Windsurf (formerly Codeium) vs Zed — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Windsurf (formerly Codeium) starts at $20/mo. Zed starts at $10/mo. Zed is $10/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Windsurf (formerly Codeium).
See price history: Windsurf (formerly Codeium) · Zed
AI code completion and chat assistant from the Windsurf company. Free tier is unusually generous — unlimited autocomplete for individuals with no card required. Pricing: Free (unlimited individual), Teams $12/user/mo (adds team admin + more advanced models), Enterprise $35/user/mo (SSO, dedicated support, on-prem option). Positioned as the free-tier alternative to GitHub Copilot; the paid tiers are for teams that need governance.
Open-source, high-performance code editor with AI features built in. Written in Rust with GPU-accelerated UI. Zed core is free and open source; Zed Pro adds premium AI models + higher usage limits at $20/user/mo. Business plan at $50/user/mo adds team features. Positioned as the fast-native alternative to Electron-based editors (Cursor, VS Code) for developers who care about performance.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Windsurf (formerly Codeium) monthly | Windsurf (formerly Codeium) annual | Zed monthly | Zed annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | Free / Personal | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Entry paid | Pro | $20 | $20 | $10 | $10 |
| Pro / power | Max / — | $200 | $200 | — | — |
| Teams | Teams / Business | $120 | $120 | $30 | $30 |
| Enterprise | Enterprise / — | Custom | Custom | — | — |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Windsurf (formerly Codeium) is worth it if… Codeium is worth it for individual developers who want a fully free AI autocomplete without hitting message caps. Teams ($12/user/mo) is the cheapest true multi-user AI coding tool in market.
Zed is worth it if… developers who want a fast-native code editor that feels sub-16ms on every action, with AI features that don't slow it down. Free tier is a real editor (not a demo); Pro at $20/user/mo unlocks Claude Opus and other premium models.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Windsurf (formerly Codeium) over Zed if…
Choose Windsurf (formerly Codeium) if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $20/mo).
- You match the profile Windsurf (formerly Codeium) is built for: Codeium is worth it for individual developers who want a fully free AI autocomplete without hitting message caps.
- You need a general-purpose developer & infrastructure option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Zed if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $10/mo).
- You match the profile Zed is built for: developers who want a fast-native code editor that feels sub-16ms on every action, with AI features that don't slow it down.
- You need a general-purpose developer & infrastructure option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Windsurf (formerly Codeium) | Zed | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Entry price | $20/mo | $10/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | No |
| Pricing model | Per Seat | Per Seat |
| Verification | Checked September 29, 2026 | Checked September 28, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 29, 2026. Verification cadence varies by tool; check each tool page.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about Windsurf (formerly Codeium) and Zed
- How much does Windsurf (formerly Codeium) cost in 2026?
- Does Windsurf (formerly Codeium) have a free plan?
- How often does Windsurf (formerly Codeium) change prices?
- What are the best Windsurf (formerly Codeium) alternatives in 2026?
- How much does Zed cost in 2026?
- Does Zed have a free plan?
- How often does Zed change prices?
- What are the best Zed alternatives in 2026?