Sweep AI: A Windsurf Alternative for JetBrains Developers

Sweep AI is an AI coding assistant developed by Sweep AI (YC-backed). It offers next-edit autocomplete, an agentic coding workflow, and deep codebase indexing — all within JetBrains IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, GoLand, Rider, and more.

Windsurf vs Sweep AI

Tech Details

• Type: IDE Extension (JetBrains plugin)
• Platform: All JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm, GoLand, Rider, CLion, PhpStorm, Android Studio)
• Pricing: Free trial (1,000 autocompletes + $5 API credits); Basic $10/mo (unlimited autocomplete); Pro $20/mo; Ultra $60/mo
• Privacy: Privacy Mode available — code never retained or trained on; SOC 2 compliant
• Open Source: Yes — github.com/sweepai/sweep

Key Features

• Next-Edit Autocomplete: Sweep's custom Tab model predicts your next code edit in milliseconds. Unlike token-by-token completions, it suggests precise multi-token changes across lines, adapting to how you edit in real time.
• AI Agent for JetBrains: Sweep's built-in coding agent uses proprietary LLMs to autonomously resolve tasks, read files, run tests, and iterate — all without leaving your JetBrains IDE. No browser context-switching required.
• Full Codebase Indexing: Sweep indexes your entire project to provide context-aware suggestions. It resolves definitions, searches across files, and understands project structure to give suggestions that actually make sense in your codebase.
• Privacy-First Architecture: Sweep is SOC 2 compliant and offers a Privacy Mode that ensures zero data retention. Your code is used only to generate suggestions and is never stored or used for model training.

When to Choose Sweep AI

Sweep AI is the best choice for developers who are committed to JetBrains IDEs and don't want to migrate to a new editor just to get modern AI assistance. While Windsurf requires you to switch to its standalone IDE, Sweep integrates directly into IntelliJ, PyCharm, GoLand, and every other JetBrains product. It's the top-rated AI plugin on the JetBrains Marketplace with 4.9 stars and 40k+ installs, praised specifically for autocomplete speed that rivals — and often beats — Windsurf's Cascade in responsiveness. For backend-heavy or polyglot teams already on JetBrains, Sweep eliminates the IDE switching cost entirely.

Pricing

Sweep offers a Free Trial (1,000 autocompletes + $5 in API credits). Paid plans start at $10/month (Basic — unlimited autocomplete), $20/month (Pro — more API credits and priority support), and $60/month (Ultra). Prices are subject to change. Check official pricing →

What Users Are Saying

JetBrains developers consistently call Sweep's autocomplete the fastest they've tried. Users from Ramp, Amplitude, and other engineering teams report it as a game-changer for PyCharm and IntelliJ workflows. The plugin has 4.9 stars on the JetBrains Marketplace with 40,000+ installs and is frequently recommended as the go-to alternative to both GitHub Copilot and Windsurf for JetBrains users.

• r/JetBrains: Has anyone tried Sweep AI? (Apr 2025)
• r/JetBrains: What AI code completion are you using? (May 2025)

FAQ