GitHub Copilot: What It Is, What It Costs, and Who It's For
The incumbent. Now with agent mode in 2026. Largest install base. Best for developers already in the GitHub ecosystem.
At a Glance
Maker
GitHub (Microsoft)
Type
IDE extension
Free tier
Yes Yes (free tier)
Starting price
$10/mo
SWE-bench
~78%
Self-hosted
No
IDE integration
VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim
Languages
All major
Free Tier
Free tier available for individual developers with limited completions per month.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited completions/month |
| Individual | $10/mo | Unlimited completions |
| Business | $19/mo | Team features, policies |
| Enterprise | $39/mo | SSO, audit, custom models |
Pricing as of May 2026. Subject to change. Verify on the tool's official site.
Features & Integrations
- ✓IDE-native (VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim)
- ✓Agent mode (new in 2026)
- ✓GitHub ecosystem
- ✓Largest install base
- ✓Code review assistance
- ✓Multi-model support
GitHub Copilot Alternatives
| If you want... | Try this instead |
|---|---|
| IDE-native experience | Claude Code |
| IDE-native experience | Cursor |
FAQ
Is GitHub Copilot better than the alternatives?+
It depends on your workflow. GitHub Copilot is best for developers who value ide-native (vs code, jetbrains, neovim). Check the alternatives table above to compare.
Does GitHub Copilot have a free tier?+
Free tier available for individual developers with limited completions per month.
What languages does GitHub Copilot support?+
All major.