Code completes as you type
In the editor, Copilot suggests what comes next in gray text: a line, or an entire function. You accept with the Tab key. It also suggests the next edit to make elsewhere in the file.
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GitHub Copilot pricing, use cases, and first steps
GitHub Copilot is the assistant from GitHub, the site where most teams keep their code. It suggests the next lines of code as you type, answers questions about a program, and can carry out a complete task on its own, up to a proposed change (a pull request) for someone to review. Not to be confused with Microsoft Copilot, the assistant in Word, Excel, and Outlook.
GitHub Copilot has a free plan. The recommended plan to start with: Free, $0. Prices checked on October 3, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
GitHub CopilotGitHub’s coding assistant: it completes, explains, and fixes- Vendor
- GitHub, a Microsoft subsidiary (United States)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Recommended plan
- Free, $0
- Page checked on
- October 3, 2026
What GitHub Copilot does
Who it’s for: developers and technical teams first. Also people who want to understand a macro, a script, or a piece of code without being in the field.
Copilot Chat: ask a question about code
You ask for an explanation, a fix, or an example, in your own words. On the web, you can attach an image or a PDF, such as a screenshot of an error message.
Agent mode, in the editor
Instead of suggesting a line, Copilot takes on the whole task: it chooses which files to edit, makes the changes, checks the result, and tries again if needed. You review at the end.
Also
- The cloud agent: assign it an issue
- Code review
- Copilot Spaces: one space per topic
- The GitHub Copilot app
- Copilot CLI: the agent in the terminal
GitHub Copilot pricing
Prices published in dollars. One credit is worth $0.01. Unused credits are lost on the 1st of each month. Code suggestions do not use credits. Beyond that, you can set an additional usage budget. In the French iPhone app: Pro €10.00, Pro+ €44.99, Max €99.00 per month.
| Plan | Price | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Free Recommended to start | $0 | Exploring, occasional use |
| Pro | $10 per month | One developer, daily use |
| Pro+ | $39 per month | Sustained use of agents |
| Max | $100 per month | Agents at work all day |
| Business | $19 per user per month | Companies |
| Enterprise | $39 per user per month | Large organizations |
What the free plan includes
Yes, with a GitHub account. 2,000 code suggestions per month, and limited use of chat and agents, with no choice of AI model. Verified students get a broader free plan. Teachers and open source maintainers get the Pro plan for free.
Nova’s advice
If you’re not a developer, the free plan is enough to ask questions and understand code. For professional use, don’t pay for it yourself: ask your company for a Business license, the only one that guarantees your data is not used for training.
A first try, in 5 minutes
Your data. On individual plans, your exchanges have been used by default to train GitHub’s AI models since April 24, 2026. You can opt out.
What it does less well
- It’s a tool for people who write code. Without programming basics, you’ll be able to understand a script, not build an app. For that, look at Lovable, Bolt, or Base44.
- Suggested code can look right and be wrong, or contain a security flaw. GitHub says so itself: everything must be reviewed and tested, especially for sensitive use.
Get a macro or a script explainedGitHub Copilot- Open github.com/copilot in your browser and log in.
- Find an Excel macro, a complicated formula, or a small script you use without really understanding it. Copy it.
- Paste the prompt below into the input area, then paste your code after it. Send.
- Read the explanation. Ask a follow-up question: “What happens if a row is empty?”
- If Copilot creates a file in its answer, it shows in the right panel: you can read it, edit it, and download it.
The prompt to copy
Explain to me in plain English, line by line and without jargon, what the code below does. Then tell me whether it carries any risk of error, and suggest a simpler version if possible. Here is the code:
Jobs that use GitHub Copilot
In the starter kit for 5 jobs.
Alternatives to GitHub Copilot
Cursor
A whole code editor built around agents, instead of an assistant added to your editor.
Devin Desktop
Devin Desktop, formerly Windsurf: a dashboard for following several agents at once.
Claude Code
Anthropic’s agent, valued for long tasks across multiple files.
Codex
OpenAI’s agent, included in ChatGPT subscriptions.
Lovable
If you don’t write code: you describe the app, and it gets built.
Frequently asked questions about GitHub Copilot
How much does GitHub Copilot cost?
Free: $0; Pro: $10 per month; Pro+: $39 per month; Max: $100 per month; Business: $19 per user per month. Prices checked on October 3, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
Can you use GitHub Copilot for free?
Yes. Yes, with a GitHub account. 2,000 code suggestions per month, and limited use of chat and agents, with no choice of AI model. Verified students get a broader free plan. Teachers and open source maintainers get the Pro plan for free.
What happens to my data with GitHub Copilot?
On individual plans, your exchanges have been used by default to train GitHub’s AI models since April 24, 2026. You can opt out.
What are the alternatives to GitHub Copilot?
Cursor: A whole code editor built around agents, instead of an assistant added to your editor. Devin Desktop: Devin Desktop, formerly Windsurf: a dashboard for following several agents at once. Claude Code: Anthropic’s agent, valued for long tasks across multiple files. Codex: OpenAI’s agent, included in ChatGPT subscriptions. Lovable: If you don’t write code: you describe the app, and it gets built.
Official pages consulted
Page checked on October 3, 2026. Brands are named to identify the tools. No affiliation.