GitHub Copilot
CodeAI pair programmer embedded in your IDE
What is GitHub Copilot?
GitHub Copilot is deeply integrated into VS Code and JetBrains by GitHub and OpenAI.
Our take
GitHub Copilot is the AI coding tool that started the AI pair-programming era, and it is still the gold standard for autocomplete in your existing IDE. The free tier for verified students is one of the best deals in tech. The $10/month Individual plan or $19/month Business plan add the chat, multi-file edits, and the best IDE integration in the category. Best for: developers who want fast autocomplete without switching editors.
Example
Pros
- Deep IDE
- 30+ languages
- Speeds up coding
Cons
- Monthly fee
- Occasional bad code
- Occasional noise
Key Features
- Real-time
- Whole-function
- IDE chat
- Multi-language
Use cases that actually work
- REST API
- Unit tests
- Explain legacy
- Language convert
Best for
- Boilerplate
- Test writing
- API examples
- Comments
Target Audience
Our verdict
Pick GitHub Copilot if: GitHub Copilot is the right pick if you want a fast autocomplete that lives inside the IDE you already use. The $10/month Individual plan (free for verified students) is one of the best deals in tech, and the autocomplete is fast and accurate. For most developers, Copilot is the right default.
Skip GitHub Copilot if: If you regularly refactor across multiple files, debug unfamiliar codebases, or want to chat with your entire project, Cursor is the more powerful tool. The $10/month savings are not worth giving up multi-file editing for full-time developers.
Alternatives to GitHub Copilot
Want a deeper comparison? See our full list of GitHub Copilot alternatives with pros, cons, and pricing.