kitio.aiVisual Studio Code vs Devin Desktop
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Visual Studio Code is completely free, while Devin Desktop is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- AI agents that plan and code
- Model selection
- MCP support
- Extension marketplace
- Integrated terminal and debugger
- Web version
- Cascade agent
- Agent Command Center
- Unlimited Tab completion
- Cloud agent handoff
- VS Code settings import
| Feature | Visual Studio Code | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding | AI code editor from Cognition, formerly called Windsurf |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Free | Freemium |
| Starting price | Free | $20/mo |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes |
| Made by | Microsoft | Cognition |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Visual Studio Code is completely free, while Devin Desktop is freemium.
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
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
Visual Studio Code
- Free and open source
- Huge extension ecosystem
- Runs on all major desktop systems
- Heavier than lightweight editors
- AI features may need separate model access
- Extensions vary in quality
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
Which one should you choose?
Choose Visual Studio Code if you want:
- Free and open source
- Huge extension ecosystem
- Runs on all major desktop systems
Watch out: heavier than lightweight editors.
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.
Visual Studio Code vs Devin Desktop FAQ
What is the difference between Visual Studio Code and Devin Desktop?
Visual Studio Code: Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding. Devin Desktop: AI code editor from Cognition, formerly called Windsurf. Both are coding tools.
Is Visual Studio Code or Devin Desktop cheaper?
Visual Studio Code is completely free, while Devin Desktop is freemium.
Do Visual Studio Code and Devin Desktop have free plans?
Visual Studio Code: Yes, fully free. Devin Desktop: Yes.
Who makes Visual Studio Code?
Visual Studio Code is made by Microsoft, based in United States.
Who makes Devin Desktop?
Devin Desktop is made by Cognition, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Visual Studio Code or Devin Desktop?
Choose Visual Studio Code if you value free and open source and huge extension ecosystem. Choose Devin Desktop if you value manages local and cloud agents in one place and unlimited autocomplete on every plan.