4/24/2025

Understanding Windsurf’s Pay-Per-Prompt Pricing Model

Windsurf, previously known as Codeium, has made quite a splash in the AI conversation space with its unique pricing model designed to fuel creativity & efficiency in coding. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just dipping your toes into coding waters, understanding Windsurf's pay-per-prompt model could just be the key to getting the most out of this innovative tool!

What is Windsurf?

Before diving into pricing details, let's first understand Windsurf itself. It’s an AI-powered coding assistant that helps developers generate code, provide instant feedback, & automate several repetitive tasks. The platform aims to boost productivity by harnessing advanced AI language models, making it easier for everyone to solve complex coding conundrums. If you want to learn more, head over to the Windsurf home page.

The Basics of the Pricing Model

Windsurf's pricing model is centered around the concept of prompt credits that users consume whenever they engage with the AI assistant. This means that users can create & interact with their coding assistant without needing a subscription model that charges fixed monthly fees, which can be beneficial in maintaining budgetary flexibility. Here’s how it breaks down:

Free Plan

The Free Plan allows users to test the waters with no financial commitment at all:

Monthly Cost: $0
Features: 5 prompt credits per month, unlimited usage of the Windsurf Tab, app previews, and a two-week Pro trial.

This is an excellent option for users who want to dip their toes & see if Windsurf suits their needs. You can sign up and download it here.

Pro Plan

If you find yourself enjoying the platform & needing more prompt credits to create, the Pro Plan is a perfect upgrade:

Monthly Cost: $15
Prompt Credits: 500 credits per month
Add-On Credit Details: You can purchase additional credits at a rate of $10 for 250 credits.
Features: Everything in the Free Plan, plus premium models, an unlimited fast tab, app deploys, & the option for zero data retention.

Essentially, this plan gives developers the ADDED flexbility to create more robust codes without running out of essential credits. Want to upgrade? You can select this plan at checkout.

Teams Plan

For collective creativity, Windsurf offers a Teams Plan that supports collaboration among team members:

Monthly Cost: $30 per user per month
Prompt Credits: 500 credits per user each month
Add-On Credits: Available at $40 for 1000 pooled credits.
Features: Includes centralized billing, access to admin dashboard analytics, priority support, & automated zero data retention.

This plan works brilliantly for teams, as it allows centralized management of billing & insights on analytics. Plus, it helps foster collaboration in coding tasks! You can choose the Teams Plan here.

Enterprise Plan

Finally, for large companies needing extensive capabilities, the Enterprise Plan provides:

Monthly Cost: Starting at $60 per user per month
Prompt Credits: 1,000 credits per user each month
Add-On Credits: Also available at $40 for 1000 pooled credits.
Features: All teams plan features, but includes Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), SSO (Single Sign-On) capabilities, and top-tier support!

The Enterprise Plan might suit organizations looking for dedicated account management or hybrid deployment options, especially those expecting a more complex integration. Interested? Contact the Windsurf team to discuss tailor-made options!

Understanding How Prompt Credits Work

With every interaction you have with Windsurf, prompt credits are being consumed. Here's how it works: when you send a message to the Cascade AI model in Windsurf, one prompt credit gets consumed for that action. Unlike typical subscriptions where you might be charged for a flat rate of time or activity usage, Windsurf tailors pricing based on specific engagement. This way, customers have a clearer understanding of costs based on their usage patterns.

How Credit Usage Is Calculated

Message Sent: Each time you send a message to Windsurf’s premium model, it costs you one credit. The beauty here is that no matter how complicated the code or task is, you only pay for the interaction.
Add-On Credits: If you find that your original credits aren’t sufficient, you can purchase additional credits seamlessly, ensuring you don’t get interrupted in your workflow.
Credit Expiration & Rollovers: Importantly, any unused credits roll over to the following month, giving more value for your money if your usage varies!

Thus, you manage costs effectively based on your actual usage. Want to see if you need to purchase credits? Checking credit consumption is easily done through the settings in your Windsurf dashboard.

Benefits of Pay-Per-Prompt

Windsurf's pay-per-prompt pricing model is intelligently designed:

Flexible Spending: Before committing to larger packages, you can create your needs around what you genuinely use.
Scalable Plans: Perfect for growing teams where resource allocations can change from month to month.
Reduced Wasted Credits: You've no need to worry about unused credits piling up as they roll over to the next month!

The key here is that utilizing this model allows clients to engage with Windsurf based on their developmental cycles.

Final Thoughts

As AI continues to evolve, tools like Windsurf are giving developers the ability to utilize sophisticated models while maintaining control over expenses. Its pay-per-prompt model clearly reflects users' needs & coding behaviors, making it a TOOL OF CHOICE for hundreds of developers.

Additionally, if you’re considering enhancing your AI capabilities beyond Windsurf, check out Arsturn. With Arsturn, you can instantly create custom chatbots for your website, helping you engage your audience better. No credit card required, & instantly boost your engagement rates while saving time on operational costs. Explore the effortless, no-code chatbot builder with Arsturn today!

Stay connected, keep coding, & unlock the potential of AI in your development journey with Windsurf!

Happy surfing!