# Factory vs Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)

> Factory: Agent-native software development platform where Droids handle full engineering tasks end to end
> Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf): Agent-first IDE for running local and cloud coding agents in one place

- Factory profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/factory
- Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/windsurf
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/factory-vs-windsurf
- Last reviewed: November 2026

## Verdict

Factory and Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) are both Coding AI tools. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.4 vs 8.2 out of 10), led by value for money. Only Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) has a free plan or trial. Only Factory is available on Web and CLI and offers an API. Only Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) is available on JetBrains Plugin.

### Choose Factory if

- You want a tool built for delegating backlog tickets, automated pull request review, test generation, incident investigation and long-running refactors or migrations.
- Covers the full delivery loop: implementation, review, testing, incident response and documentation.
- Model independence, with a router and bring-your-own-key support for custom models.

### Choose Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) if

- You want a tool built for managing multiple coding agents.
- Free plan with unlimited Tab completions and inline edits.
- Full IDE that stays compatible with VS Code and Windsurf extensions.

## Pricing

| | Factory | Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Paid | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | No | Yes |
| Starting price | $20 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | Factory | Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Droids | Yes | Not listed |
| Droid CLI | Yes | Not listed |
| Missions | Yes | Not listed |
| Automations | Yes | Not listed |
| Droid Computers | Yes | Not listed |
| Model Independence | Yes | Not listed |
| Human Approval Checkpoints | Yes | Not listed |
| Analytics | Yes | Not listed |
| Public API | Yes | Not listed |
| Agent Command Center | Not listed | Yes |
| Spaces | Not listed | Yes |
| Full IDE | Not listed | Yes |
| Devin Local | Not listed | Yes |
| Agent Client Protocol support | Not listed | Yes |
| Tab and Supercomplete | Not listed | Yes |
| Fast Context | Not listed | Yes |
| Devin Cloud handoff | Not listed | Yes |
| MCP and extensions | Not listed | Yes |
| SWE-2 model | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Factory | Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | No |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | No | No |
| Android | No | No |
| API | Yes | No |
| Browser Extension | No | No |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| CLI | Yes | No |
| JetBrains Plugin | No | Yes |

## Factory strengths

- Covers the full delivery loop: implementation, review, testing, incident response and documentation.
- Model independence, with a router and bring-your-own-key support for custom models.
- Available in desktop, CLI, web and several IDEs, so work is not tied to one editor.
- Enterprise controls including SSO, audit logging, zero data retention and on-premise options.
- Public API and OpenAPI specification for building on top of the platform.

## Factory limitations

- No free tier or trial is listed; the entry plan is $20 per month.
- Usage limits are given only as multiples of Pro, so actual capacity is hard to estimate.
- Business and Enterprise pricing is contact-sales only.
- Droid Computers are limited to Plus and higher plans.

## Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) strengths

- Free plan with unlimited Tab completions and inline edits
- Full IDE that stays compatible with VS Code and Windsurf extensions
- One view for managing local, cloud and third-party agents
- Supports ACP agents such as Codex, Claude Agent and OpenCode
- Available on macOS, Windows and Linux

## Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) limitations

- Paid plans have daily and weekly usage quotas, and extra usage is billed at API pricing
- Pro rose to $20 per month, and Max costs $200 per month
- The rename and the move to devin.ai changed menus, docs and branding, and some names such as the JetBrains plugin still say Windsurf
- Cascade was retired in favour of Devin Local, so Cascade workflows had to migrate

## FAQ

**Is Factory better than Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)?**

It depends on your workflow. Factory is built for delegating backlog tickets, automated pull request review, test generation, incident investigation and long-running refactors or migrations. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) is built for managing multiple coding agents.

**What are the key feature differences between Factory and Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)?**

Factory: Agent-native software development platform where Droids handle full engineering tasks end to end. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf): Agent-first IDE for running local and cloud coding agents in one place.

**Does Factory or Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) have a free plan?**

Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) has a free plan or trial; Factory is paid only.

**Which is cheaper, Factory or Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)?**

Factory starts at $20 and Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) starts at $0. See the pricing table above for what each tier includes.