Windsurf Overview
Windsurf is a standalone application developed by the company of the same name, offering compatibility across Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. Designed to cater to users who require extensive context windows in their work, Windsurf supports up to 200k tokens. It is compatible with the SWE-1.5 model and also allows users to integrate their own models. Notable features include agentic editing with multi-file capabilities, full terminal access, and predictive edits, making it a powerful tool for developers and content creators alike. The tool is available in a free tier, with paid options reaching up to $30 per month. Users can enjoy a seamless migration process, with configurations managed via a .windsurfrc file.
Pros
- ✓ Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux
- ✓ Seamless migration process
- ✓ Full terminal access
- ✓ Predictive edits capability
- ✓ Free tier available
Cons
- ✕ No local inference support
- ✕ Limited to SWE-1.5 for built-in custom models
Zed Overview
Zed is a versatile tool developed by the company Zed, offering standalone functionality on macOS, Linux, and Windows platforms. Noteworthy for its support of multiple LLMs including Claude 3.7 Sonnet and Gemini 2.5, Zed also supports local inference and open-source models like Zeta. The tool provides an extensive context window of 200k tokens, making it suitable for complex projects. Zed is particularly popular among developers due to its multi-file agentic editing and comprehensive terminal access. The tool is available in both free and pro versions, although migration requires some setup and configuration is managed through a .zedrc file.
Pros
- ✓ Supports macOS, Linux, and Windows
- ✓ Local inference capability
- ✓ Multi-LLM support
- ✓ Full terminal access
- ✓ Free tier available
Cons
- ✕ Migration requires setup
- ✕ No custom model option included
Comparison Table
| Feature | Windsurf | Zed |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | standalone | standalone |
| Supported Os | Windows, macOS, Linux | macOS, Linux, Windows |
| Developer | Windsurf | Zed |
| Supported Llms | SWE-1.5, User-provided models | Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Gemini 2.5, Ollama (local), Zeta (open-source) |
| Custom Model | SWE-1.5 | – |
| Context Window | 200k tokens | 200k tokens |
| Agentic Editing | Yes, multi-file | Yes, multi-file |
| Terminal Access | Full | Full |
| Privacy Mode | Standard Privacy Policy | Standard Privacy Policy |
| Certifications | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) |
| About Price | Free – $30/mo | Free/Pro |
| Config File | .windsurfrc | .zedrc |
| Migration | Seamless | Requires setup |
Conclusion
Both Windsurf and Zed offer robust solutions for developers and content creators, each with its unique set of features. While Windsurf excels in ease of migration and seamless integration, Zed stands out with its local inference capabilities and support for a wider range of LLMs. Users should base their choice on specific needs, such as operating system compatibility and desired model support.