# Novastart vs Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)

> Novastart: Infinite canvas desktop where your apps, teammates and AI agents share one workspace
> Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf): Agent-first IDE for running local and cloud coding agents in one place

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

## Verdict

Novastart is listed under Productivity and Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) under Coding AI. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.4 vs 7.3 out of 10). Both have a free plan or trial. Only Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) is available on JetBrains Plugin.

### Choose Novastart if

- You want a tool built for keeping many apps and projects organized in saved workspaces, watching AI agents work step by step, sharing a live workspace with teammates.
- Agents work with a visible cursor and can be paused, steered or taken over.
- Permanent free plan with all apps available.

### 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

| | Novastart | Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | Novastart | Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Infinite canvas | Yes | Not listed |
| Saved canvases | Yes | Not listed |
| Visible AI agents | Yes | Not listed |
| Multi-agent runs | Yes | Not listed |
| Agent modes | Yes | Not listed |
| Team collaboration | Yes | Not listed |
| Real apps | Yes | Not listed |
| Local-first data | Yes | Not listed |
| Undo history | 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 | Novastart | Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | No | No |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | No | No |
| Android | No | No |
| API | No | No |
| Browser Extension | No | No |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| JetBrains Plugin | No | Yes |

## Novastart strengths

- Agents work with a visible cursor and can be paused, steered or taken over
- Permanent free plan with all apps available
- Pro at $10 per month removes canvas limits
- Local-first design keeps canvas contents on the user's machine
- Peer-to-peer canvas sharing with per-person cursors

## Novastart limitations

- The app is a full computer in a window and the site warns to expect some lag
- App supports only Windows and Intel Macs, and needs 8 GB RAM and virtualization
- Novastart OS replaces the existing system on the PC it is installed on
- Agent use costs extra on every plan and needs credits of $25 or more
- Young product launched in September 2026 with little independent review history

## 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 Novastart better than Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)?**

It depends on your workflow. Novastart is built for keeping many apps and projects organized in saved workspaces, watching AI agents work step by step, sharing a live workspace with teammates. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) is built for managing multiple coding agents.

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

Novastart: Infinite canvas desktop where your apps, teammates and AI agents share one workspace. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf): Agent-first IDE for running local and cloud coding agents in one place.

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

Yes, both do. Novastart is freemium and Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) is freemium, and each has a free plan or trial.

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

Both can be used for free. Paid plans differ in limits and features, so compare the tiers in the pricing table above.