Cursor vs Windsurf vs Antigravity: AI IDEs Compared (April 2026)
Cursor vs Windsurf vs Antigravity: April 2026 Update
The AI IDE race has a clear three-horse dynamic in April 2026. Cursor leads in market share and model flexibility. Windsurf undercuts on price with strong agentic features. Google Antigravity disrupts with free Gemini 3.1 Pro access and tight Google Cloud integration. Here’s how they compare right now.
Last verified: April 2026
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Cursor | Windsurf | Antigravity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Based on | VS Code fork | VS Code fork | VS Code fork |
| Developer | Anysphere | Codeium | |
| Free tier | Limited | Limited | Generous (Gemini included) |
| Pro price | $20/mo | $15-20/mo | Free–$25/mo |
| Max price | $200/mo | $200/mo | TBD |
| Default model | Claude Sonnet 4.6 | Multiple | Gemini 3.1 Pro |
| Model choice | Claude, GPT, Gemini, local | Claude, GPT, Gemini | Gemini (primary), others |
| Agent mode | Composer | Cascade | Gemini Agent |
| Unique feature | Tab predictions | Fast Context + Codemaps | Free Gemini 3.1 Pro |
| Best for | Most developers | Budget-conscious teams | Google ecosystem |
What Changed Since March 2026
Cursor
- Continued dominance in developer surveys (highest satisfaction)
- Improved agent reliability with Claude Opus 4.6 backend
- Background agent mode for running tasks while you code
Windsurf
- Price increased from $15 to $20/month for Pro (closing the gap with Cursor)
- Max tier launched at $200/month with unlimited Cascade
- Improved Fast Context for better codebase understanding
Google Antigravity
- Gemini 3.1 Pro integration (released April 2, 2026) — massive upgrade
- Improved code generation with Gemini’s enhanced reasoning
- Better Android Studio integration
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Cursor | Windsurf | Antigravity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 2,000 completions | Limited credits | Gemini 3.1 Pro included |
| Pro | $20/mo | $20/mo | ~$10-25/mo |
| Max/Ultra | $200/mo | $200/mo | TBD |
Key change: Windsurf’s Pro tier is now $20/month, matching Cursor. The $5/month savings that was Windsurf’s key differentiator is gone.
Antigravity’s play: Free access to Gemini 3.1 Pro is a compelling offer. If Gemini is your preferred model, Antigravity is the cheapest way to use it in an AI IDE.
Agent Mode Comparison
Cursor Composer
- Multi-file editing with natural language
- Background agents that work while you code
- Model flexibility (choose Claude, GPT, or Gemini per task)
- Apply diffs with visual review
Windsurf Cascade
- Project-level reasoning with Codemaps
- Fast Context for codebase understanding
- Multi-step autonomous execution
- Inline diff preview
Antigravity Gemini Agent
- Powered by Gemini 3.1 Pro’s enhanced reasoning
- Tight Vertex AI integration
- Optimized for Google Cloud projects
- Android development support
Developer Survey Results (April 2026)
From JetBrains’ latest developer survey:
- Cursor: Highest satisfaction, fastest adoption growth
- Windsurf: Strong loyalty among existing users
- Antigravity: Rapid growth since Gemini 3.1 Pro integration
- GitHub Copilot: Still most widely used but satisfaction declining
Model Quality Comparison
This matters because AI IDEs are only as good as their models:
| Model | Cursor | Windsurf | Antigravity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Opus 4.6 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Claude Sonnet 4.6 | ✅ (default) | ✅ | ❌ |
| GPT-5.4 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Gemini 3.1 Pro | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (default, free) |
| Local models | ✅ | Limited | ❌ |
Cursor wins on model flexibility. Antigravity wins on Gemini cost.
Decision Framework
Choose Cursor if:
- You want the best overall AI coding experience
- Model flexibility matters (switch between Claude, GPT, Gemini)
- You value the largest VS Code extension ecosystem
- You want background agents working in parallel
Choose Windsurf if:
- Cascade’s project-level reasoning fits your workflow
- You like Codemaps for codebase visualization
- You want a strong alternative to Cursor at the same price
- You deploy directly from the IDE
Choose Antigravity if:
- You work primarily in the Google Cloud ecosystem
- Free Gemini 3.1 Pro access is a compelling value proposition
- Android development is your focus
- You want the cheapest path to frontier model access
The Bottom Line
Cursor remains the default recommendation in April 2026. It has the best model selection, highest developer satisfaction, and most mature agentic features. Windsurf lost its pricing edge but remains a strong competitor with unique features like Cascade and Codemaps. Antigravity is the dark horse — free Gemini 3.1 Pro access makes it the best value option, and Google’s resources suggest it will only improve. All three are excellent; you can’t go wrong.