Description
GitHub Copilot is an AI pair programmer from GitHub that provides code completions and chat assistance directly inside the editor, the command line, and GitHub.com. It suggests whole lines or entire functions as developers type, and its chat interface can explain code, answer questions, and make edits across a project. Copilot’s cloud agent can research, plan, and write code for an assigned task, opening a pull request for review, while Copilot code review checks pull requests automatically. Paid plans give access to a broad model catalog spanning Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and other providers, selectable per task. GitHub Copilot integrates with Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, Neovim, Xcode, and other editors, plus GitHub Mobile and a terminal CLI. It suits individual developers, freelancers, students, and engineering teams already building on GitHub who want AI assistance built into their existing workflow rather than a separate tool.
Key Features
- Code completions — suggests whole lines or entire functions as you type, unlimited on paid plans.
- Copilot Chat — ask coding questions and request edits from a chat interface in the IDE, CLI, or GitHub.com.
- Cloud agent — assign work to Copilot to research, plan, and write code, with or without a pull request.
- Copilot code review — automated pull request reviews and file diff reviews in supported editors.
- Copilot CLI — use Copilot from the terminal, including delegating tasks to coding agents.
- Third-party agent access — delegate tasks to Claude by Anthropic and OpenAI Codex from within Copilot (Pro+ and Max).
- MCP integration — connect external tools and data sources through the Model Context Protocol.
How It Works
GitHub Copilot installs as an extension in supported editors like Visual Studio Code, JetBrains IDEs, Visual Studio, or Neovim, and is also accessible through GitHub.com, GitHub Mobile, and a terminal CLI. As a developer types, Copilot suggests completions based on the surrounding code and open files. Copilot Chat answers questions and can make edits directly, while agent mode plans and executes larger changes across multiple files. The cloud agent goes further, taking an assigned task and independently researching, planning, and writing code, then opening a pull request for review. Usage beyond code completions draws on a monthly allowance of GitHub AI Credits, consumed by chat, agent mode, code review, and CLI use depending on the model selected.
Technical Architecture & Overview
- Core Engine: Not one proprietary model. The catalog spans Anthropic (Claude Haiku, Sonnet, Opus, Fable), OpenAI (GPT-5 mini through GPT-5.6), Google (Gemini 2.5 Pro through 3.6 Flash), and Kimi K2.7 Code, selectable per plan and feature.
- Deployment: Extension-based in supported IDEs, plus GitHub.com, GitHub Mobile, and a terminal CLI; cloud agent tasks run on GitHub-managed infrastructure.
- API Surface: Copilot CLI, MCP server integration, GitHub Actions for automation, and delegation to third-party agents (Claude Code, OpenAI Codex) on Pro+ and Max plans.
- Known Limits: Free plan includes 2,000 completions and 50 chat requests per month; paid plans meter chat, agent, and CLI usage in GitHub AI Credits (1 credit = $0.01), with unlimited code completions.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free plan available with 2,000 completions and 50 chat requests per month, no credit card required | Free and Pro plans do not include IP indemnity, which requires Business or Enterprise |
| Broad model catalog spanning Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and Kimi, selectable per task | Third-party agent delegation (Claude Code, OpenAI Codex) requires Pro+ or Max, not Pro |
| Cloud agent can independently research, plan, write code, and open a pull request | Enterprise requires an active GitHub Enterprise Cloud subscription on top of the Copilot seat price |
| Natively integrated into GitHub.com, GitHub Mobile, and a wide range of IDEs | Usage beyond code completions draws down a monthly AI Credits allowance that varies by model |
| Copilot code review runs automatically on pull requests starting at the Pro tier | SAML SSO and usage metrics are not included on any individual plan (Free, Pro, Pro+, Max) |
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | $0/month (2,000 completions, 50 chat requests, Copilot CLI) |
| Pro | $10/user/month ($15 monthly AI Credits; unlimited completions; cloud agent and code review) |
| Pro+ | $39/user/month ($70 monthly AI Credits; premium models including Opus; audit logs) |
Pricing verified on July 27, 2026: https://github.com/features/copilot/plans
Platform Availability
VS Code | Visual Studio | JetBrains | Neovim | Xcode | CLI | GitHub Mobile
Best For
Individual developers | Engineering teams | Students and educators | Open source maintainers | Enterprises
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GitHub Copilot free to use?
Yes. The Free plan costs $0 per month and includes 2,000 completions, 50 chat requests, and Copilot CLI access, with no credit card required, per GitHub’s official plans page.
What is the difference between Pro and Pro+?
Pro costs $10 per user per month with $15 in monthly AI Credits and unlimited completions, while Pro+ costs $39 per user per month with $70 in credits, premium models including Opus, and audit logs.
Can Copilot delegate tasks to other AI coding agents?
Yes. Pro+ and Max plans can delegate tasks to third-party agents, including Claude by Anthropic and OpenAI Codex, directly from GitHub Copilot, according to GitHub’s plan comparison table.
How does GitHub Copilot differ from Cursor?
GitHub Copilot ships primarily as an extension inside existing editors and GitHub.com, while Cursor is a full AI-native editor forked from VS Code with its own cloud agent infrastructure. Both support multiple underlying AI models.
What are GitHub AI Credits?
GitHub AI Credits are how GitHub Copilot bills for chat, agent mode, code review, and CLI usage beyond code completions, at a rate of 1 credit per $0.01, per GitHub’s official FAQ.
Similar Tools in This Directory
Also in this category: Cursor, AI-native code editor | Claude Code, terminal-first agentic coding tool | OpenAI Codex, ChatGPT-bundled coding agent
