GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot — Cursor alternative

GitHub Copilot works alongside you directly in your editor, suggesting whole lines or entire functions for you. It integrates seamlessly with popular IDEs without requiring a complete editor change. Copilot excels in finishing code inside the file you are editing, making it ideal for developers who prefer their current development environment. Solo developers benefit from instant code suggestions without switching tools or learning new interfaces.

Strengths

• Universal IDE support — Works in VS Code, IntelliJ, Vim, and 20+ editors without switching tools
• Mature ecosystem — GitHub Copilot starts at $10/month for individuals with established reliability and widespread adoption
• Excellent single-file completion — Copilot excels in finishing code inside the file you are editing with accurate context understanding
• Free tier available — GitHub Copilot Free you get 2000 code completions/month for trying the service
• Enterprise integration — Native GitHub integration with organizational policies and security controls
• Multiple AI models — Access to various language models including GPT-4 and specialized coding models

Weaknesses

• Limited cross-file context — Unless you specifically open or reference other files, it could not "know" about the code contained within them
• Basic refactoring capabilities — For changes that touch many parts of the codebase, like design, state, or tracking, it may need more help from the developer
• No standalone IDE — Requires existing editor setup and configuration
• Premium request limits — Billing for premium requests began on June 18, 2025, for all paid Copilot plans with monthly allowances

Best for

• Developers who want AI assistance without changing their current IDE workflow

Pricing plans

• Free — $0/month — 2000 code completions/month
• Pro — $10/month — unlimited completions, access to premium models in Copilot Chat, access to Copilot coding agent, and a monthly allowance of premium requests
• Business — $19/month — Team features, policy management, enterprise security
• Enterprise — Custom pricing — Advanced security, audit logs, organizational controls

Tech details

• Type: IDE extension/plugin
• IDEs: VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA, Vim, Neovim, JetBrains suite, Visual Studio, Xcode, 20+ editors
• Key features: Real-time code completion, chat interface, vulnerability scanning, code explanation
• Privacy/hosting: Cloud-based, enterprise data protection available, configurable data retention
• Models/context window: GPT-4, Codex, specialized coding models, approximate 8K-32K context depending on model

When to choose this over Cursor

• You're satisfied with your current IDE and don't want to switch development environments
• GitHub Copilot costs $10 per month compared to Cursor, which costs $20 per month making it more cost-effective
• You need broad IDE compatibility across different development tools and languages

When Cursor may be a better fit

• Cursor excelled at refactoring and structure, especially for messy or multi-file changes requiring project-wide understanding
• You want a dedicated AI-powered development environment with advanced contextual features
• Cursor lets you mix-and-match AI models, supporting GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and Gemini 2.0 Flash for different tasks

Conclusion

GitHub Copilot serves as a solid Cursor alternative for developers who prioritize IDE flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Choose Copilot if you have a coding background and are comfortable working in IDEs—you'll love the flexibility and value. It excels at single-file code completion and integrates seamlessly into existing workflows. However, developers requiring extensive multi-file refactoring or project-wide AI understanding may find Cursor alternatives more suitable for complex architectural changes.

Sources

• Official site
• Docs
• Pricing