Windsurf — Full Review of the Free AI Coding Assistant Formerly Known as Codeium

Updated on: 31.07.2025

Feature	Details
Platform	Free IDE extension (cross-platform)
Core Features	Autocomplete, chat, code search
Languages Supported	70+ (including Python, JS, C++, Go, Rust)
IDEs Supported	70+ (VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, etc.)
Pricing	Free (individual), Custom (enterprise)
Offline/Private Mode	Yes — no data storage, no telemetry
Open Source	Not fully, but free and dev-friendly

Introduction

Windsurf (formerly known as Codeium) is a modern AI coding assistant that helps developers write faster, cleaner code — without paying a cent. The tool recently underwent a rebrand, evolving into a more robust platform with an AI-native IDE experience while maintaining its powerful plugin ecosystem.

Windsurf provides in-IDE autocomplete, a conversational AI assistant, and natural language search — all focused on productivity, privacy, and flexibility. It works inside your favorite environments like VS Code, JetBrains, and Vim, suggesting entire blocks of logic in real-time.

This review explores Windsurf’s core functionality, how it differs from Copilot and Tabnine, what makes it unique post-rebrand, and who it’s ideal for.

Quick Recap

Free AI coding assistant with autocomplete, code chat, and natural language search
Works in 70+ IDEs including VS Code, JetBrains, Vim, and more
Lightweight, fast, and privacy-focused (no code stored or sold)
Enterprise-ready with self-hosting options
Strong alternative to GitHub Copilot, especially for teams or privacy-focused devs

🎯 Best For: Developers looking for a free, private Copilot alternative

⚠️ Avoid If: You want voice control, image generation, or low-code builder features

How Windsurf Works

Installing Windsurf is straightforward. You install the Windsurf extension from your IDE marketplace, create a free account, and you’re ready to code.

Windsurf operates in three key modes:

Autocomplete: AI-powered in-line and block completions
AI Chat: A code-aware assistant for test writing, documentation, and Q&A
Code Search: A natural language search engine for your repo

Under the hood, Windsurf uses custom large language models (LLMs) fine-tuned on high-quality open-source repositories. These models are optimized for low latency and on-device security, with completions often returned in under 100ms.

The key difference? Windsurf is context-aware. It reads function scopes, variable names, comments, and architectural patterns to suggest code that fits your style — not just generic completions.

Unlike GitHub Copilot, Windsurf doesn’t rely on Microsoft infrastructure. It’s an independent system built from scratch for speed, control, and privacy – and it now powers a standalone AI IDE as well.

💡 Fun Fact: Windsurf is developed by Exafunction — the same team behind Codeium, founded by ex-Google and NVIDIA engineers from Stanford.

Key Features

✨ Autocomplete (In-Line & Block Level)

Windsurf suggests completions as you type — both inline and full blocks. Its LLMs adapt to file-specific conventions, handle deeply nested logic, and provide highly contextual suggestions across over 70 programming languages. It also supports cross-file context, meaning it can complete code that spans multiple parts of your project.

Autocomplete understands syntax and semantics
Suggests optimal performance or idiomatic solutions
Works with typed and untyped languages
Completes docstrings, test stubs, and repetitive structures

💬 AI-Powered Chat

The in-IDE chatbot acts like a senior dev pair-programming with you:

Ask it to explain code, write tests, refactor functions
Language-aware (understands syntax nuances across languages)
Can reference full project context when deployed in the IDE
Replaces the need for Stack Overflow in many cases

🔍 Natural Language Code Search

Windsurf lets you search your codebase using plain English:

“Find where tokens are validated” or “Show function that initializes database pool”

Fast, local indexing
Understands semantic structure, not just keywords
Great for onboarding or unfamiliar codebases

🧠 Privacy-First Architecture

Windsurf doesn’t store, log, or sell code. All completions are computed securely with options for self-hosting.

Zero telemetry option
SOC-2 and GDPR compliant
Self-hostable on private cloud or on-prem

💡 Fun Fact: Windsurf is one of the few AI assistants that works entirely offline in enterprise deployments.

Real-World Use Cases

👨‍💻 Backend Developers

John, a backend engineer at a fintech company, uses Windsurf to build out API scaffolds with Flask and validate input patterns with fewer manual regex checks. His productivity increased ~30% after onboarding.

🎨 Front-End Engineers

Sara writes React components and Tailwind layouts. Windsurf autocompletes logic for hooks, renders, and responsive classes — often suggesting cleaner ways to structure components.

🧪 QA Engineers

Mike generates unit and integration tests from source code using the chat. Windsurf even mocks DB calls automatically, saving hours.

🧑‍🏫 Students & Bootcampers

Students like Priya use it to understand C++, Python, and JavaScript fundamentals. Windsurf explains logic and catches syntax issues in real time.

🏢 Enterprise Teams

A Fortune 500 team runs Windsurf entirely on-prem, integrated with GitHub Enterprise and SSO. Engineers use autocomplete and search across massive monorepos.

💬 “We slashed dev onboarding time by 50%. New hires use Windsurf like a tutor built into the IDE.”

Pricing & Plans

Plan	Price	AI Chat	Code Search	Enterprise Support
Individual Free	$0 forever	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No
Enterprise	Custom pricing	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

There is no paid plan for individuals — it’s fully free. Teams that want hosting control, admin dashboards, or enterprise SLAs can contact Codeium’s sales team.

Enterprise Plan Includes:

Admin dashboard with usage analytics
SSO integrations (Okta, Azure AD, etc.)
Audit logs, private deployments, dedicated support
Role-based access control and private model inference

💡 Fun Fact: Windsurf’s enterprise users can deploy the tool in air-gapped environments.

Codeium vs GitHub Copilot vs Tabnine

Feature	Codeium	Copilot	Tabnine
Free Plan	✅ Yes	❌ No (trial only)	✅ Yes (limited)
IDE Support	70+	20+	15+
Self-Hosting	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes (limited)
Chatbot	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Code Search	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Best For	Privacy & cost	MS ecosystem	Lightweight projects

💡 Windsurf’s broad IDE support and privacy-first features make it particularly attractive to independent developers and enterprise teams alike.

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros

Completely free for individuals
Fast, accurate code completions
Works in virtually any IDE
Excellent privacy and local control
Includes chat and natural language search

❌ Cons

- Chat is basic compared to Claude or GPT-4
- No image-to-code or design integration
- Slightly less polished than GitHub Copilot UX

⭐ Ratings

Category	Score
Ease of Use	★★★★☆ (4.5)
Autocomplete	★★★★★ (5.0)
Chat Assistant	★★★★☆ (4.3)
Code Search	★★★★★ (5.0)
Privacy & Control	★★★★★ (5.0)

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.8/5)

Final Verdict: Should You Use Windsurf?

If you’re a developer looking for a powerful, private, and completely free AI coding assistant — Windsurf is hard to beat.

It matches (and in some cases exceeds) Copilot in raw coding capability, and it gives you tools like chat and code search without charging a dime. For individuals, it’s a no-brainer. For teams, it’s a secure and scalable alternative to locked-in vendor solutions.

Windsurf excels in several real-world scenarios:

Solo developers wanting a free alternative to Copilot with privacy controls
Teams working on regulated codebases that need self-hosting and offline AI tools
Educators and students using AI to assist with learning syntax, debugging, and documentation

That said, it’s not ideal if:

You want a deeply conversational chat assistant like Claude or GPT-4
You require voice control, image-based coding, or design integration workflows

Best for: Individual developers to medium-sized teams prioritizing cost, control, and code efficiency.

💡 More Fun Facts About Codeium

Supports 70+ programming languages including Go, Rust, TypeScript, and Java
Offers self-hosted options for maximum security
Built by ex-Googlers and Stanford engineers
Codeium’s autocomplete latency is under 100ms in most IDEs

Try Windsurf for FREE 👉

FAQ

What happened to Codeium?

Codeium was rebranded to Windsurf in 2024, combining the plugin ecosystem with a full AI-native IDE.

Is Windsurf really free for individuals?

Yes — full autocomplete, chat, and code search are free with no upsells.

Can Windsurf replace GitHub Copilot?

For many users — yes. It offers similar or better completions, more IDEs, and stronger privacy.

Does Windsurf store my code?

No, it does not log, sell, or store your code. Private by design.

What’s the difference between the plugin and Windsurf Editor?

The plugin integrates into your existing IDE. The Editor is a standalone coding environment.

Can I use Windsurf with Vim or Neovim?

Yes! Vim and terminal IDEs are fully supported.

How is Windsurf trained?

It uses proprietary models trained on permissively licensed and quality-assured open-source code.

Does it work for teams with regulated compliance needs?

Yes. Windsurf supports air-gapped deployment, on-prem install, and full audit logging.

What’s the latency like?

Completions typically return in <100ms, even on larger codebases.

Can I customize Windsurf for my team’s stack?

Yes. Teams can fine-tune behavior and maintain team-wide templates or completion styles.