MCP Server Support and Integrations: Cursor vs Windsurf
Both support Model Context Protocol. Cursor has the bigger first-party integration list. Windsurf is catching up.
Updated 17 April 2026
# What MCP Is
Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that lets AI agents talk to external tools and services. Instead of copy-pasting data or switching windows, your AI coding assistant can directly query a Figma design, create a Linear issue, deploy to Vercel, or read AWS logs.
MCP servers expose tools and resources to the AI. The IDE connects to MCP servers locally or remotely. When you describe a task, the agent can invoke MCP tools as part of its workflow. Cursor launched first-party MCP support with a 1-click marketplace. Windsurf supports MCP but requires manual server configuration.
# Cursor MCP Integrations
| Integration | Cursor | Setup | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Figma | 1-click | OAuth connect | Read designs, check component specs |
| Linear | 1-click | OAuth connect | Create issues, update tickets |
| Stripe | 1-click | API key | Query customer data, debug webhooks |
| Vercel | 1-click | OAuth connect | Deploy, check build logs |
| AWS | 1-click | IAM credentials | Query S3, CloudWatch, Lambda |
| GitHub | 1-click | OAuth connect | Create PRs, search issues |
| Slack | 1-click | OAuth connect | Send messages, read channels |
| Notion | 1-click | OAuth connect | Read docs, create pages |
| Custom MCP server | Manual | Config JSON | Any custom tool or API |
# Windsurf MCP Support
Windsurf supports MCP, but does not have a 1-click marketplace as of April 2026. You configure MCP servers manually via the Windsurf settings JSON file or command palette.
How to add an MCP server in Windsurf
Open Settings (Cmd+,) → MCP Servers → Add server config. Requires a local server process or remote endpoint URL. Any MCP-compatible server works, but there is no first-party catalogue.
- + Supports the full MCP spec - any compliant server works
- + Custom MCP servers are straightforward to add
- - No 1-click integrations for popular tools
- - No first-party OAuth flows for Figma, Stripe, etc.
- - Discoverability is low - you need to know the server exists
# VS Code Extension Marketplace
Both Cursor and Windsurf are VS Code forks and inherit full access to the VS Code extension marketplace. This means all your existing extensions - linters, formatters, debuggers, language servers, theme packs - work in both tools without changes.
Extensions that work in both
- + ESLint, Prettier, Biome
- + GitLens, Git Graph
- + Language servers (Rust, Go, Python, etc.)
- + Debugger for Chrome, Node.js, Python
- + Docker, Remote SSH, Dev Containers
- + Themes: Dracula, One Dark, Tokyo Night
What does not transfer
- - Cursor-specific extensions (if any)
- - Windsurf-specific Cascade panel bindings
- - Tool-specific keybinding customisations
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