GitHub Copilot

What GitHub Copilot does

• Copilot lives inside your editor. VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Neovim, and Visual Studio all have official extensions.
• It writes from context. The model sees the open file and other tabs, so suggestions match the code you actually have.
• Copilot Chat answers questions in a sidebar. Ask it to explain a function, write tests, or refactor a block.
• Pull-request integration writes summaries and reviews. Copilot Workspace plans and executes multi-file tasks from a single prompt.

When to use GitHub Copilot

• Most developers use Copilot to draft boilerplate and free up attention for the harder parts.
• Test writing is another common pattern. You highlight a function, ask for tests, then edit what Copilot proposes.
• Copilot Chat explains unfamiliar functions on demand, which helps when you join a new codebase.

GitHub Copilot pricing

GitHub Copilot is offered as a paid product. Plans and exact prices change often — check the official GitHub Copilot site for current tiers and limits.

GitHub Copilot alternatives in Coding

• Cursor — An AI code editor and coding agent that helps developers write, edit, and build software faster.
• Devin Desktop (Freemium) — Code editor, formerly Windsurf, for running and managing coding agents alongside your own editing.
• Replit for developers — Browser-based platform to build, deploy, and host apps and sites using an AI coding agent.

Compare GitHub Copilot head-to-head

• GitHub Copilot vs Cursor — how GitHub Copilot stacks up against Cursor on features and pricing.
• GitHub Copilot vs Devin Desktop — how GitHub Copilot stacks up against Devin Desktop on features and pricing.
• GitHub Copilot vs Tabnine — how GitHub Copilot stacks up against Tabnine on features and pricing.
• GitHub Copilot vs Amazon Q Developer — how GitHub Copilot stacks up against Amazon Q Developer on features and pricing.
• GitHub Copilot vs Sourcegraph Cody — how GitHub Copilot stacks up against Sourcegraph Cody on features and pricing.
• GitHub Copilot vs Replit — how GitHub Copilot stacks up against Replit on features and pricing.

Related paid AI tools

• Jasper AI (Paid) — AI copywriting for marketing content at scale.
• Notion AI for teams — AI writing and assistance inside the Notion workspace.
• businesses and developers building AI agents — Autonomous agent that completes tasks in a web browser.

Where to find GitHub Copilot

You’ll also find GitHub Copilot in Best Paid AI Tools, Best AI Tools for Developers and ML Teams, and Best AI Coding Assistants and Copilot Alternatives on MLWeekly — useful for comparing it against similar tools side by side.