Claude Code vs Windsurf:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Claude Code had more branded searches than Windsurf among AI coding assistants in New Zealand. Claude Code had about 5,400 branded searches, while Windsurf had 160. Claude Code made up 40.7% 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, Claude Code appeared in all five answers and Windsurf in two. Claude Code was mentioned before Windsurf in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Claude Code, about 34 searches for every 1 for Windsurf
Who does AI mention more?
Claude Code, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Claude Code, named ahead of Windsurf in every answer
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Top AI coding assistants in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Claude Code 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. Claude Code was listed before Windsurf in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Cursor1st
GitHub Copilot2nd- Claude Code3rd
OpenAI Codex4th
Windsurf5th
Replit–
Lovable–
Bolt–
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
- GitHub Copilot5 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
- 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
- Replit0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Lovable0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Bolt0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about AI coding assistants
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which AI coding assistant should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best AI coding assistants in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best AI coding assistant in New Zealand for software development?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ai coding assistant”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ai pair programming”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.
Is Claude Code or Windsurf more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Claude Code 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 searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Claude Code, Windsurf. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Claude Code | Replit | GitHub Copilot | Cursor | Lovable | Bolt | OpenAI Codex | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 23.3% | 30.6% | 15.9% | 12.3% | 7.3% | 5% | 3.1% | 2.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 25.4% | 33.4% | 14.5% | 13.7% | 6.2% | 3.2% | 1.5% | 2% |
| Dec 2025 | 26.4% | 34.8% | 14.1% | 10.1% | 6.3% | 3% | 3.5% | 1.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 48.3% | 22.7% | 11.8% | 7.3% | 5.2% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 47.6% | 22.1% | 12.3% | 7.6% | 4% | 1.7% | 3.5% | 1.2% |
| Mar 2026 | 54.5% | 17.2% | 13.3% | 7% | 3.8% | 1.1% | 2.2% | 0.88% |
| Apr 2026 | 51.9% | 16.1% | 17.6% | 6.5% | 4.3% | 0.98% | 1.7% | 0.88% |
| May 2026 | 47.6% | 18.3% | 16.6% | 7.4% | 6.2% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 1% |
| Jun 2026 | 45% | 21.1% | 13.5% | 10% | 5.8% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 43.8% | 20.4% | 13.6% | 7.8% | 7.6% | 1.7% | 3.9% | 1.2% |
| Aug 2026 | 42.2% | 24.3% | 12.4% | 9.7% | 6.1% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 1.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 40.7% | 28.4% | 12.2% | 7.9% | 5.6% | 2.1% | 2% | 1.2% |
How has the Claude Code and Windsurf comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Claude Code was ahead of Windsurf in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Claude Code’s share of searches among AI coding assistants in New Zealand moved from 23.3% to 40.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.9K to 5.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Windsurf’s share of searches among AI coding assistants in New Zealand moved from 2.4% to 1.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 300 to 160.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand AI coding assistants in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Claude Code lost share of searches among AI coding assistants in New Zealand, from 42.2% to 40.7%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Windsurf in New Zealand fell 46.7% over 12 measured months, from 300 to 160 in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
6 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Claude Code’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.
Claude Code
1 branded search term
- claude code
Windsurf
5 branded search terms
- codeium
- windsurf ai
- windsurf coding
- windsurf editor
- windsurf ide
Other head-to-heads among AI coding assistants
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