Windsurf vs JetBrains AI Assistant
Windsurf
Quick Verdict
Windsurf excels at ai-native development and large codebases with a score of 91/100. Windsurf, now part of OpenAI following the acquisition of Codeium, competes in the Cursor-class editor category with an emphasis on agentic workflows.
JetBrains AI Assistant
Quick Verdict
JetBrains AI Assistant excels at jetbrains ide users and enterprise development with a score of 90/100. JetBrains AI Assistant leverages the deep IDE integration and powerful static analysis capabilities of JetBrains tools.
📊 Visual Score Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of key performance metrics across six evaluation criteria
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Windsurf | JetBrains AI Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Core AI Model(s) | Primarily powered by OpenAI models (GPT-4.1, o3) with the Cascade agent for agentic workflows. Legacy Codeium models may still be used for low-latency autocomplete. | JetBrains AI Assistant uses a combination of models. It leverages its own proprietary LLM, Mellum, which is optimized for coding. It also provides access to third-party cloud models from providers like OpenAI, Google (Gemini 2.5 Pro), and Anthropic (Claude 3.7 Sonnet). |
| Context Window | Supports large context windows via OpenAI's frontier models. Cascade agent maintains multi-file context for complex refactoring tasks. | The assistant is deeply integrated into the IDE and is context-aware, using information from the current project, including language versions, libraries, and related files, to generate more accurate prompts and suggestions. |
| Deployment Options | Desktop application for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Enterprise plans available with SSO and team management features. | The AI Assistant is available as a plugin within JetBrains' commercial IDEs. For enterprise customers with strict data privacy needs, an on-premises solution is available through IDE Services, which can run in an air-gapped environment using local models like Llama 3.1 via Hugging Face. |
| Offline Mode | Limited offline capabilities; core AI features require cloud connectivity to OpenAI's infrastructure. | Yes, JetBrains AI Assistant supports an offline mode. Users can connect to locally hosted models through tools like Ollama or LM Studio, allowing most AI features to function without an internet connection. However, some advanced features like multi-file edits are not available in offline mode. |
Core Features Comparison
Windsurf Features
- Cascade agent for autonomous multi-step coding tasks
- Agentic workflows for multi-step tasks
- Context-aware code completion and refactoring
- Multi-file edits and project-wide reasoning
- Native editor experience with low-latency responses
- Deep integration with OpenAI models
JetBrains AI Assistant Features
- Context-aware code completion within JetBrains IDEs
- Code explanation and documentation generation
- Refactoring suggestions based on best practices
- Integration with JetBrains' powerful development tools
Pricing & Value Analysis
| Aspect | Windsurf | JetBrains AI Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing URL | View Windsurf Pricing | View JetBrains AI Assistant Pricing |
| Overall Score | 91/100 | 90/100 |
| Best For | AI-Native Development, Large Codebases, Agentic Workflows, OpenAI Ecosystem Users | JetBrains IDE Users, Enterprise Development, Code Refactoring |
Best Use Cases
Windsurf Excels At
- Multi-file feature development with agent-guided refactors
- Complex codebase changes coordinated across modules
- Rapid iteration with in-editor AI for generation and fixes
- Teams invested in the OpenAI ecosystem seeking a native editor experience
JetBrains AI Assistant Excels At
- Automated commit message generation based on code changes and project context
- Complex refactoring operations with AI understanding of code dependencies and design patterns
- Code explanation and documentation for team knowledge sharing and onboarding new developers
Performance & Integration
| Category | Windsurf | JetBrains AI Assistant | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDE Support | Windsurf is a standalone VS Code-based editor. Also offers extensions for VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, and Neovim. | Fully integrated with the suite of JetBrains IDEs, including IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, CLion, ReSharper, and others. | Tie |
| Community | Active community | Active community | Tie |
| Data Richness | Comprehensive | Comprehensive | Tie |
| Overall Score | 91/100 | 90/100 | Windsurf |
The Bottom Line
Both Windsurf and JetBrains AI Assistant are capable AI coding tools, but they serve different needs. Windsurf scores higher (91/100 vs 90/100) and excels in ai-native development and large codebases. The choice depends on your specific workflow, team size, and technical requirements.
Choose Windsurf if: you prioritize ai-native development and large codebases and want the higher-rated option (91/100).
Choose JetBrains AI Assistant if: you prioritize jetbrains ide users and enterprise development and don't mind a slightly lower score for specialized features.