code if you want Claude models in your terminal or in VS Code and JetBrains. Use Devin Desktop (Windsurf) if you want a full editor, a free start and a choice of models.
| Option | Claude Code | Windsurf (Devin Desktop) |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Agent for terminal, IDE, web | Full editor with agents |
| Free plan | No | Yes, light quota |
| $20 plan | Claude Pro | Devin Pro |
| Top personal plan | Ultra, $200/mo | Max, $200/mo |
| Models | Claude models | OpenAI, Claude, Gemini on Pro |
| Connect apps with MCP | Yes | Yes |
| Skills | Yes | Yes |
| Subagents | Yes | Yes, preview |
| Instruction file | CLAUDE.md | .devin rules |
Which to pick
Our advice: start with Devin Desktop if you want an editor and a free plan, and use Claude Code on Pro if you want Claude models in your terminal. Devin Pro also lists Claude models, so you can try Claude in either.
The main limit on each side: Claude Code has no free plan, and old Windsurf guides no longer match the Devin Desktop names.
Best for
- Claude Code: people who want Claude models doing the work
- Claude Code: developers who live in the terminal, VS Code or JetBrains
- Devin Desktop: developers who want one editor with agents built in
- Devin Desktop: people who want a free plan to start
- Devin Desktop: existing Windsurf users, since plans and pricing did not change
Skip it if
- Claude Code: you want a free plan, since it starts at Pro
- Devin Desktop: you are following a Windsurf guide with old names or paths, since the docs moved to Devin
Questions
Is Windsurf now Devin Desktop?
Yes. Devin's docs say Devin Desktop is the new name for Windsurf, the same IDE and editor under the Devin brand, from June 2, 2026. Plans and pricing stayed the same. For MCP setup, see Windsurf MCP.
Windsurf vs Claude Code: which is better?
Neither wins outright. They are different shapes: Devin Desktop is a full editor, Claude Code is an agent that runs in your terminal, IDE or desktop app. Neither vendor publishes a head-to-head test. Our advice: use the same real task in both.
Is Windsurf free?
Yes, with limits. Devin's Free plan is $0 with a light quota to code with agents, limited model availability, and unlimited inline edits and Tab completions (checked November 2026).
How much do Devin Desktop and Claude Code cost?
Devin Pro is $20 a month, Max is $200, and Teams is $80 a month plus $40 a month per full dev seat. Claude Pro is $20 a month ($17 billed yearly), Max $100 and Ultra $200 (all checked November 2026).
Can I use Claude models in Windsurf?
Yes, on Devin's paid plans. Devin's pricing page lists frontier models from OpenAI, Claude, Gemini and SpaceXAI on Pro, and says the Free plan has limited model availability.
Does Windsurf support MCP and skills?
Yes to both. Devin Local, the agent in Devin Desktop, supports plugins, skills, MCP servers, hooks and rules. Claude Code supports MCP servers and skills too. See what MCP is and Agent Skills explained.
What happened to the Windsurf plugin for JetBrains?
Devin's FAQ says the Windsurf JetBrains plugin is in maintenance mode and newer JetBrains releases can break it. It recommends Devin over ACP instead. Claude Code has its own JetBrains plugin, which needs the Claude Code CLI installed separately.
Does Devin Desktop read my old Windsurf rules?
Yes. It still reads the .windsurfrules file and rules under a rules/ directory, and adds support for the .devin/ equivalents. Claude Code uses CLAUDE.md for its instructions.
Information
updated Nov 3, 2026
- Transports
- stdio, SSE, Streamable HTTP
- Config file (all)
.mcp.json (project) or ~/.claude.json (user)- MCP docs
- code.claude.com
Sources
Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.
Show all 9Hide
- Devin Desktop FAQ · docs.devin.ai
- Devin plans and pricing · devin.ai
- Claude plans and pricing · claude.com
- Claude Code overview · code.claude.com
- Devin Local · docs.devin.ai
- Devin Desktop customizations · docs.devin.ai
- Extend Claude with skills · code.claude.com
- Create custom subagents · code.claude.com
- Connect Claude Code to tools via MCP · code.claude.com