GitHub Copilot: what it does, who it is for and alternatives
Updated · By Robert Breen
An AI pair programmer in your editor that suggests code, explains it and fixes bugs.
Official site: github.com
What GitHub Copilot does
Copilot works inside editors like VS Code, Visual Studio and JetBrains, on GitHub.com, in the terminal and on GitHub Mobile. You can chat with it about your files, let agent mode edit files for you, or assign a task to a cloud agent that prepares a pull request for your review. It can also review pull requests on GitHub and lets you pick from several AI models.
Who GitHub Copilot is for
- Software developers
- Data analysts who write code
- Engineering managers
- IT and automation specialists
Key features
- Inline code suggestions as you type in popular editors
- Agent mode that edits files in your workspace and checks the result
- Cloud agent you can assign tasks to, which opens a pull request
- Pull request code review on GitHub.com
- Copilot CLI for the terminal, on all plans including Free
Alternatives to GitHub Copilot
Other AI coding tools in the directory. For a fuller comparison, see GitHub Copilot alternatives.
- Cursor Free plan
Best for: An AI code editor that edits across your whole project from chat. An AI code editor that writes and edits code across your whole project from chat. - Claude Code Paid
Best for: A coding agent that works in your terminal and editor. Anthropic’s coding agent that works in your terminal and editor to build, fix and explain code. - Windsurf Free plan
Best for: An AI-native code editor with an agent that understands your codebase. An AI-native code editor with an agent that understands your codebase. - Gemini Code Assist Free plan
Best for: Google's AI coding assistant for editors, free for individuals. Google’s AI coding assistant for editors, free for individuals. - Tabnine Free trial
Best for: A private AI coding assistant that can run on your own servers. A private AI coding assistant that can run on your own servers. - Replit Free plan
Best for: Building and hosting apps in the browser from a description. Build and host apps in the browser, with an AI agent that writes the code from a description.
Frequently asked questions
- What is GitHub Copilot?
- An AI pair programmer in your editor that suggests code, explains it and fixes bugs. Copilot works inside editors like VS Code, Visual Studio and JetBrains, on GitHub.com, in the terminal and on GitHub Mobile. You can chat with it about your files, let agent mode edit files for you, or assign a task to a cloud agent that prepares a pull request for your review. It can also review pull requests on GitHub and lets you pick from several AI models.
- Who is GitHub Copilot for?
- GitHub Copilot fits software developers, data analysts who write code, engineering managers and IT and automation specialists, and other office teams with the same job to do.
- Is GitHub Copilot free?
- GitHub Copilot has a free plan; paid plans add more usage or features. Plans change often, so check the official pricing page before you commit.
- What are some alternatives to GitHub Copilot?
- Other AI coding tools include Cursor, Claude Code, Windsurf, Gemini Code Assist and Tabnine.
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Checked against GitHub Copilot’s official site on October 20, 2026: source 1, source 2, source 3. Spotted something out of date? Email rbreen@ynteractive.com. Listings are free; submit your AI tool.
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