Chat-based AI software engineer that builds full-stack web apps and sites from prompts.
Glide vs Windsurf
Features, pricing, strengths and trade-offs — and which one fits your situation.
The verdict
Summary
Glide is best for turning spreadsheets and business data into internal apps without code, while Windsurf is best for developers wanting an AI code editor with fast tab completion and local plus cloud agents. Only Glide offers hosting / deploy included and backend / database. Only Windsurf offers inline code completion, multi-file agent, gitHub integration, choice of AI models and export / own the code. Glide has a low learning curve, compared with medium for Windsurf. Both Glide and Windsurf offer a free plan, so you can try each before paying.
Which should you choose?
Choose Glide if…
- You need turning spreadsheets and business data into internal apps without code
- Hosting / deploy included matters to you
- Backend / database matters to you
- You're one of: operations teams, small businesses running on spreadsheets, internal tool builders without developers
- You want something quicker to learn
Choose Windsurf if…
- You need developers wanting an AI code editor with fast tab completion and local plus cloud agents
- Inline code completion matters to you
- Multi-file agent matters to you
- GitHub integration matters to you
- You're one of: professional developers, former windsurf and codeium users, teams already using devin cloud agents
At a glance
| Glide | Windsurf | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Turning spreadsheets and business data into internal apps without code | Developers wanting an AI code editor with fast tab completion and local plus cloud agents |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | From $25/mo | From $20/mo |
| Learning curve | Low | Medium |
| Platforms | Web | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Ideal for | Operations teams, Small businesses running on spreadsheets, Internal tool builders without developers | Professional developers, Former Windsurf and Codeium users, Teams already using Devin cloud agents |
Feature comparison
| Glide | Windsurf | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | No-code app builder | IDE (now Devin Desktop) |
| Inline code completion | No | Yes |
| Multi-file agent | No | Yes |
| Builds full apps from prompts | Limited | Yes |
| Hosting / deploy included | Yes | No |
| Backend / database | Yes | No |
| GitHub integration | No | Yes |
| Choice of AI models | No | Yes |
| Export / own the code | No | Yes |
IncludedLimited / higher plansNot available— Not confirmed
Security & enterprise
| Glide | Windsurf | |
|---|---|---|
| Business / enterprise plan | Yes | Yes |
| SSO (SAML / OIDC) | Enterprise add-on | Enterprise plan |
| SCIM user provisioning | — | Enterprise plan |
| SOC 2 | Type II | Type II |
| ISO 27001 | — | — |
| HIPAA (BAA available) | — | — |
| GDPR DPA | — | — |
| Data residency options | No | — |
| No training on your data | — | Opt-out enables ZDR |
| Audit logs | — | — |
| Admin controls | Yes | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud, hybrid, FedRAMP High |
From each vendor's security documentation. "—" = not confirmed. What to ask vendors · Compare all tools
What each tool does
Glide
Glide is a no-code platform for building business apps on top of data from Google Sheets, Excel, Airtable, SQL databases and its own Glide Tables. Apps are assembled from prebuilt components and run as web apps and progressive web apps, with workflows and AI features for tasks like extracting or summarising data. It is used mainly by operations teams and small businesses for internal tools, portals and field apps.
Key features- Apps built from Google Sheets, Excel, Airtable, SQL and Glide Tables
- AI-assisted app generation from uploaded data
- Component-based visual editor and templates
- Workflows and automations
- Role-based access controls and row-level security
- Progressive web apps that work on phones and desktop
Windsurf
Windsurf, the AI code editor formerly from Codeium, was acquired by Cognition and renamed Devin Desktop in June 2026; windsurf.com now redirects to it and existing plans and settings carried over. The editor keeps its Supercomplete tab completion, while the Cascade agent was replaced by Devin Local in July 2026, alongside handoff to Devin cloud agents and a free SWE-2 model. A Windsurf-branded plugin for JetBrains IDEs remains available.
Key features- Supercomplete tab completion
- Devin Local agent for multi-file edits (replaced Cascade)
- Handoff between local and Devin cloud agents
- Free access to Cognition's SWE-2 model plus other models
- MCP integrations such as Slack, Linear, Figma and Stripe
- JetBrains plugin
Pricing
Glide
Free plan ($0, limited credits); Basic $25/mo, Plus $50/mo, Pro $125/mo
Windsurf
Free plan; Pro $20/mo (raised from $15 in 2026); Teams/Max tiers
Prices last checked September 2026. Plans change often — confirm on each vendor's site.
Pros and cons
Glide
Strengths- Very quick to turn an existing spreadsheet into a usable app
- Clean, consistent default design
- Strong data connectivity for business sources
- Has a free plan
- No code export on any plan
- Apps are PWAs and cannot be listed in the App Store or Google Play
- Logic is limited to what the visual rule builder can express
- Usage-based pricing can grow with user and update counts
Not ideal for: Anyone building a consumer app for app store distribution or who needs custom code should use a native app builder or a code-generating tool instead.
Windsurf
Strengths- Fast, context-aware tab completion
- In-house model available at no extra cost
- Local and cloud agents managed from one app
- Has a free plan
- The Windsurf brand and Cascade agent have been retired, creating migration churn
- Product direction now tied to Cognition's Devin roadmap
- Heavy use of frontier third-party models draws on paid quotas
- Requires switching from the user's current editor unless using the JetBrains plugin
Not ideal for: Users who want a stable, long-standing product identity or a hosted no-code app builder should look at other options.
Integrations
Glide
Windsurf
FAQ
What is the main difference between Glide and Windsurf?
Glide is built for turning spreadsheets and business data into internal apps without code; Windsurf is built for developers wanting an AI code editor with fast tab completion and local plus cloud agents. Key differences: Glide offers hosting / deploy included and backend / database; Windsurf offers inline code completion, multi-file agent, gitHub integration, choice of AI models and export / own the code.
Is Glide or Windsurf cheaper?
Glide starts from $25/mo and Windsurf starts from $20/mo (as of September 2026). On entry price, Windsurf is cheaper — but compare what each plan includes, since limits differ. Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site.
Do Glide and Windsurf have free plans?
Both Glide and Windsurf offer a free plan, so you can try each before paying.
Which is easier to use, Glide or Windsurf?
Glide is generally quicker to learn (Glide: low, Windsurf: medium learning curve).
What are good alternatives to Glide and Windsurf?
Other coding & apps tools worth comparing include Lovable, Base44 and v0.
