AI coding assistants , by GitHub (Microsoft) , since 2021
GitHub Copilot
In-editor AI pair programmer from GitHub/Microsoft with agent mode and PR reviews
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What GitHub Copilot does
GitHub Copilot provides code completion and chat inside VS Code, JetBrains, Visual Studio, Xcode, and GitHub.com, plus an autonomous coding agent and pull-request summaries. It now offers a multi-model catalog (Claude, GPT, Gemini) instead of a single OpenAI model, billed via monthly premium-request/credit allowances.
What you get: Inline completions, Multi-model chat, Coding agent, PR summaries, Broad IDE/editor support.
Typical jobs: Everyday inline completion; Enterprise-wide seat rollout; PR review automation.
Worth knowing: Largest install base of any tool in this niche; recent billing-model change is the dominant 2026 complaint theme.
What users complain about: Official post 'Changes to GitHub Copilot individual plans' announcing the move to usage-based billing (GitHub Blog)
Pricing and plan limits
Verified August 2026| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per mo) | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copilot Free | Free | n/a | Limited access to a selection of Copilot features and models, auto model selection only, no premium request allotment |
| Copilot Pro | $10 | n/a | Unlimited standard completions plus a monthly AI credit/premium-request allowance (exact count not published); free for verified students, teachers, and OSS maintainers |
| Copilot Pro+ | $39 | n/a | Higher monthly AI credit allowance than Pro, access to premium models |
| Copilot Max (individual) | $100 | n/a | Highest individual monthly AI credit allowance |
| Copilot Business | $19 | n/a | Per granted seat/month; pooled monthly AI credit allowance across the org; docs cite 300 premium requests/month on this tier |
| Copilot Enterprise | $39 | n/a | Per granted seat/month; larger pooled AI credit allowance than Business |
Where it wins
- Native integration across GitHub, VS Code, JetBrains, Visual Studio, and Xcode with by far the largest install base of any coding assistant
- Multi-model catalog (Claude, GPT, Gemini) now included rather than a single locked-in model
Where it falls short
- 2025-2026 shift to usage-based/premium-request billing raised effective costs sharply, with model multipliers for Sonnet and Opus reported to jump from 1x/3x up to 9x/27x on annual plans
- Business plan's monthly premium-request pool (documented at 300/month) is exhausted within days by active agent users
How we scored it
Full methodology| Criterion | Weight | Score | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capability | 30% | 8.0 | 2.40 |
| Value for money | 25% | 6.0 | 1.50 |
| Ease of use | 15% | 9.0 | 1.35 |
| Maturity | 15% | 10.0 | 1.50 |
| Support & docs | 10% | 9.0 | 0.90 |
| Momentum | 5% | 7.0 | 0.35 |
| Weighted total | 100% | 8.0 | 8.00 |
Alternatives to GitHub Copilot
Chosen by editors, not sponsors
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