What Is GitHub Copilot?
GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistant built into GitHub. It suggests code as you type, answers coding questions in chat and can work on bigger tasks in agent mode. It also reviews pull requests and has a command-line tool for the terminal. Developers can use it in editors such as Visual Studio Code, JetBrains IDEs and Xcode, and on github.com.
Who Should Use GitHub Copilot?
GitHub Copilot is useful for developers who want help writing, fixing and reviewing code. Students and new coders can start on the Free plan. Developers who use agents often may need Pro, Pro+ or Max for more credits. Companies can look at the Business and Enterprise plans, which the screenshot does not show.
How Does GitHub Copilot Work?
- Sign in to GitHub and start with the Free plan, or pick a paid plan.
- Add Copilot to your editor, such as Visual Studio Code, or open it on github.com or in the terminal.
- Write code and review the suggestions, or ask Copilot Chat a question.
- For bigger tasks, use agent mode in your editor, or assign an issue to the cloud agent on a paid plan.
- Review the changes, ask for fixes and open a pull request.
GitHub Copilot Pricing and Plans
Based on the pricing screenshot, GitHub Copilot has four plans for individuals: Free at $0, Pro at $10, Pro+ at $39 and Max at $100 per user per month. Credits are units that pay for chat and agent use. Pro includes $15 in monthly credits, Pro+ includes $70 and Max includes $200. Max has the Best value label. The screenshot covers the For individuals tab only, so Business and Enterprise plans are not covered.
| Plan | Price | Billing | Main Features and Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 USD | Not applicable | 2,000 completions per month, Copilot CLI, community support, no credit card required |
| Pro | $10 USD per user per month | Per user per month | Unlimited code completion and next edit suggestions, cloud and code review, model selection, $15 monthly total credits |
| Pro+ | $39 USD per user per month | Per user per month | Premium models including Opus, audit logs, 4x+ included usage than Pro, $70 monthly total credits |
| Max | $100 USD per user per month | Per user per month | Priority access to new models and features, 2.9x+ included usage than Pro+, $200 monthly total credits |
Is GitHub Copilot Free?
Yes. GitHub Copilot has a Free plan at $0, and no credit card is required. It includes 2,000 completions per month, access to models such as Haiku 4.5 and GPT-5 mini, the Copilot CLI and community support. Verified students can use the GitHub Copilot Student plan.
GitHub Copilot Key Features
Code Completions
Copilot suggests code as you type in supported editors. Next edit suggestions predict where you will edit next and offer a change for it. Free allows 2,000 completions per month. The screenshot lists unlimited code completion and next edit suggestions on Pro.
Chat and Agent Mode
Users can ask Copilot questions in editors, on github.com and in GitHub Mobile. In agent mode, Copilot picks files to change and suggests code and terminal commands for the user to approve. Chat and agent use draw from the plan's monthly credits.
Cloud Agent
The Copilot cloud agent works in the background on a repository. A user can assign it an issue, and it plans the work, makes changes on a branch and lets the user review them before opening a pull request. It needs a paid plan, and each session lasts up to 59 minutes.
Code Review
Copilot code review checks pull requests and suggests fixes that users can apply. It works with any language and runs on github.com and in several editors. GitHub says it may miss problems, so human review is still needed. The screenshot lists it on Pro and above.
Copilot CLI
The Copilot CLI lets users work with Copilot in the terminal to answer questions, change code and create pull requests. It runs on Linux, macOS and Windows. Interactive mode has a plan mode that builds a plan first. The screenshot lists it on every plan.
Model Choice and Usage Tiers
Paid plans add model choice, and Pro+ adds premium models such as Opus. Pro+ also adds audit logs and 4x+ the included usage of Pro. Max adds priority access to new models and features and 2.9x+ the included usage of Pro+.
Should You Use GitHub Copilot?
GitHub Copilot fits developers who want AI help inside the editor and on GitHub, with a Free plan to test first. Paid plans add more credits, code review and model choice. Free has a monthly completion limit, and chat and agent work use credits that reset each month. This overview is based on publicly available product information and is not a hands-on review.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The Free plan needs no credit card and includes 2,000 completions per month.
- Paid plans list unlimited code completion and next edit suggestions.
- It works in many editors, the terminal, github.com and GitHub Mobile.
- Code review, the cloud agent and model choice are available on paid plans.
Cons
- Free is limited to 2,000 completions per month and does not list code review.
- Chat and agent work use credits, and included credits do not carry over between months.
- Each cloud agent session lasts up to 59 minutes and also uses GitHub Actions minutes.
- On individual plans, GitHub may use interaction data to train models unless the user opts out.
Popular GitHub Copilot use cases
Writing Code Faster
Developers can use inline suggestions and chat to write functions, tests and boilerplate code in their editor.
Reviewing Pull Requests
Teams can ask Copilot to review a pull request and suggest fixes before a person gives a final review.
Fixing Issues With Agents
Developers can assign a GitHub issue to the cloud agent and review the branch and pull request it makes.
Terminal Tasks
Developers can use the Copilot CLI to ask questions, change code and create pull requests from the terminal.
Frequently asked questions
Is GitHub Copilot free?
Yes. GitHub Copilot has a Free plan at $0, and no credit card is required. Verified students can use the Student plan. Paid individual plans start at $10 per month and add more credits and features.
What are the limits of the GitHub Copilot Free plan?
Free includes 2,000 completions per month, the Copilot CLI and community support. It does not include the Pro features listed in the screenshot, such as Copilot in the cloud and code review, or unlimited code completion.
Which editors work with GitHub Copilot?
GitHub's Copilot page lists Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, Xcode, Vim, Neovim, Zed and Eclipse. Copilot also works in the terminal, on the web, in GitHub Mobile, in Slack and in Teams.
What happens when my Copilot credits run out?
GitHub's docs say users on individual plans can upgrade, set a budget to pay for extra usage or wait for the monthly reset. Code completions and next edit suggestions do not use credits on paid plans.
Does GitHub Copilot use my code to train models?
GitHub's docs say that, from April 24, 2026, it may use interactions on Free, Pro, Pro+ and Max to train models. Users can set "Allow GitHub to use my data for AI model training" to Disabled. Business and Enterprise data is not used.
