--- title: "Compare Windsurf and Claude Code on how each keeps project context" description: "Windsurf is an agentic code editor. Claude Code is a terminal agent. Compare how each carries project context across sessions and how you inspect it." canonical: "https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/windsurf-vs-claude-code" date: "2026-01-28" modified: "2026-09-25" --- ## Site navigation - [Scale With Search](https://scalewithsearch.com/) - Real estate - Real estate - [Real estate](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/real-estate) - Work - Start here - [Send your brief](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#send-your-brief) - [Prepare your six-question brief](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#prepare-your-six-question-brief) - Build - [Site build, content library with SEO, signal desk](https://scalewithsearch.com/work) - For your business - Trades and home services - [Auto body and collision shops](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/auto-body-and-collision-shops) - [Foundation and home repair contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/foundation-and-home-repair) - [Garage door and fencing contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/garage-door-and-fencing-contractors) - [HVAC contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/hvac-contractors) - [Janitorial and commercial cleaning companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/janitorial-and-commercial-cleaning) - [Locksmiths](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/locksmiths) - [Moving companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/moving-companies) - [Pest control companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/pest-control-companies) - [Plumbing and electrical contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/plumbing-and-electrical-contractors) - [Restoration and water or fire damage companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/restoration-and-water-fire-damage) - [Roofing companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/roofing-companies) - [Towing companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/towing-companies) - [Tree services and landscaping companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/tree-services-and-landscaping) - [Solar installers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/solar-installation) - [General contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/general-contractors-and-construction) - [Paving, concrete, and flooring contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/paving) - Practices and professional services - [Bookkeeping and tax practices](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/bookkeeping-and-tax-practices) - [Dental practices](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/dental-practices) - [Family and criminal defense law firms](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/family-and-criminal-defense-law-firms) - [Med spas and aesthetics practices](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/med-spas-and-aesthetics) - [Personal injury law firms](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/personal-injury-law-firms) - [Veterinary clinics](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/veterinary-clinics) - [Gyms and fitness studios](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/fitness) - [Therapy and outpatient health practices](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/therapy-and-outpatient-health) - [Medical billing companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/medical-billing) - [Insurance agencies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/insurance-agencies) - [Financial advisors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/financial-advisors) - [Property management companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/property-management) - [Recruiting and staffing agencies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/recruiting-and-staffing) - [Architects and interior designers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/architects-and-interior-designers) - [Logistics and supply chain companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/logistics-and-supply-chain) - Agencies, MSPs, and manufacturing - [IT and managed service providers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/it-and-managed-service-providers) - [Machine shops and precision manufacturers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/machine-shops-and-precision-manufacturing) - [Marketing agencies and freelancers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/marketing-agencies-and-freelancers) - [SEO agencies and consultants](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/seo-agencies-and-consultants) - [Small manufacturers and fabricators](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/small-manufacturers-and-fabricators) - Restaurants, shops, studios, and nonprofits - [Restaurants and hospitality businesses](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/restaurants-and-hospitality) - [Retail stores and ecommerce sellers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/retail-and-ecommerce) - [Photographers, event planners, and travel agents](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/photographers) - [Churches and nonprofits](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/churches-and-nonprofits) - [All industries](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/) - Learn - For your office - [Office job guides](https://scalewithsearch.com/guides/) - [Browser calculators](https://scalewithsearch.com/tools/) - Start here - [How it works](https://scalewithsearch.com/how-it-works) - [Free Starter Kit](https://scalewithsearch.com/kit/business-memory-starter-kit.zip) - [Synthetic specimen](https://scalewithsearch.com/specimen/working-session-specimen.zip) - Guides - [The Complete Guide to Business Memory for AI Agents](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/business-memory-for-ai-agents-guide) - [The Complete Small-Business Guide to AI Agent Governance](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/ai-agent-governance-guide-small-business) - [The Complete Guide to Leaving Vendor AI Memory](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/leaving-vendor-ai-memory-guide) - Articles by cluster - [Business memory](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/business-memory-for-ai-agents-guide) - [Agent governance](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/ai-agent-governance-guide-small-business) - [Migration and ownership](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/leaving-vendor-ai-memory-guide) - For machines - [llms.txt](https://scalewithsearch.com/llms.txt) - [llms-full.txt](https://scalewithsearch.com/llms-full.txt) - [Machine view](https://scalewithsearch.com/?view=machine) - Company - Evidence - [Proof](https://scalewithsearch.com/proof) - Company - [About](https://scalewithsearch.com/about) # Compare Windsurf and Claude Code on how each keeps project context. Windsurf and Claude Code are both AI coding tools. They solve different problems, and they store project context in different places. Windsurf is an agentic code editor, built as a fork of VS Code with AI in every layer. Claude Code is a command-line agent from Anthropic that runs in a terminal inside a project folder. It is not an editor, and it works with any editor you already use. This page asks a narrow question. How does each tool carry project context from one session to the next, and how can you inspect what it carries? ## Know where each product came from Codeium launched the Windsurf Editor in November 2024 and renamed the company Windsurf in April 2025. In July 2025, Google hired Windsurf's leadership and licensed its technology, and Cognition acquired the remaining company and product. As of September 2026, the Windsurf documentation redirects to Cognition's Devin Desktop documentation, which calls Cascade the legacy agent. Check the current product name and plans before you commit. Anthropic released Claude Code as a research preview in February 2025 and made it generally available in May 2025. It has since added editor extensions and a web version. This page covers the terminal program. ## Know what Windsurf offers Windsurf's main feature is Cascade, an AI agent inside the editor. You give it a high-level instruction, such as "Install the latest Stripe SDK and build a basic checkout flow." Cascade runs the terminal commands, creates the files, and changes the routes. Other features matter for daily work: - **Tab and Supercomplete.** Fast autocomplete, with fill-in-the-middle and multi-line suggestions that consider terminal context. - **Model choice.** Windsurf offers models from several vendors. - **Codebase indexing.** Windsurf indexes the repository so that completions and Cascade can find relevant code. For context across sessions, Windsurf uses two mechanisms: - **Rules.** A global rules file applies to all your work. Workspace rules live in the project and apply to that project. You write both, and you can commit workspace rules to the repository. - **Memories.** Cascade can create memories during a conversation, on its own or when you ask. Windsurf stores them locally for that workspace. You can view and edit them in the settings. Windsurf does not reset each session. Rules and Memories both carry context forward. ## Know what Claude Code offers Claude Code runs in the terminal and reads the files in the folder where you start it. It does not index the folder in advance. It searches for files and opens them when a task needs them. It can also connect to external tools through the Model Context Protocol (MCP). MCP is how it reaches other systems, not how it reads your files. Its core context mechanism is the `CLAUDE.md` file ([Anthropic memory documentation](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/memory)). Claude Code reads it at the start of each session. Several levels stack: | Level | Location | Scope | |---|---|---| | User | `~/.claude/CLAUDE.md` | All your projects | | Project | `CLAUDE.md` at the project root | This project; commit it to share with the team | | Subfolder | `CLAUDE.md` inside a subfolder, such as `frontend/` | Loaded when Claude Code works in that subfolder | A `CLAUDE.md` file can also pull in another file with an import line, such as `@docs/architecture.md`. Recent versions of Claude Code also keep an auto memory per project, on by default as of September 2026 (Anthropic memory documentation). It is a folder of Markdown files that you can open, edit, or delete. Claude Code asks for approval before it edits files or runs commands, unless you change its permission settings. The [guide to Claude Code](/articles/what-is-claude-code) covers installation and a first `CLAUDE.md`. ## Compare how context is written and stored Both tools now carry context across sessions. The difference is who writes it and where it lives. In Windsurf, context comes from three sources: rules you write, memories Cascade generates, and the live index of your code. The index is strong for code structure. Auto-generated memories save you effort, but you must review them, because the agent chose what to keep. They live on your machine for that workspace, not in the repository, so teammates do not share them. In Claude Code, context comes mainly from files you write and commit. The project `CLAUDE.md` travels with the repository, so every developer and every session reads the same text. Auto memory adds agent-written notes, and those notes are readable files too. Consider an example. You build a software-as-a-service app with a custom sign-in flow. In either tool, document the flow once: in Windsurf workspace rules or in the project `CLAUDE.md`. Both tools then read it in every session. If you only explain it in chat, Windsurf may or may not save a memory of it. Claude Code keeps it only if you or its auto memory write it down. ## Compare the tools side by side | Factor | Windsurf | Claude Code | |---|---|---| | Type | Agentic code editor, a fork of VS Code | Terminal agent, used with any editor | | Main strength | Inline completion and an agent inside the editor | Agent work across files, including non-code documents | | Written context | Global rules and workspace rules | `CLAUDE.md` at user, project, and subfolder level, with imports | | Agent-written context | Cascade Memories, stored locally per workspace | Auto memory folder per project, in recent versions | | Code awareness | Codebase index | Search and file reads on demand | | Cross-session context | Yes, through rules and memories | Yes, through `CLAUDE.md` files and auto memory | | Autocomplete | Tab and Supercomplete | None in the terminal | | Terminal commands | Yes, with settings for automatic execution | Yes, with permission modes | | Models | Several vendors | Anthropic's Claude models | | Pricing | Plans change often; check the vendor site | Paid Claude plan (Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise) or a Console account | Check each vendor's pricing page for current plans. Prices and credit limits change often. ## Choose by the work Use Windsurf if you want: - fast autocomplete inside the editor - an agent that runs multi-step coding tasks in the same window as your code - a full editor with AI built into each feature - a choice of models from several vendors Use Claude Code if you want: - project context in committed files that every session and every teammate reads - one agent for code and for business documents, such as specs, plans, and notes - your current editor, unchanged - explicit control over what the agent reads, file by file For a similar comparison with Cursor, see the [Claude Code and Cursor project memory test](/articles/claude-code-vs-cursor-project-memory). ## Use both on one project The tools do not conflict. Some developers use Windsurf for autocomplete and in-editor agent work, and Claude Code for larger changes and project documents. If you use both, keep one source of truth for conventions. Write the conventions in one Markdown file in the repository. Import it into `CLAUDE.md` with an `@` line, and copy the rules that Windsurf needs into its workspace rules. When the source file changes, update both. The [CLAUDE.md template for business context](/articles/claude-md-template-business-context) shows a structure that works for either tool. ## Run a cold-session test in both tools Test what each tool carries forward. 1. Write three conventions in the project instructions: Windsurf workspace rules and `CLAUDE.md`. 2. In a chat in each tool, state a fourth convention, but do not write it in any file. 3. Close both tools. 4. Open a new session in each tool the next day. 5. Ask each tool to list the project conventions. 6. Ask each tool where each convention came from. Both tools should return the three written conventions. The fourth one shows the difference. Windsurf returns it only if Cascade saved a memory. Claude Code returns it only if its auto memory captured it. Either way, check the saved text before you trust it. A convention that matters belongs in a file you wrote, reviewed, and committed. ## Keep the business record outside both tools Context windows grow, and products change. Claude 2 accepted 100,000 tokens in 2023. Claude 2.1 raised that to 200,000 in November 2023. As of September 2026, Anthropic's documentation lists a 1 million token window as the default for its newest models. Windsurf changed owners within a year of its launch. Files in your repository do not depend on any of those changes. For business memory beyond code, such as clients, decisions, and approvals, the file approach carries over to any tool. The [guide to Claude memory alternatives for coding agents](/articles/claude-mem-alternatives-coding-agents) compares further options. ## Related: AI memory - [Claude Code vs ChatGPT for a Large Codebase: Repository Context, Tests, and Handoff](/articles/claude-code-vs-chatgpt-large-codebase) - [Claude-Mem Alternatives for Coding Agents: Score the Memory Layer](/articles/claude-mem-alternatives-coding-agents) - [Claude Code vs Cursor for Project Memory: Rules, Decisions, and Repository Continuity](/articles/claude-code-vs-cursor-project-memory) ---- ```text .|########||. .|########||. .|########||. |##||. .||##|. |##||. .||##|. |##||. .||##|. |#|. .|#|. |#|. .|#|. |#|. .|#|. |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#. .#| .#. .#| .#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| .# ||#########| #| .# ||#########| #| .# ||#########| #| .#. |######||######|. .#. .#. |######||######|. .#. .#. |######||######|. .#. #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# # .||####|###########################|. # # .||####|###########################|. # # .||####|###########################|. # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || #. .######|#|#########| .# #. .######|#|#########| .# #. .######|#|#########| .# .#. |#####||||#####| .#. .#. |#####||||#####| .#. .#. |#####||||#####| .#. |# ||########|| #. |# ||########|| #. |# ||########|| #. |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#. |#. .#. |#. .#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. |##||. .||##| |##||. .||##| |##||. .||##| .||########||. .||########||. .||########||. Scale With Search 2026 [scalewithsearch.com](https://scalewithsearch.com) ```