Devin Desktop, the new name for Windsurf, is an agentic AI code editor from Cognition, the company behind Devin. Cognition renamed Windsurf on June 2, 2026, through an over-the-air update. According to Devin's FAQ it is the same IDE with the same features, nothing was removed, and existing plans, pricing, extensions, and settings carried over automatically. Windsurf was originally built by Codeium. This guide covers what Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) is, what changed with the rename, what it costs, and who it's for, so you can decide whether it belongs in your stack. It was last updated on September 20, 2026.
The short version: Devin Desktop is for developers who want an editor that leans hard into agents, with one place to manage local and cloud agents and the option to run other vendors' agents alongside Devin's own.
What Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) is
At its core it is still a VS Code-style editor rebuilt around AI, so it feels familiar if you've used VS Code or Cursor, and Devin's docs say you can import your VS Code or Cursor settings. It runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux. What is different now is where the agents live. Rather than a single assistant in a side panel, Devin Desktop is built around managing several agents at once, and it still has the unlimited Tab completions and inline edits Windsurf users are used to.
What changed with the rename
Agent Command Center. This is now the default surface: a Kanban view where you manage every local and cloud agent in one place.
Devin Local replaces Cascade. Devin describes Devin Local as the successor to Cascade and as its next-generation local agent harness, shared with the Devin CLI. According to Devin, it is up to 30% more token-efficient than Cascade and adds subagent support and sandboxing. The legacy Cascade agent was kept available through July 2026 as a transition, so older guides and videos that talk about Cascade are describing the previous name.
Devin Cloud. This is the autonomous, long-running Devin agent that works on its own machine in the cloud. It is the descendant of the "Devin handoff" this guide used to lead with: you scope a task locally, then delegate it and get on with something else.
Other agents, through ACP. Devin Desktop supports the open-source Agent Client Protocol, which lets any compatible agent run inside any compatible editor. At launch that included Codex, Claude Agent, and OpenCode. They appear in the same Kanban view and run inside Spaces, so you can compare or combine agents instead of committing to one vendor.
Spaces. Context bundles that group agent sessions, pull requests, files, and context around a single task, now shared across agents. When you're juggling several features or bugs, Spaces let you switch between them without rebuilding context each time.
JetBrains. The separate Windsurf plugin for JetBrains IDEs is in maintenance mode, and Devin recommends using Devin over ACP there instead.
One thing we couldn't confirm: earlier versions of this guide covered Codemaps, Windsurf's dependency-graph feature. Devin's current documentation doesn't mention it, so check that it is available in your version before you rely on it.
What Devin Desktop costs
Devin says pricing did not change with the rename. Its pricing page currently lists (confirm current numbers on their site):
- Free ($0): unlimited Tab completions and inline edits, plus a light quota for agents and limited model availability.
- Pro ($20/month): increased quotas, full model availability including frontier models from OpenAI, Claude, and Gemini, and access to Devin Cloud.
- Max ($200/month): significantly higher quotas for heavy agent use.
- Teams ($80/month plus $40/month per full developer seat): everything in Pro, plus unlimited team members and collaboration features.
- Enterprise: custom pricing.
Note the Teams line. Earlier versions of this guide, like many older write-ups, said about $40 per seat, but the current page adds an $80 monthly base on top of the per-seat price. On models, Devin also offers its own SWE models, and its pricing page currently lists free use of SWE-2 Free in Devin Desktop and the Devin CLI on Pro through October 10, 2026, so check the current terms before you count on that.
Who Devin Desktop is for
It's a strong fit if you want an editor that's genuinely agent-first, you like the idea of managing local and cloud agents from one board, or you want to run agents from other vendors, such as Claude Agent or Codex, inside the same editor. The free tier also makes it low-risk to adopt, and if you already use Windsurf, the update carries your plan and settings over.
It's less ideal if you mostly want fast, interactive AI-assisted typing with minimal delegation, where a tool tuned for hands-on flow may feel snappier, if you work mainly in a JetBrains IDE, or if you're committed to your current editor and don't want to switch. In those cases, compare it directly in Devin Desktop (Windsurf) vs Cursor.
How to get started
If you already use Windsurf, you don't need to do anything special: the rename arrives as an update and your plan, extensions, and settings come with it. New users can start on the free tier. Use the local agent on a small, real task first, ask it to add a feature or refactor a function, so you learn how it plans and executes before you trust it with something big. Once you're comfortable, try Devin Cloud on a longer task to see the local-to-cloud flow in action, and try running a second agent over ACP if you already use one. The tool rewards giving it whole tasks rather than line-by-line instructions.
Like most modern AI editors, Devin Desktop connects to external tools through MCP, so its agents can reach your own systems. If that's new to you, start with MCP explained. For the wider comparison, see the best AI coding tools guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Devin Desktop the same as Windsurf?
Yes. Devin Desktop is the new name for Windsurf. According to Devin's FAQ it is the same IDE and the same features under the Devin brand, delivered as an over-the-air update on June 2, 2026, with your plan, extensions, and settings carried over.
Is Devin Desktop free?
It has a free tier with unlimited Tab completions and inline edits, plus a light agent quota and limited model availability. Paid plans start at $20/month for Pro.
What happened to Cascade?
Cascade has been succeeded by Devin Local, the primary local agent in Devin Desktop. Devin says it is up to 30% more token-efficient and adds subagent support and sandboxing. The legacy Cascade agent was kept available through July 2026.
What is Devin Cloud?
Devin Cloud is the autonomous, long-running Devin agent that works on its own machine in the cloud. It is the successor to the "Devin handoff" that Windsurf was known for, and access to it is included on Pro and higher plans.
Do I need to reinstall or migrate anything?
No. The rename shipped as a standard over-the-air update, and Devin says your plan, pricing, extensions, settings, and in-progress work carry over automatically.
Sources: Devin's announcement, its FAQ, and its pricing page, checked on September 20, 2026.
