Amazon Q Developer vs Windsurf: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Amazon Q Developer and Windsurf? Both are popular ai coding assistant tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack.
Quick verdict
Both are solid ai coding assistant options. Windsurf is cheaper to start, but the right choice depends on the specific features and integrations you need. In our catalog, Windsurf rates slightly higher (4.7 vs 4.0 out of 5).
Amazon Q Developer vs Windsurf — Side by Side
| Amazon Q Developer | Windsurf | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI Coding Assistant | AI Coding Assistant |
| Pricing | Free · paid from $19/mo | Free · paid from $15/mo |
| Starting price | Free tier available | Free tier available |
| Free tier | ||
| Rating | 4.0 | 4.7 |
| Best for | AI Coding Assistant — aws, ai-agent | AI Coding Assistant — windsurf, ai |
Pros & Cons
- Knows your AWS account, services and console errors
- Free tier covers light agentic use
- IP indemnity on the paid tier matters to enterprises
- Only compelling if you are already deep in AWS
- Agentic quality trails Claude Code and Cursor
- Transformation overages are billed per line
- Strong multi-model support
- Unlimited tab completions and inline edits
- Transparent credit-based pricing
- Good balance of solo and team features
- Enterprise-ready governance options
- Prompt credits can run out quickly
- SSO is a paid add-on for Teams
- Less mature ecosystem than Copilot
Key Features Compared
Amazon Q Developer
- Higher agentic request limits
- 4,000 lines / month of Java transformation, pooled per account
- Admin dashboard and policy management
- IP indemnity
Windsurf
- 25 prompt credits per month
- Access across leading models (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, xAI, and more)
- Basic model access
- Fast context trial access
- Unlimited tab completions
- Unlimited inline edits
Choose Amazon Q Developer if…
- You want a free tier to validate before paying.
- Knows your AWS account, services and console errors
- Free tier covers light agentic use
- IP indemnity on the paid tier matters to enterprises
Choose Windsurf if…
- You want a free tier to validate before paying.
- Budget is tight — paid plans start lower ($15/mo vs $19/mo).
- Strong multi-model support
- Unlimited tab completions and inline edits
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amazon Q Developer better than Windsurf?⌄
Both are solid ai coding assistant options. Windsurf is cheaper to start, but the right choice depends on the specific features and integrations you need. In our catalog, Windsurf rates slightly higher (4.7 vs 4.0 out of 5).
What is the difference between Amazon Q Developer and Windsurf?⌄
Amazon Q Developer — AWS coding assistant with agentic chat, CLI and Java modernisation. Windsurf — AI-powered coding assistant with fast context, multi-model support, and strong collaboration features for individuals and teams. Both are ai coding assistant tools; the comparison table above breaks down pricing, free tiers, and what each is best for.
Amazon Q Developer vs Windsurf: which is cheaper?⌄
Amazon Q Developer pricing: Free · paid from $19/mo. Windsurf pricing: Free · paid from $15/mo. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.
Which is rated higher, Amazon Q Developer or Windsurf?⌄
In our catalog, Amazon Q Developer rates 4.0 out of 5 and Windsurf rates 4.7 out of 5, so Windsurf has a slight edge on reviews.
See more options in our guide to the best ai coding assistant tools for startups.
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