Claude Agent SDK vs Windsurf
These two do quite different things, so neither is a direct alternative to the other.
Claude Agent SDK Anthropic
The agent loop behind Claude Code as a TypeScript and Python library, with tools, skills, MCP and subagents.
VisitSide by side
| Property | Claude Agent SDK | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Product | Product |
| Category | AI agents and automation | AI coding tools |
| Made by | Anthropic | Cognition |
| Pricing | Pay per use | Free plan + paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| API | Yes | No |
| Platforms | API | IDE, Desktop |
| Startup | Yes | Yes |
Features
Only Claude Agent SDK
- agent framework
- skills
- multi-agent
Both
- mcp
Only Windsurf
- ai editor
- autocomplete
- coding agent
- multi-model