GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is GitHub's AI coding assistant for editors such as Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, Xcode, Neovim, Eclipse, and others, plus a command-line tool (CLI) and direct availability on github.com. Beyond code completion, Copilot offers an agent mode, a cloud agent for assigned tasks including pull request creation, and automated code review.

Free

Per the provider, the free tier offers 2,000 code completions per month, access to models such as Haiku 4.5 and GPT-5 mini, the Copilot CLI, and community support. No credit card is required.

Pro

In addition to Free: access to cloud agents and code review, unlimited code completion, access to third-party agents such as Claude Code and Codex, free model selection, and monthly credit for additional AI usage.

Pro+

In addition to Pro: access to premium models including Opus, audit logs, and, per the provider, four times the feature usage compared to Pro.

Business and Enterprise

For organizations, GitHub offers separate Business and Enterprise plans with additional management, security, and compliance features; details are on a dedicated enterprise page.

How Copilot works day to day

As you type, Copilot suggests entire lines or functions that can be accepted with a single keystroke, and it answers questions about the open project in a chat panel. Agent mode goes further: instead of individual suggestions, it edits multiple files on its own, runs terminal commands, and iterates against test results until a task is complete. Per the provider, the cloud agent picks up assigned GitHub issues on its own in the background, opens its own branch, creates a pull request, and can be steered further through comments while you keep working on something else. The automated code review feature comments directly on pull requests, flagging possible bugs, security issues, or style deviations before a human has to review them.

Model choice and editor integration

Copilot isn't locked to a single AI model: depending on the plan, you can choose between several models from different providers, including third-party agents such as Claude Code and Codex, which can be driven directly from within Copilot. Setup happens through an extension in the relevant editor or through the Copilot CLI for terminal workflows; a GitHub account is enough to get started, no separate registration is required.

Who Copilot fits

For occasional code changes and trying things out, the free tier is enough. Anyone who codes daily and wants to benefit from cloud agents and automated reviews will find Pro the natural entry point into unlimited usage. Pro+ targets power users who additionally need access to premium models like Opus and audit logs for their own traceability. Teams and organizations with centralized administration, SSO, or compliance requirements are better served by Business or Enterprise.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to install Copilot separately? No, an extension in the relevant editor or the Copilot CLI is enough, connected to a GitHub account. Does Copilot work offline? No, suggestions are generated by a cloud model and require an internet connection. Can I switch the underlying model? Yes, starting with the free tier a selection of models is available and can be switched depending on the task.