Brandwave

GitHub Copilot vs Windsurf:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, GitHub Copilot had more branded searches than Windsurf among AI coding assistants worldwide. GitHub Copilot had about 583,000 branded searches, while Windsurf had 87,400. GitHub Copilot made up 8.2% of all AI coding assistant searches we track, and Windsurf accounted for 1.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI coding assistants, GitHub Copilot appeared in all five answers and Windsurf in two. GitHub Copilot was mentioned before Windsurf in every answer.

Among AI coding assistants worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

GitHub Copilot, about 7 searches for every 1 for Windsurf

GitHub Copilot 583K searchesWindsurf 87.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

GitHub Copilot, mentioned in every answer we collected

GitHub Copilot in 5 of 5Windsurf in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

GitHub Copilot, named ahead of Windsurf in every answer

GitHub Copilot first in 5Windsurf never first

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Top AI coding assistants in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, GitHub Copilot appeared in all five answers. Windsurf was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. GitHub Copilot was listed before Windsurf in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Cursor1st
  2. Claude Code2nd
  3. GitHub Copilot3rd
  4. OpenAI Codex4th
  5. Replit5th
  6. Windsurf6th
  7. Lovable7th
  8. Bolt8th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Claude Code5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Cursor5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • GitHub Copilot5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • OpenAI Codex3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Windsurf2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Replit1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Bolt1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Lovable1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about AI coding assistants

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is GitHub Copilot or Windsurf more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for GitHub Copilot and Windsurf by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight AI coding assistants we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

GitHub Copilot and Windsurf among AI coding assistants worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for GitHub Copilot, Windsurf. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthClaude CodeReplitOpenAI CodexCursorGitHub CopilotBoltLovableWindsurf
Oct 202524.9%25.2%7.9%17.7%17.1%2.3%1.9%3.1%
Nov 202528%22.9%6.5%19.5%15.6%2%2%3.4%
Dec 202531.4%26.8%5.3%15.6%14.7%1.6%2%2.7%
Jan 202650.9%19.9%4.1%11.7%9.3%0.97%1.4%1.6%
Feb 202650.2%16.2%11.5%9.6%9.1%0.79%1.2%1.5%
Mar 202656.8%14.8%7%8.7%10%0.59%0.88%1.3%
Apr 202655%14.3%8%8.1%11.6%0.57%1.3%1.2%
May 202648.7%15.6%14.5%7.6%10.2%0.76%1.4%1.2%
Jun 202649.2%15.7%11%10.9%9.1%1.1%1.4%1.6%
Jul 202646.2%18.3%14.6%9%7.1%1.6%2%1.3%
Aug 202643.2%20.9%13.1%10.1%7.9%1.8%1.8%1.1%
Sep 202643.7%21.4%13.9%8.6%8.2%1.5%1.5%1.2%

How has the GitHub Copilot and Windsurf comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for AI coding assistants worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Windsurf worldwide fell 42.4% over 12 measured months, from 152K to 87.4K in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for GitHub Copilot worldwide fell 29.9% over 12 measured months, from 832K to 583K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

33 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using GitHub Copilot’s and Windsurf’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

GitHub Copilot

19 branded search terms

  • copilot github
  • copilot vscode
  • git copilot
  • GitHub Copilot
  • github copilot agent
  • github copilot ai
  • github copilot app
  • github copilot business
  • github copilot certification
  • github copilot cli
  • github copilot enterprise
  • github copilot extension
  • github copilot intellij
  • github copilot pro
  • github copilot vscode
  • github copilots
  • microsoft github copilot
  • vscode copilot
  • vscode github copilot

Windsurf

14 branded search terms

  • codeium
  • codeium ai
  • codeium windsurf
  • windsurf ai
  • windsurf ai coding
  • windsurf ai ide
  • windsurf app
  • windsurf cascade
  • windsurf code
  • windsurf code editor
  • windsurf codeium
  • windsurf coding
  • windsurf editor
  • windsurf ide

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among AI coding assistants

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