# Trae vs Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)

> Trae: ByteDance's AI IDE and agent workspace that plans, codes and ships software tasks
> Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf): Agent-first IDE for running local and cloud coding agents in one place

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

## Verdict

Trae and Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) are both Coding AI tools. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.4 vs 7.6 out of 10), led by value for money. Both have a free plan or trial. Only Trae is available on Web, iOS and Android. Only Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) is available on JetBrains Plugin.

### Choose Trae if

- You want a tool built for delegating end-to-end coding tasks to an agent, building MVPs, and moving work between desktop, web and mobile.
- Permanent free tier with 5,000 autocompletions per month.
- Covers macOS, Windows and Linux desktops plus web, iOS and Android.

### 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

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

## Features

| Feature | Trae | Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| IDE Mode | Yes | Not listed |
| SOLO / TRAE Work Agent | Yes | Not listed |
| Cloud Tasks | Yes | Not listed |
| Mobile Companion | Yes | Not listed |
| Large Context Windows | Yes | Not listed |
| Multi-Model Access | Yes | Not listed |
| Token-Based Usage | Yes | Not listed |
| Web Version | 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 | Trae | Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | No |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | No |
| Android | Yes | No |
| API | No | No |
| Browser Extension | No | No |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| JetBrains Plugin | No | Yes |

## Trae strengths

- Permanent free tier with 5,000 autocompletions per month.
- Covers macOS, Windows and Linux desktops plus web, iOS and Android.
- Up to 1M-token context in Max mode and up to 20 concurrent cloud tasks on Ultra.
- Agent workflow extends beyond coding to documents and analysis.
- SOC 2 certification is shown on the vendor's site footer.

## Trae limitations

- Free tier is limited to Auto mode and does not allow choosing models.
- Token-based usage makes monthly cost harder to predict than a flat request count.
- Pricing has changed several times in 2026 and older guides quote outdated figures.
- Changelog page shows "No update record yet", and the product is operated by ByteDance, which some organisations may restrict.

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

It depends on your workflow. Trae is built for delegating end-to-end coding tasks to an agent, building MVPs, and moving work between desktop, web and mobile. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) is built for managing multiple coding agents.

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

Trae: ByteDance's AI IDE and agent workspace that plans, codes and ships software tasks. Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf): Agent-first IDE for running local and cloud coding agents in one place.

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

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

**Which is cheaper, Trae 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.