Comparison
Pane vs Cursor & Windsurf
TL;DR
Cursor and Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) are AI code editors with their own built-in agents, and both can now run several agents in parallel. Pane isn't an editor: it runs any CLI agent, like Claude Code, Codex or Aider, in parallel, each in its own git worktree, next to whatever editor you use. They solve different problems, and plenty of people use both. Cursor and Windsurf bill AI use through their own plans or your API key; Pane runs the claude CLI on your Claude Pro or Max plan.
Cursor and Windsurf (now called Devin Desktop, from Cognition AI, the team behind Devin) are AI-powered code editors (VS Code forks) with built-in agents. Pane is not an IDE: it's an agent manager that runs any CLI agent in parallel and leaves your editor alone. They solve different problems. There's a cost difference too: Cursor and Windsurf bill AI use through their own plans or an API key, under separate rules from your Claude plan, while Pane runs the local claude CLI signed in with your Claude account, so your Pro or Max plan covers it.
what's the difference?
| pane | cursor | windsurf | |
|---|---|---|---|
| category | agent manager | AI IDE | AI IDE |
| claude subscription | uses your existing pro/max sub | no - billed through Cursor's plan or your API key | no - billed through Windsurf's plan or your API key |
| agents | any CLI agent (claude code, codex, aider, goose, anything) | cursor's agent (Claude Code runs in its terminal) | windsurf's cascade agent |
| parallel agents | yes, any agents, each in its own pane | yes, up to 8 agents on one prompt | yes, simultaneous cascades |
| git worktrees | automatic per pane | yes, for parallel agents | yes, for parallel cascades |
| code editor | none - use your own (VS Code, Neovim, JetBrains, etc.) | built-in (VS Code fork) | built-in (VS Code fork, now Devin Desktop) |
| lock-in | none - any agent, any editor, any OS | cursor's editor + agent | windsurf's editor + agent |
| open source | yes (AGPL-3.0) | no | no |
| pricing | free | Pro $20/mo; Pro+ $60; Ultra $200 | free tier; Pro $20/mo |
why they're not the same thing
pane is not an IDE
Cursor and Windsurf replace your code editor. Pane doesn't. Pane sits alongside your editor - it manages the agents that write code while you review diffs and manage git. You keep using VS Code, Neovim, JetBrains, or whatever you prefer.
pane runs whichever agents you choose
Cursor's and Windsurf's agent panels run their own agents. You can still start Claude Code in their built-in terminals, but the editor's review and parallel features are built around its own agent. Pane runs any CLI agent, such as Claude Code, Codex, Aider or Goose, with the same worktree, diff view and git actions for each.
parallel agents in both, different shapes
Cursor can run up to eight agents on one prompt, and Windsurf can run several Cascades at once, both using git worktrees. Pane runs as many agents as your machine and rate limits allow, each in its own pane with its own worktree, terminal and diff, and they can be different agents.
you can use pane with cursor or windsurf
Pane and agentic IDEs aren't mutually exclusive. Many developers use Pane to orchestrate CLI agents (Claude Code, Codex) while keeping their IDE open for editing. Pane manages the parallel workflows. Your editor is for reading and writing code.
the cost math
scenario: a typical heavy day of agent-driven coding - around 2M Claude Sonnet tokens at a 70/30 input/output mix.
At Anthropic's list rates ($3/MTok input, $15/MTok output), that's roughly $13/day in API spend.
cursor pro: $20/mo for Cursor, plus usage beyond what the plan includes. With your own Anthropic key, Claude usage bills on the API at list rates, about $13 a day in this scenario.
pane + claude pro/max: $0 on top of your existing plan. Pane runs the local claude CLI signed in with your Claude account, so usage counts against your plan's limits rather than an API bill.
Token estimate is illustrative; your usage varies. The structural point: API-billed tools pay per token, while tools that run Claude Code on your Claude login use your plan. full breakdown →
when to use what
use cursor or windsurf if you want AI built into your editor: autocomplete, inline edits, and the editor's own agent, including parallel runs of it.
use pane if you want to run multiple AI agents in parallel on different tasks, review their work, and manage git - without being locked into one agent or one editor.
use both if you want the best of both worlds - an IDE for writing code and Pane for orchestrating agents.
more comparisons
Sources
- Corrections
- If anything here is wrong or out of date, tell us and we'll fix it and update the date at the top. Open an issue on GitHub
- Sources
frequently asked questions
By Parsa Khazaeepoul, co-founder of Pane. .