GitHub Copilot
The AI pair programmer built into VS Code, JetBrains, and your IDE.
GitHub Copilot was the tool that popularised AI pair programming, and in 2026 it remains the easiest way to add AI to the editor you already use. Rather than asking you to switch environments, Copilot slots into VS Code, JetBrains, Visual Studio, and other IDEs, offering completions and chat right where you work.
Its biggest advantages are price and fit. At $10 a month, Copilot Pro is the cheapest of the major coding assistants, and because it lives inside your current editor there’s no workflow change to adopt it. Backed by GitHub and Microsoft, it now also routes to multiple leading models from OpenAI and Anthropic, and includes a coding agent for multi-step tasks.
Compared to an AI-native editor like Cursor, Copilot is less of a ground-up reinvention and more of a smart layer on top of your existing setup. For many developers, that’s exactly the appeal — real productivity gains without leaving the tools they know.
GitHub Copilot pricing
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited completions and chat per month |
| Pro | $10/mo | Unlimited completions, chat, multiple models |
| Pro+ | $39/mo | Highest limits and premium model access |
Pricing can change — always confirm on the official site.
Key features
- AI code completions inside your existing editor
- Chat that understands your codebase
- Works in VS Code, JetBrains, Visual Studio, and more
- Routes to multiple models (OpenAI, Anthropic, and others)
- A coding agent for multi-step tasks
- Tight integration with GitHub pull requests
Pros
- Lowest entry price of the major coding tools ($10)
- Fits into the editor you already use
- Backed by GitHub and Microsoft
- Now routes to multiple leading models
Cons
- Less of a full AI-native experience than Cursor
- Best value only inside supported IDEs
- Premium model access needs the pricier tier
Who GitHub Copilot is for
- Developers who want AI inside their current editor
- Teams already living in the GitHub ecosystem
- Anyone wanting low-cost in-IDE completions
GitHub Copilot alternatives
Frequently asked questions
How much does GitHub Copilot cost?
GitHub Copilot has a free tier with limited monthly completions and chat. Copilot Pro is $10 a month for unlimited completions and multiple models, and Pro+ is $39 a month for the highest limits and premium model access.
GitHub Copilot vs Cursor — which is better?
Copilot integrates into the editor you already use (VS Code, JetBrains, and more) at a low $10 price, making it the easy add-on. Cursor is a full AI-native editor with deeper multi-file capabilities. If you want minimal disruption, Copilot; if you want the most AI-forward editor, Cursor.
Is GitHub Copilot worth it?
For most developers, yes. At $10 a month it's the cheapest of the major coding assistants, it fits into your existing IDE with no workflow change, and it now routes to multiple leading models. If you code regularly, the time saved on boilerplate and completions usually justifies the cost.
Last updated July 12, 2026