Windsurf Review (2025): Agentic AI IDE (Formerly Codeium)
Windsurf Review (2025): Agentic AI IDE (Formerly Codeium)
Windsurf (formerly Codeium) is the rebranded AI coding suite that now leads with the Windsurf Editor (an agentic IDE) and a broad set of Windsurf Plugins. The company says the new name clarifies its focus on Cascade for multi-step coding, Tab/Supercomplete for fast completions, and an enterprise posture that spans cloud, hybrid, or self-hosted deployments. If you just want the specs, jump to the Windsurf tool page or the Windsurf alternatives hub.
What changed from Codeium?
- The brand is now Windsurf, and "Codeium extensions" are now Windsurf Plugins across VS Code, JetBrains, Vim/Neovim, Xcode, and more.
- The flagship product is the Windsurf Editor, where the full Cascade experience and Tab/Supercomplete live.
- The company highlights admin-grade controls, SOC 2 Type II readiness, and deployment flexibility (cloud/hybrid/self-hosted) aimed at teams that care about governance.
The rebrand message is consistent across the Editor, Security, and Pricing pages—Codeium was the old name; Windsurf is the consolidated brand moving forward.
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Windsurf Editor vs Windsurf Plugins
| Workflow | Editor (Windsurf) | Plugins (VS Code, JetBrains, etc.) |
|---|---|---|
| Agentic assistant | Cascade with planning + tool calls | Chat + autocomplete (agentic flows limited) |
| Autocomplete | Tab + Supercomplete (FIM, multi-line) | Autocomplete; Editor-only depth not always available |
| Web loop | Previews tab and beta App Deploys (Netlify) | Preview/Deploy flows vary by host IDE |
| Terminal | Prompt-to-CLI, send terminal snippets to Cascade | Depends on host IDE capabilities |
Bottom line: If you want the whole agentic experience, install the Windsurf Editor. The plugins are great for autocomplete and lightweight chat inside your existing IDEs, but they don't mirror every Editor-only workflow yet.
Feature highlights (Cascade, Tab, Previews)
- Cascade (agentic assistant): Plans multi-step edits, calls tools, and uses deep repo context. It now supports terminal snippets and workflows saved as reusable markdown commands.
- Tab + Supercomplete: Fast autocomplete with fill-in-the-middle and multi-line suggestions, including terminal context awareness.
- Previews + App Deploys: Preview web apps inside the Editor and ship beta Netlify deployments via Cascade tool calls (code is uploaded for deployment).
- Model + MCP flexibility: Choose models (including Windsurf's SWE family) and connect MCP servers like GitHub/GitLab remotes.
- Security posture: SOC 2 Type II, FedRAMP High availability, ZDR defaults for Teams/Enterprise, and opt-in ZDR for individuals.
Pricing and credits (December 2025)
- Free: 25 prompt credits/month, unlimited Tab, unlimited Previews, and 1 App Deploy per day.
- Pro ($15/mo): 500 prompt credits/month, premium models, Previews, App Deploys.
- Teams ($30/user/mo, up to 200 users): Pro features plus admin dashboard, analytics, priority support.
- Enterprise ($60/user/mo, up to 200 users): Adds RBAC, SSO/SCIM, longer contexts, highest-priority support, and deployment options (cloud/hybrid/self-hosted).
- Add-on credits: $10 for 250 credits (Pro) or $40 for 1000 pooled credits (Teams/Enterprise).
Security and data handling
- Zero Data Retention (ZDR): Default for Teams/Enterprise; individuals can opt in. When ZDR is on, user code and non-persistent telemetry are not trained.
- Data flows: Autocomplete and Supercomplete send keystroke-level requests; some enterprise features (remote indexing, memories, web retrieval) may require retention and subprocessors.
- Deployment options: Cloud, hybrid, or self-hosted—useful for enterprises needing tighter control.
Who should use Windsurf?
- Indie hackers & startup teams: Get the full agentic experience in the Windsurf Editor with Cascade/Previews/Deploys.
- Enterprise admins: Lean on the security posture (SOC 2 Type II, ZDR defaults) and deployment flexibility.
- Mixed-IDE teams: Use Windsurf Plugins to bring Tab/autocomplete and chat into VS Code, JetBrains, Vim/Neovim, Xcode, and others.
Alternatives and comparisons
- Closest rival: See the Windsurf vs Cursor comparison if you're weighing agentic IDEs.
- Broader landscape: Check the Windsurf alternatives page for competitors like GitHub Copilot, JetBrains AI, Tabnine, and Sourcegraph Cody.
- Legacy users: If you still search for "Codeium", you will land on the Windsurf-branded pages—it's the same company with a clearer agentic focus.
Verdict
Windsurf (formerly Codeium) now has a clearer story: the Editor is where the agentic magic happens (Cascade, Tab/Supercomplete, Previews/Deploys), while the Plugins keep autocomplete accessible across IDEs. Pricing is straightforward, security is documented, and the rebrand aligns the product names with the agentic IDE vision. Start with the Free tier to test Cascade, then move to Pro or Teams once you feel the productivity lift.
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