GitHub Copilot
✓AI pair programmer that autocompletes code in your editor
Quick verdict
GitHub Copilot is a paid AI coding assistant that suggests whole lines and functions directly inside your editor as you type. Built on top of large language models and trained on public code, it speeds up everyday development for software engineers. It also offers a chat mode for explaining code, writing tests, and fixing bugs.
Key features
- ▸Inline code completion as you type
- ▸Chat for explanations, tests, and fixes
- ▸Works across major editors and IDEs
- ▸Context from your open files and repo
Pros & cons
- +Deep editor integration
- +Real productivity boost on routine code
- +Free for students and OSS maintainers
- −Suggestions need review for correctness
- −Subscription required for most users
Pricing
Free for verified students and OSS maintainers
$10/mo
$39/user/mo
Who is it for
- →Writing boilerplate and repetitive code faster
- →Generating unit tests
- →Explaining unfamiliar code
- →Fixing bugs with inline suggestions
GitHub Copilot alternatives
The AI-first code editor built for fast development
Frequently asked questions
Is GitHub Copilot free?
It is free for verified students and maintainers of popular open-source projects. Everyone else pays from $10/month after a trial.
What is GitHub Copilot best used for?
It is best for speeding up day-to-day coding with inline suggestions, test generation, and quick code explanations.
What are the best alternatives to GitHub Copilot?
Cursor is an AI-first editor, Codeium offers a strong free tier, and Amazon Q Developer integrates with AWS.
Is GitHub Copilot better than Cursor?
Copilot integrates into existing editors, while Cursor is a full AI-first editor with deeper codebase features. Cursor suits AI-heavy workflows, Copilot suits incremental adoption.
How much does GitHub Copilot cost?
Individual plans start at $10/month, Business is $19/user/month, and Enterprise is $39/user/month.