Cursor vs Windsurf vs Antigravity vs Nimbalyst: Which AI Workspace Is Right for You in 2026?
A detailed comparison of Cursor, Windsurf, Google Antigravity, and Nimbalyst. Four different approaches to AI-assisted development. Compare features, architecture, pricing, and ideal use cases.
Cursor, Windsurf, Antigravity, and Nimbalyst represent four different bets on how developers will work with AI. Cursor and Windsurf are AI-enhanced IDEs that start with a code editor and add AI capabilities. Google Antigravity is a VS Code fork with a parallel agent “Manager View” built in. Nimbalyst is an AI-native workspace that starts with the AI agent and builds visual tools around it.
This is not a “which is best” article. Each tool excels for different workflows. This guide helps you pick the right one.
Architecture: Four Different Approaches
Cursor: AI-Enhanced VS Code
Cursor is a fork of VS Code with deeply integrated AI features. The code editor is the center of the experience. AI assists through inline completions, a chat sidebar, and an agent mode that can make multi-file edits.
- Foundation: VS Code fork with the full extension ecosystem and familiar keybindings
- AI model: Multiple models including Claude Sonnet, GPT, and Cursor’s own models
- Agent mode: AI can read, edit, and create files, run terminal commands, and iterate on errors
- Context: Codebase indexing, @-mentions for files/docs, .cursorrules for project context
The key advantage: it is a fully functional IDE. You can use Cursor as your only development tool.
Windsurf: AI-First IDE
Windsurf (by Codeium) takes a similar IDE approach but with a stronger emphasis on AI-native features like Cascade, a persistent multi-step AI workflow engine.
- Foundation: Custom IDE (not a VS Code fork)
- AI model: Codeium’s models plus third-party options
- Cascade: Multi-step agent that maintains context across a chain of actions
- Context: Automatic codebase understanding, no manual configuration needed
The key advantage: Cascade’s multi-step reasoning feels more autonomous than typical chat-based AI coding.
Antigravity: Google’s Agent IDE with Manager View
Google Antigravity is a VS Code fork with two modes: a traditional Editor View and a Manager View for orchestrating parallel agents.
- Foundation: VS Code fork with full extension compatibility
- AI model: Gemini 3.1 Pro/Flash by default, plus Claude and GPT support
- Manager View: Control center for dispatching up to 5 parallel agents across workspaces
- Built-in browser: Chrome integration lets agents launch, interact with, and screenshot your app
The key advantage: the Manager View gives you parallel agent execution inside a full IDE, with a built-in browser for visual verification.
Nimbalyst: Visual Workspace for AI Agents
Nimbalyst is not an IDE at all. It is a workspace application where Claude Code and Codex, the most powerful AI coding agents available, are the execution engines. You manage sessions, review changes, and do visual work (docs, diagrams, mockups) in a purpose-built interface.
- Foundation: Cross-platform app (macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS) with Claude Code and Codex running underneath
- AI agents: Claude Code (Claude Opus/Sonnet) and Codex (GPT-5.3), not custom models, the actual CLI agents
- Multi-session: Run 6+ agent sessions simultaneously with kanban-style management
- Visual tools: WYSIWYG markdown, Excalidraw diagrams, data model designer, mockup editor
The key advantage: you are using the most powerful coding agents (Claude Code, Codex) with a visual management layer on top, not a watered-down version embedded in an IDE.
Feature Comparison
Code Editing
| Feature | Cursor | Windsurf | Antigravity | Nimbalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inline code editing | Yes (full IDE) | Yes (full IDE) | Yes (full IDE) | Via agent (Claude Code/Codex handles edits) |
| Autocomplete | Yes (AI-powered) | Yes (AI-powered) | Yes (AI-powered) | No (agents write complete implementations) |
| Syntax highlighting | Full IDE | Full IDE | Full IDE | Code viewer with syntax highlighting |
| Extension ecosystem | VS Code extensions | Limited | VS Code extensions | MCP extensions |
| Manual coding | Yes | Yes | Yes | Possible but not primary workflow |
Winner: Cursor/Windsurf/Antigravity for traditional code editing. These are IDEs where code editing is the core function. Nimbalyst delegates editing to the AI agent, which is intentional: the bet is that you should not be manually editing code that an agent can write.
AI Agent Capabilities
| Feature | Cursor | Windsurf | Antigravity | Nimbalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Underlying agent | Cursor’s agent mode | Cascade | Gemini-powered agents | Claude Code + Codex (full CLI agents) |
| Multi-file edits | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Terminal command execution | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Agent quality | Good | Good | Good (Gemini 3.1) | Best-in-class (Claude Opus/Codex) |
| Model flexibility | Multiple models | Limited | Gemini + Claude + GPT | Claude + Codex models |
| Built-in browser testing | No | No | Yes (Chrome) | No |
Winner: Nimbalyst for agent quality. Claude Code and Codex consistently top coding benchmarks. Antigravity’s Chrome integration is a genuine differentiator for front-end work, but on raw coding capability, the Claude Code and Codex agents are a step above.
Multi-Session Management
| Feature | Cursor | Windsurf | Antigravity | Nimbalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parallel agent sessions | Cursor 2.0 (up to 8) | No | Yes (up to 5, Manager View) | Yes (6+ sessions) |
| Session status board | No | No | Inbox + workspace list | Kanban board |
| Git worktree isolation | Yes (Cursor 2.0) | No | One agent per workspace | Automatic per session |
| Cross-session visibility | No | No | Manager View | Unified dashboard |
Winner: Nimbalyst for session management. Antigravity’s Manager View is a solid step forward for an IDE, with inbox-style tracking and workspace-based isolation. But Nimbalyst’s kanban board with automatic status tracking, tagging, filtering, and mobile access is purpose-built for this workflow.
Visual Tools
| Feature | Cursor | Windsurf | Antigravity | Nimbalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Markdown editor | Preview only | Preview only | Preview only | WYSIWYG with AI |
| Diagramming | No | No | No | Excalidraw integration |
| Mockup creation | No | No | No | MockupLM |
| Data model design | No | No | No | DataModelLM |
| Browser preview | No | No | Yes (built-in Chrome) | No |
Winner: Nimbalyst for visual planning tools. Antigravity’s built-in browser is useful for front-end verification, but it is not a planning tool. Nimbalyst treats documents, diagrams, and mockups as first-class citizens alongside code.
Mobile Access
| Feature | Cursor | Windsurf | Antigravity | Nimbalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile app | No | No | No | iOS app |
| Remote session monitoring | No | No | No | Yes |
| Mobile diff review | No | No | No | Yes |
| Mobile agent control | No | No | No | Yes |
Winner: Nimbalyst. None of the IDEs offer mobile access. Nimbalyst’s iOS app lets you monitor sessions, review diffs, and respond to agent questions from your phone.
Pricing
| Plan | Cursor | Windsurf | Antigravity | Nimbalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Limited | Limited | Public preview (limited) | Full app (free) |
| Pro | $20/month | $15/month | ~$20/month | Free (bring your own API keys) |
| Team | $40/month/seat | $35/month/seat | ~$40-60/seat | Free |
Winner: Nimbalyst on price. The app is free. You pay only for the underlying AI usage (your Anthropic/OpenAI API keys or Max subscription). The three IDEs all charge monthly subscriptions on top of AI costs. Antigravity’s pricing has been a source of controversy, with unclear credit systems and reduced free-tier limits.
Who Should Use What
Choose Cursor if:
- You want a complete IDE replacement with one app for everything, including manual code editing
- You are already in the VS Code ecosystem and want your extensions and keybindings
- Your workflow is primarily single-session: one feature at a time, hands-on-keyboard coding with AI assist
- You want inline autocomplete as your primary AI interaction
Choose Windsurf if:
- You want an AI-first IDE with less VS Code baggage
- Cascade’s multi-step reasoning fits your workflow better than chat-based interaction
- You prefer a simpler interface with fewer configuration options
- You are cost-sensitive and want a slightly cheaper IDE option
Choose Antigravity if:
- You want parallel agents inside a full IDE with Google’s ecosystem
- Built-in Chrome browser testing matters for your front-end workflow
- You want Gemini models as your default with the option to use Claude or GPT
- You like the idea of a Manager View for orchestrating agents without leaving your editor
Choose Nimbalyst if:
- You use Claude Code or Codex as your primary coding tool and want a visual layer on top
- You regularly run multiple agent sessions in parallel and need to manage them
- Your workflow includes visual work (planning docs, architecture diagrams, UI mockups) alongside coding
- You want mobile access to monitor and control agents from your phone
- You want the best AI models (Claude Opus, Codex) without the quality trade-offs of IDE-embedded models
The Deeper Question
The real question is not “which tool has more features?” It is “where does the human add value?”
Cursor and Windsurf answer: the human adds value by writing and editing code, with AI as an assistant. The developer is still the primary author.
Antigravity sits in the middle: it is still an IDE, but the Manager View acknowledges that orchestrating multiple agents is a distinct workflow worth its own interface.
Nimbalyst answers: the human adds value by deciding what to build, planning the approach, reviewing the output, and managing multiple streams of work. The AI agent is the primary author. The human is the manager.
As AI agents get more capable (and they are getting more capable fast), the management-oriented approach becomes more compelling. Running five Claude Code sessions in parallel, steering them toward the right outcomes, and reviewing their work is a fundamentally different and more leveraged way to develop software.
If you are ready to try that workflow, download Nimbalyst free.