GitHub Copilot vs Windsurf (now Devin Desktop)

GitHub Copilot and Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) are both tools people compare when choosing between AI and developer tools options. GitHub Copilot lists 7 features across 6 platforms; Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) lists 7 features across 3 platforms — see the full breakdown below, sourced from each vendor's own site rather than ratings or reviews.

Side-by-side summary

ComparingGitHub CopilotWindsurf (now Devin Desktop)

CategoryAIDeveloper Tools

Alternatives tracked33

PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidmacOS, Windows, Linux

Pricing modelNot yet documentedfreemium

Best for GitHub Copilot

Positioned for individual developers (free and Pro plans), teams and enterprises needing governance controls (Business/Enterprise plans), and students and open-source maintainers with special pricing tiers.

Best for Windsurf (now Devin Desktop)

Developers and engineering teams that want an AI-first desktop coding environment with agentic code changes and a command center for coordinating multiple software-development agents.

Feature comparison

Every feature listed here comes directly from each vendor's own official site.

GitHub Copilot

Inline code completion and suggestions based on editor context
Chat assistance for coding questions and explanations inside the IDE
Automated code review of pull requests
Copilot CLI for command-line assistance via GitHub CLI
Coding agent that can autonomously plan, explore, and execute development tasks
Multi-model access, choosing from AI models optimized for speed, accuracy, or cost
Integrations with Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, Neovim, and Eclipse

Windsurf (now Devin Desktop)

Full Windsurf IDE experience retained under the Devin Desktop name
Agent Command Center with Spaces, Kanban-style organization, and multi-agent management
Cascade agent with Code, Plan, and Ask modes for code changes, planning, questions, and tool use
Tool calling, checkpoints, linter integration, web search, memories, and rules within Cascade
Extension ecosystem and language-server support inherited from the editor workflow
MCP server integrations for external tools and services
Over-the-air migration from Windsurf with existing plans, pricing, extensions, settings, and in-progress work preserved

Pros and cons

GitHub Copilot

Pros

Inline code completion and suggestions based on editor context
Chat assistance for coding questions and explanations inside the IDE
Automated code review of pull requests
Copilot CLI for command-line assistance via GitHub CLI
Coding agent that can autonomously plan, explore, and execute development tasks
Multi-model access, choosing from AI models optimized for speed, accuracy, or cost
Integrations with Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, Neovim, and Eclipse

Cons

We don't publish a "cons" list for either product. No vendor's official site documents its own product's weaknesses, so there's no sourced basis for one — and we'd rather say that plainly than invent one.

Windsurf (now Devin Desktop)

Pros

Full Windsurf IDE experience retained under the Devin Desktop name
Agent Command Center with Spaces, Kanban-style organization, and multi-agent management
Cascade agent with Code, Plan, and Ask modes for code changes, planning, questions, and tool use
Tool calling, checkpoints, linter integration, web search, memories, and rules within Cascade
Extension ecosystem and language-server support inherited from the editor workflow
MCP server integrations for external tools and services
Over-the-air migration from Windsurf with existing plans, pricing, extensions, settings, and in-progress work preserved

Cons

Key differences

GitHub Copilot is categorized under AI, while Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) is categorized under Developer Tools.
GitHub Copilot lists Inline code completion and suggestions based on editor context, Chat assistance for coding questions and explanations inside the IDE, Automated code review of pull requests, Copilot CLI for command-line assistance via GitHub CLI, Coding agent that can autonomously plan, explore, and execute development tasks, Multi-model access, choosing from AI models optimized for speed, accuracy, or cost, Integrations with Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, Neovim, and Eclipse that Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) doesn't list.
Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) lists Full Windsurf IDE experience retained under the Devin Desktop name, Agent Command Center with Spaces, Kanban-style organization, and multi-agent management, Cascade agent with Code, Plan, and Ask modes for code changes, planning, questions, and tool use, Tool calling, checkpoints, linter integration, web search, memories, and rules within Cascade, Extension ecosystem and language-server support inherited from the editor workflow, MCP server integrations for external tools and services, Over-the-air migration from Windsurf with existing plans, pricing, extensions, settings, and in-progress work preserved that GitHub Copilot doesn't list.
GitHub Copilot supports Web, iOS, Android, which Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) doesn't list.

Choose GitHub Copilot if…

Choose GitHub Copilot if this fits: Positioned for individual developers (free and Pro plans), teams and enterprises needing governance controls (Business/Enterprise plans), and students and open-source maintainers with special pricing tiers.

Visit GitHub Copilot

Choose Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) if…

Choose Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) if this fits: Developers and engineering teams that want an AI-first desktop coding environment with agentic code changes and a command center for coordinating multiple software-development agents.

Visit Windsurf (now Devin Desktop)

Facts on this page are sourced from each vendor's official site (linked below), not from ratings or reviews. Products change — verify anything that matters to your decision directly on the vendor's own site before switching. See our Disclaimer and Sources Policy.