GitHub Copilot is the coding assistant built into GitHub. It offers inline completions, chat, an agent mode in the IDE, a CLI, a standalone Copilot app and a cloud agent that works on issues and pull requests.
Since June 1, 2026, Copilot bills everything except completions in GitHub AI Credits, where one credit is one US cent, and the $100 Max plan launched the same day. Each paid plan includes a monthly allowance, and you can set a budget to keep working past it. Copilot Fusion, generally available since October 28, 2026, picks and combines models for each task, and every model it uses is billed.
Who it’s for
GitHub pitches Free at getting started, Pro at everyday coding with agents, Pro+ at complex work with premium models, and Max at sustained, high-volume agent work. It’s the obvious choice for teams already on GitHub, and for anyone using Visual Studio, Xcode, Eclipse or Neovim, which few rivals support.
What stands out
- Every major IDE. VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Eclipse, Xcode and Neovim, plus the CLI, the Copilot app, github.com and GitHub Mobile.
- Cloud agent. Assign an issue and it opens a pull request; available on paid plans.
- Code review. Reviews local changes and pull requests.
- Many models. Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok, Kimi and Microsoft models, or Fusion’s automatic routing.
- Third-party agents. Claude Code and Codex are available inside Copilot from Pro upwards.
- Sessions follow you. Pick up work across the CLI, app, editor, github.com and mobile.
Drawbacks and things to watch
- Training is on by default for individuals. Since April 24, 2026, Free, Pro and Pro+ interaction data trains models unless you opt out.
- Credits can go quickly. Premium models and Fusion bill per model, so track your usage against the monthly allowance.
- Models retiring. Claude Opus 4.8, Claude Opus 5 and GPT-5.6 Terra are deprecated on November 16, 2026; GitHub suggests Opus 5.5, GPT-6.1 Sol or GPT-6 Luna.
- Free can’t buy more. Free plans can’t pay for extra usage.
Privacy and security
Copilot Free, Pro and Pro+ use your interaction data for training by default; opt out under Privacy at github.com/settings/copilot. Business and Enterprise data isn’t used. Copilot Business and Enterprise are covered by GitHub’s SOC 2 Type II report, with current reports on the Copilot Trust Center.
Getting started
Install the GitHub Copilot extension in your editor and sign in with GitHub. For the terminal, run npm install -g @github/copilot (Node.js 22 or later), brew install --cask copilot-cli, or winget install GitHub.Copilot on Windows.
Plans and prices
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 2,000 completions a month and a limited chat and agent allowance. Automatic model selection only. |
| Pro | $10/mo | 1,500 AI credits a month (1,000 base + 500 flex). Model choice, cloud agent, code review. |
| Pro+ | $39/mo | 7,000 AI credits a month (3,900 base + 3,100 flex). Premium models. |
| Max | $100/mo | 20,000 AI credits a month (10,000 base + 10,000 flex). Priority access to premium models. |
| Business | $19/seat/mo | 1,900 credits per user into a shared pool; extra usage at $0.01 per credit. |
| Enterprise | $39/seat/mo | 3,900 credits per user into a shared pool, priority access to new models. |
| Copilot access | $0 with GitHub Enterprise Cloud, or $10/user/mo | Enterprise features with no included credits; all usage metered. |
Copilot FAQ
Is GitHub Copilot free?
Yes, with limits. Copilot Free includes 2,000 completions a month and a limited chat and agent allowance, with automatic model selection only and no credit card. Verified students get Copilot Student for free.
How much does GitHub Copilot cost?
Pro is $10 a month, Pro+ $39 and Max $100. Business is $19 per seat and Enterprise $39 per seat. Each plan includes a monthly allowance of AI credits, where one credit is $0.01, and inline completions don't use credits on paid plans.
Does GitHub train on my Copilot code?
Since April 24, 2026, interaction data from Copilot Free, Pro and Pro+ is used for training by default unless you opt out under Privacy at github.com/settings/copilot. Business and Enterprise aren't affected.
Can I use my own API key with Copilot?
Yes. Bring-your-own-key works in VS Code, JetBrains, Xcode, the Copilot CLI and app, and lets you use models without a Copilot subscription. Organisations can turn it off.
What is Copilot Fusion?
A mode that picks and combines models for each task, generally available since October 28, 2026. Every model it uses is billed at that model's rate; paid plans get 30% off Fusion model costs until November 30, 2026.
Latest changes
Sources
- GitHub Docs: Copilot plans
- GitHub Copilot plans page
- GitHub Docs: Copilot feature matrix
- GitHub Docs: billing for individuals
- GitHub Docs: bring your own key
- GitHub changelog: how we use your data (March 2026)
- GitHub changelog: Copilot Fusion
- GitHub changelog: model deprecations in mid-November
- GitHub Docs: install Copilot CLI
Facts last checked November 15, 2026.