What is GitHub Copilot?
GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistant developed by GitHub and OpenAI. It integrates into VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim and other editors, providing real-time code suggestions based on your context. It can complete functions, generate boilerplate, write tests and explain code.
In 2024, GitHub introduced a free tier for Copilot — 2,000 code completions and 50 chat messages per month. This makes it genuinely accessible for individual developers and students. For teams and businesses, the paid plan gives unlimited completions and enterprise security features.
👍 Pros
- ✅ Free tier — 2,000 completions/mo
- ✅ Deeply integrated with VS Code and JetBrains
- ✅ Suggests whole functions and boilerplate
- ✅ Copilot Chat explains and refactors code
- ✅ Supports 30+ programming languages
👎 Cons
- ❌ 2,000 free completions runs out quickly for active developers
- ❌ Can suggest outdated or insecure code patterns
- ❌ Requires GitHub account
- ❌ Privacy concerns for sensitive/proprietary codebases
GitHub Copilot Pricing 2026
Free
$0
forever
2,000 completions/mo · 50 chat messages/mo
Individual
$10
per month
Unlimited completions · Unlimited chat · All editors
Business
$19
per user/mo
Enterprise security · Audit logs · IP protection
* Pricing subject to change. Always check GitHub Copilot's website for current rates.
Best Alternatives to GitHub Copilot
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GitHub Copilot free?
GitHub Copilot now has a free tier with 2,000 code completions and 50 chat messages per month. Students and verified open-source maintainers get Copilot Individual free. The paid plan is $10/mo for unlimited completions.
How good is GitHub Copilot?
Very good — it's the most widely used AI coding tool and integrates seamlessly into VS Code. It excels at boilerplate, repetitive patterns and completing functions based on context. For complex architectural decisions, use it alongside ChatGPT or Claude.
Is GitHub Copilot worth it?
At $10/mo, most developers get back that value in time saved within the first week. The free tier is worth trying first — if you hit the 2,000 completion limit regularly, the paid plan pays for itself.