App comparison · cross-category peers
OpenClaw vs Windsurf
Systematic comparison of OpenClaw and Windsurf across deployment, access, interfaces, automation, and sourced product capabilities. Green highlights mark stronger normalized product-surface values; qualitative tradeoffs remain neutral.
Product surface
Side-by-side app facts
| Field | OpenClaw | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | OpenClaw Foundation | Windsurf |
| Category | Personal agent | Coding agent |
| Lifecycle | Active | Active |
| Access | Open source | Proprietary |
| License | MIT | Unknown |
| Self-hostable | Yes | No |
| Local execution | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud execution | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Interfaces | CLI, Web, macOS app, Messaging | IDE, CLI |
| Model access | Bring hosted, subscription-backed, gateway, or local models | Windsurf-managed and supported frontier models |
| Automation | Cron, webhooks, and scheduled agent work | Cascade workflows, rules, memories, and tool calls |
| Multi-agent | Yes | Unknown |
| Persistent memory | Yes | Yes |
| MCP support | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Free software; model and hosting costs are separate | Free and paid individual and team plans |
14 comparable fields · 8 material differences · Editorially curated pair with developer-owned primary sources
Shared surface
Overlapping documented capabilities
Developer evidence