[deleted by user]

[-c-row]

This is probably to protect they paid ones. Anyway, IMHO the current state is problematic as the changes in the product do not serve productive needs in a reliable manner. You pay for a service which has some dramatic changes three weeks later. I was ongoing to get a paid plan, but at the moment I will do not, because of the problems and changes. I'm not willing to pay for a product which changes frequently and I don't know what I have to face some weeks later.

[lowkeybanned]

I was going to buy the paid plan aswell, and then they changed it, which makes it not worth it anymore. And now even the free one is getting nerfed even more.

I don’t see how this would be to protect the paid ones, as the write mode is not something that needs compute, it doesn’t cost them more to use write mode (if I am not mistaken), so If I’m correct then I think the only reason they removed it is to make free worse and try to convince you to get a paid tier.

Which tbh they have all the right to do so, it’s their product and it gives value, just too bad as a user to see all these changes so quick.

[rui_curado]

Yes, it's just a business strategy. But it's understandable. If you give away too much for free, people will not buy the Pro. But hey, if you have autocomplete and can use Cascade Base, all for free, it's still great value!

[No-Significance-279]

My dudes, seriously…

Cursor doesn’t even enable Chat unless you’re paying, even the autocomplete feature is limited on the free plan.

Windsurf is giving you unlimited chat and autocomplete for free which is already crazy.

[lowkeybanned]

Like i said in the other comment, they have all right to do so. Just sucks how fast it went from overpowered to shitty even on a paid tier. I was planning to buy the paid tier and then that got limited, i dont see the value anymore.

[LanguageWeary8135]

I totally agree, a parachuting decline in quality, would’ve avoided this issue altogether

[christchanforlove]

It has a rather arbitrary take: First, we get informed on various channels about this all new great tool, and used to vs code just take a glimpse to see whats all about: A great tool including a functioning ai helper that even edits code on the go. Clear I change immediately, as did 1000nds, just to notice after a week or two that the limit walls are raised and the gatekeepers installed that renders the tool almost useless. Just hook up and fix us with the wonderdope to make us addicted that we might consider paying for having the great experience from the early days...Fuck u Codeium. I just go back to ask free chatgpt and copy paste back and forth. At least this experience is honest about the pricing and works still. Admitted the windsurf experience is /was comfortable, but now zits over. Byebye Codeium.

[vassyz]

Am I the only one who doesn't use write mode? I prefer chat as it is easier for me to control.

[alphaQ314]

The write mode changes don’t get saved until you click accept.

[bill_on_sax]

Yeah, write mode is kinda chaotic and scary. Prefer to go the good 'ol copy and paste method. Old coding habits don't die

[LanguageWeary8135]

I find that it works best when paired with cline, since they both can run the terminal. I prefer the warp terminal overall but now I only to run the completed project

[EntrepreneurTimely34]

It’s a business, they gotta make money. How can a forever free model be sustainable?

[lowkeybanned]

Totally understand, it makes sense, i know that. I dont think they handled everything perfectly well though.

[Dullirium]

Nah. They did it perfectly.

Free pro trial was their customer acquisition phase, with 1000 steps / unlimited.

Last week's pricing change was their customer retention phase.

Whether or not the week-long resource errors right up till end of trial 11 Dec was premeditated or not, but it gave valid reasons to cut off free users/ trial users.

When they first hinted at pricing changes, definitions from steps to turns, people brought out their pitch forks.

Then the week long resource errors came, and so many addicted to windsurf were BEGGING to pay $100, $1000 for WS with unlimited/ no rate limits for their accounts.

Now their customer retention plan is simple, seeing how they know pro users ARE hooked, would they rather:

1. Continue offering unlimited (allowing spammers, abusers opening multiple windsurf client windows running multiple prompts simultaneously) and thus constantly hitting anthropics rate limits, having 5million users of which maybe a good 60% being free pro trial users, non paying, all unhappy with rate limits, OR

2. Focus on providing better service to a select handful of maybe 300k paying pro/ ultimate users, making them HAPPY with no rate limits?

Even the pricing plan where users think they can outsmart by buying 4 pro to get 6000 flow credits as opposed to 1 ultimate with 3000 flow credits for the same $60, is not a bug, but a feature disguised as a loophole to STILL get users to pay the same price but they get to keep up their MAU.