Copilot sits inside your editor and completes code as you type, then answers questions about the repository and, in agent mode, edits several files from one instruction. Its advantage over standalone AI editors is that it follows you into whatever IDE the team already standardised on, including JetBrains and Neovim, and it can review pull requests on GitHub itself. It suits teams whose code already lives on GitHub and who do not want to change editors.
Who it is for
Engineering teams already hosting code on GitHub that want AI help without switching editors.
Key features
- Inline completions in most major editors
- Chat that answers questions about the repo
- Multi-file edits from a single prompt
- Reviews pull requests on GitHub
- Works in VS Code, JetBrains, and Neovim
Where it falls short
The cheaper paid tier meters agent sessions with premium requests, which run out mid-sprint, and the free tier caps completions and chats per month.
Pricing
Free tier with monthly caps on completions and chats; paid plans per user per month, and the cheaper tier limits premium agent requests.
Prices move; the tier structure is the part that stays true. Check current pricing on GitHub Copilot.
Alternatives to GitHub Copilot
Frequently asked
Is GitHub Copilot free?
Partly. Free tier with monthly caps on completions and chats; paid plans per user per month, and the cheaper tier limits premium agent requests.
What is GitHub Copilot best for?
Engineering teams already hosting code on GitHub that want AI help without switching editors.
What are the best alternatives to GitHub Copilot?
The closest substitutes we list are Claude, Cursor and Visual Studio Code. They sit in a similar price bracket but make a different trade-off, so read the weaknesses section of each review before switching.
Which platforms does GitHub Copilot run on?
GitHub Copilot is available on Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.