OpenAI o3 vs Windsurf
A side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right tool.
90
OpenAI o3 scores higher overall (90/100)
But the best choice depends on your specific needs. Compare below.
| Feature | OpenAI o3 | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 90 | 88 |
| Pricing | Available through OpenAI products and API access paths; pricing depends on plan or API usage. | Free tier with 25 credits/month. Pro at $15/month with 500 credits. Teams at $30/user/month. Enterprise pricing is custom. |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Best for | Researchers and analysts solving complex multi-step problems, Developers who need deeper reasoning than a fast general-purpose model, Users working with charts, files, and visual reasoning tasks | Developers who want AI-powered coding across multiple IDEs, not just one editor, Teams working on complex multi-file refactoring and large codebases, Enterprise teams needing FedRAMP, HIPAA, or ITAR compliance, Cost-conscious developers who want Cursor-level features at a lower price |
| Platforms | web, ios, android, api | mac, windows, linux |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | en | en |
| Pros |
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| Visit site | Visit site |
- Pricing
- Available through OpenAI products and API access paths; pricing depends on plan or API usage.
- Free plan
- No
- Best for
- Researchers and analysts solving complex multi-step problems, Developers who need deeper reasoning than a fast general-purpose model, Users working with charts, files, and visual reasoning tasks
- Platforms
- web, ios, android, api
- API
- Yes
- Languages
- en
Windsurf
88
- Pricing
- Free tier with 25 credits/month. Pro at $15/month with 500 credits. Teams at $30/user/month. Enterprise pricing is custom.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Best for
- Developers who want AI-powered coding across multiple IDEs, not just one editor, Teams working on complex multi-file refactoring and large codebases, Enterprise teams needing FedRAMP, HIPAA, or ITAR compliance, Cost-conscious developers who want Cursor-level features at a lower price
- Platforms
- mac, windows, linux
- API
- Yes
- Languages
- en
90Choose OpenAI o3 if:
- You are Researchers and analysts solving complex multi-step problems
- You are Developers who need deeper reasoning than a fast general-purpose model
- You are Users working with charts, files, and visual reasoning tasks
88Choose Windsurf if:
- You are Developers who want AI-powered coding across multiple IDEs, not just one editor
- You are Teams working on complex multi-file refactoring and large codebases
- You are Enterprise teams needing FedRAMP, HIPAA, or ITAR compliance
- You want to start free
FAQ
- What is the difference between OpenAI o3 and Windsurf?
- OpenAI o3 is openai's high-end reasoning model designed for harder coding, analysis, science, and multi-step problem solving with tool use. Windsurf is windsurf is an ai-native code editor with agentic capabilities that understands your entire codebase and applies multi-file changes autonomously. ranked #1 in ai dev tool power rankings, it offers broader ide compatibility than cursor at a lower price point.
- Which is cheaper, OpenAI o3 or Windsurf?
- OpenAI o3: Available through OpenAI products and API access paths; pricing depends on plan or API usage.. Windsurf: Free tier with 25 credits/month. Pro at $15/month with 500 credits. Teams at $30/user/month. Enterprise pricing is custom.. Windsurf has a free plan.
- Who is OpenAI o3 best for?
- OpenAI o3 is best for Researchers and analysts solving complex multi-step problems, Developers who need deeper reasoning than a fast general-purpose model, Users working with charts, files, and visual reasoning tasks.
- Who is Windsurf best for?
- Windsurf is best for Developers who want AI-powered coding across multiple IDEs, not just one editor, Teams working on complex multi-file refactoring and large codebases, Enterprise teams needing FedRAMP, HIPAA, or ITAR compliance, Cost-conscious developers who want Cursor-level features at a lower price.