GitHub Copilot — The most widely used AI coding assistant — inline completions, chat, and agent mode across your IDEs and GitHub.
Verdict at a glance
Overall rating: 4.5/5 ★★★★½
Standout: A ubiquitous, well-integrated AI pair programmer that works in every major IDE and across GitHub.
Watch out: Agent and chat now draw from token-based AI Credits, and deep agentic work trails dedicated editors like Cursor.
The safe default AI coding assistant — cheap to start, works in every IDE, and integrates tightly with GitHub.
Real-world ratings (third-party)
The rating above is DigiJaws’s own editorial verdict. Here’s how it scores on independent review platforms, pulled directly from each platform as of 2026-08-06:
Ratings and review counts change as new reviews come in — check the linked platform for the live number. We don’t (yet) run our own on-site review collection, so we cite third-party aggregators for independent signal.
Overview
GitHub Copilot is the most widely adopted AI coding assistant. It offers inline completions, next-edit suggestions, Copilot Chat, an agent mode, code review, and a CLI — across VS Code, JetBrains, Visual Studio, and more, with deep GitHub integration.
It is the cheapest serious entry point at $10/mo and works everywhere. The trade-offs: chat and agent features now consume token-based AI Credits, and its agentic depth trails dedicated editors like Cursor and Windsurf.
Watch it in action
GitHub’s own introduction to the GitHub Copilot coding agent, which autonomously completes assigned coding tasks.
“Introducing the GitHub Copilot coding agent” — official video.
Key features
- Inline completions & next-edit suggestions
- Copilot Chat
- Agent mode
- Code review
- Copilot CLI
- Multi-IDE support
- GitHub integration
Pricing (as of 2026-07-20)
Model: tiered subscription + usage-based AI Credits · Free tier: yes (2,000 completions/mo) · Entry paid: Pro $10/mo
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 2,000 completions/mo, limited chat & agent |
| Pro | $10/mo | Unlimited completions + $15 AI Credits/mo |
| Pro+ | $39/mo | $70 AI Credits/mo & top models |
| Max | $100/mo | $200 AI Credits/mo (highest limits) |
| Business | $19/user/mo | Org policy & management |
| Enterprise | $39/user/mo | Advanced security & scale |
⚠️ Inline completions are free and unlimited on paid plans; chat/agent/premium models draw token-based AI Credits (usage-based billing since June 2026). Verify on github.com.
Ratings breakdown
- Ease Of Use: 4.6/5
- Features: 4.4/5
- Value: 4.4/5
- Support: 4.1/5
Pros
- Cheapest serious entry ($10)
- Works in every major IDE
- Deep GitHub integration
- Reliable completions
- Backed by Microsoft/GitHub
Cons
- Agent/chat consume token credits
- Agentic depth trails Cursor/Windsurf
- Best models gated to higher tiers
Who it’s for
- Developers in any IDE
- Teams already on GitHub
Who it’s not for
- Those wanting the most advanced agentic editor (use Cursor/Windsurf)
Best use cases
- Autocomplete
- Chat assistance
- Code review
- Agent tasks
Integrations
VS Code, JetBrains, Visual Studio, Neovim, GitHub.
Alternatives
Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Code.
Recent changes
Pricing verified unchanged for July 2026 (Pro $10, Pro+ $39, Max $100, Business $19/seat, Enterprise $39/seat). Confirmed monthly AI Credit allowances: $15 on Pro, $70 on Pro+, $200 on Max; code completions remain free and unlimited on paid plans under the usage-based billing introduced June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Does GitHub Copilot have a free plan?
Yes — the Free plan includes 2,000 code completions per month with limited chat and agent access; the entry paid plan is Pro at $10/mo, which adds unlimited completions plus $15/mo of AI Credits for chat and agent use.
Why does GitHub Copilot use “AI Credits” for chat and agent mode?
GitHub moved chat, agent mode, and premium-model access to usage-based AI Credits in June 2026 so cost scales with how much agentic work you actually run, while keeping core inline code completions free and unlimited on every paid plan.
Is GitHub Copilot better than Cursor?
GitHub Copilot is cheaper to start and works inside virtually any IDE with deep GitHub integration; Cursor is a purpose-built agentic editor with deeper multi-file reasoning and a more advanced agent experience — see our Cursor review for the comparison.
What is GitHub Copilot’s rating on G2 and Capterra?
As of 2026-08-06, GitHub Copilot holds 4.4/5 on G2 (389 reviews) and 4.5/5 on Capterra (48 reviews). See the ratings table above for links to the live pages.
Similar tools in AI Coding & Dev Tools
Sources
- https://github.com/features/copilot/plans
- https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/get-started/plans
- https://github.blog/news-insights/company-news/github-copilot-is-moving-to-usage-based-billing/
Compiled from public sources; last verified 2026-07-20. Pricing is subject to change — verify with the vendor. Ratings reflect editorial opinion.
Frequently asked questions
How much does GitHub Copilot cost?
GitHub Copilot uses a tiered subscription. Entry paid: Pro $10/mo. Free tier: yes (2,000 completions/mo). Verify current pricing on the vendor site.
What is GitHub Copilot best for?
A ubiquitous, well-integrated AI pair programmer that works in every major IDE and across GitHub.
What are the best alternatives to GitHub Copilot?
Alternatives include Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Code.
GitHub Copilot Review (4.5/5): Features, Pricing & Verdict (2026). DigiJaws, 2026. https://digijaws.com/reviews/github-copilot/