What each tool does
Windsurf, as this listing describes it, points to Devin Desktop, a hub for running many AI coding agents together. You plan work, hand tasks to agents running locally or in the cloud, review their output and ship changes. An agent editor with sessions and spaces lets you follow each agent and see when a pull request is ready. It is available as a Mac download.
Cline is an open-source coding agent runtime. It works in VS Code and other editors, in the terminal through a CLI, as a desktop app for macOS and Windows, or embedded in your own products with its SDK. Plan and Act modes let you review the approach first, it supports MCP integration, and you choose the models it uses.
Key differences
- Scale of work: Windsurf is built for coordinating fleets of agents; Cline is typically one agent working closely with you.
- Openness: Cline is open source with model choice; Windsurf is a managed product.
- Platforms: Cline covers editors, CLI and desktop on macOS and Windows; Windsurf is listed as a macOS desktop app.
- Extensibility: Cline offers an SDK and MCP support; Windsurf offers local and cloud agents with session tracking.
- Teams: Windsurf offers demos for teams; Cline suits individuals as well as teams who want to self-configure.
Which should you choose?
Choose Windsurf if you or your team want to delegate several tasks in parallel and manage them from one desktop space, with clear review points before shipping.
Choose Cline if you want an open, flexible agent inside the tools you already use, you work on Windows, or you prefer to decide which AI models power your work.
Both are freemium. Model costs with Cline can depend on the provider you connect. Check each pricing page for current plans, and expect USD billing by card from Pakistan.
Can you use both?
Some developers might, using Cline for close, hands-on edits in the editor and Windsurf for larger batches of delegated tasks, but most people will settle on one as their main agent.
