kitio.aiDevin Desktop vs Refraction
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Refraction has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $20 for Devin Desktop.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Cascade agent
- Agent Command Center
- Unlimited Tab completion
- Cloud agent handoff
- VS Code settings import
- Bug detection
- Language conversion
- Function generation
- Inline documentation
- Mermaid diagrams
- VS Code extension
| Feature | Devin Desktop | Refraction |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | AI code editor from Cognition, formerly called Windsurf | AI code helper for bug checks, language conversion and docs |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free trial |
| Starting price | $20/mo | $8/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No, trial available |
| Made by | Cognition | Refraction |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Refraction has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $20 for Devin Desktop.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
5 plans
Free
Free
- Light agent quota
- Limited model availability
- Unlimited inline edits and Tab completions
Pro
$20/mo
- Higher quotas incl. frontier models
- Full model availability, free SWE-2
- Access to Devin Cloud agents
- Extra usage at API pricing
Teams
$80/mo
- Plus $40/mo per full dev seat
- Up to 200 users
- Centralized billing and admin analytics
- Priority support
Max
$200/mo
- Everything in Pro
- Significantly higher quotas
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Custom terms for large organizations
4 plans
Hobby
Free
- One user
- 10 code generations in total
Pro
$8/mo
- Unlimited code generations
- Unlimited history
- Editor extensions
Team
$14/mo
- Per user
- Shared code history
- Team management
Enterprise
Contact sales
- SSO and SCIM
- Audit logs
- Dedicated support
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Devin Desktop
- Manages local and cloud agents in one place
- Unlimited autocomplete on every plan
- Imports VS Code and Cursor settings
- Daily and weekly quotas can run out
- Renamed twice, so docs are scattered
Refraction
- Low monthly price for unlimited use
- Many small utilities in one tool
- Works inside VS Code
- Free use stops after 10 generations
- Task-based actions, not a full coding agent
- No student or nonprofit discount yet
Which one should you choose?
Choose Devin Desktop if you want:
- Manages local and cloud agents in one place
- Unlimited autocomplete on every plan
- Imports VS Code and Cursor settings
Watch out: daily and weekly quotas can run out.
Choose Refraction if you want:
- Low monthly price for unlimited use
- Many small utilities in one tool
- Works inside VS Code
Watch out: free use stops after 10 generations.
Devin Desktop vs Refraction FAQ
What is the difference between Devin Desktop and Refraction?
Devin Desktop: AI code editor from Cognition, formerly called Windsurf. Refraction: AI code helper for bug checks, language conversion and docs. Both are coding tools.
Is Devin Desktop or Refraction cheaper?
Refraction has the lower starting price: about $8 a month, against $20 for Devin Desktop.
Do Devin Desktop and Refraction have free plans?
Devin Desktop: Yes. Refraction: No, trial available.
Who makes Devin Desktop?
Devin Desktop is made by Cognition, based in United States.
Who makes Refraction?
Refraction is made by Refraction.
Which should I choose, Devin Desktop or Refraction?
Choose Devin Desktop if you value manages local and cloud agents in one place and unlimited autocomplete on every plan. Choose Refraction if you value low monthly price for unlimited use and many small utilities in one tool.