4 compared
AI code editors compared
AI-native editors and assistants for day-to-day coding, compared on form factor, source, and setup.
Open in the interactive comparison tool| Field | Cursor AI-native code editor for codebase-aware chat, agent-assisted edits, and software development workflows. Open dossier | Zed Collaborative code editor with AI assistance, fast native performance, and developer-focused collaboration workflows. Open dossier | Windsurf Agentic coding environment focused on codebase context, multi-file edits, and AI-assisted development flow. Open dossier | Continue Open-source AI coding assistant for custom model routing, editor chat, autocomplete, and development workflows. Open dossier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trust | ||||
| Install risk | Review first | Review first | Review first | Review first |
| Notes | Safety · Privacy ✓ | Safety · Privacy ✓ | Safety · Privacy · | Safety · Privacy ✓ |
| Category | tools | tools | tools | tools |
| Source | source-backed | source-backed | source-backed | source-backed |
| Author | Cursor | Zed Industries | Windsurf | Continue |
| Added | 2026-04-27 | 2026-04-27 | 2026-04-27 | 2026-04-27 |
| Platforms | CursorCLI | ZedCLI | WindsurfCLI | ContinueCLI |
| Source repo | — | — | — | — |
| Safety notes | — missing | — missing | — missing | — missing |
| Privacy notes | ✓Cursor indexes your project and sends code and prompts to the configured model provider (including Claude) for chat and agent edits. | ✓Zed's AI features send code and prompts to the configured model provider, and the editor collects configurable usage telemetry; review provider and telemetry settings and keep secrets out of shared collaborative buffers. | — missing | ✓Continue sends code, file context, and prompts to whichever model provider you configure (including local models); choose providers deliberately and keep secrets out of shared context. |
| Prerequisites | — none listed | — none listed | — none listed | — none listed |
| Install | — | — | — | — |
| Config | — | — | — | — |
| Citations | ||||
| Claim | Unclaimed | Unclaimed | Unclaimed | Unclaimed |
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