AI Coding Assistants · Pricing comparison
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot: Pricing
GitHub Copilot is the cheaper option ($10/mo less), both offer a free plan. Below we break down plans, free tiers, and value so you can decide which fits your budget and workflow.
Last checked January 15, 2026
GitHub Copilot is the cheaper option ($10/mo less), both offer a free plan.
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Cursor vs GitHub Copilot: side-by-side
| Feature | Cursor | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI Coding Assistants | AI Coding Assistants |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan details | Free Hobby plan with limited fast requests per month. | Free tier with capped monthly completions and chat requests. |
| Starting price | $20/mo Pro | $10/mo Pro |
| Highest known plan | $40/mo Business (per user) | $39/mo Enterprise (per user) |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Developers who want an AI-native editor, not just a plugin | Developers who live in VS Code and GitHub |
| Team support | Yes | Yes |
| API access | No | No |
| Editor rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
Pricing and free plans
Cursor uses a freemium model, starting at $20/mo Pro. Paid tiers grant more fast requests and access to premium models; per-seat on Business. Its free plan: Free Hobby plan with limited fast requests per month.
GitHub Copilot uses a freemium model, starting at $10/mo Pro. Per-seat pricing on paid tiers; free for verified students and many open-source maintainers. Its free plan: Free tier with capped monthly completions and chat requests.
Which is cheaper?
If budget is the deciding factor, GitHub Copilot wins on entry price. If output quality or specific features matter more, weigh the feature lists below before deciding.
Cursor: pros and cons
Pros
- Powerful AI-native workflow
- Codebase awareness
- Free tier to start
Cons
- Separate editor to adopt
- Heavy use hits request limits
GitHub Copilot: pros and cons
Pros
- Now has a free tier
- Deep GitHub integration
- Broad editor support
Cons
- Best value inside GitHub workflows
- No standalone API
Who each tool is best for
- Best for beginners: GitHub Copilot — lower barrier to entry and easier to start for free or cheaply.
- Best for teams: Cursor.
- Cursor is best for: Developers who want an AI-native editor, not just a plugin.
- GitHub Copilot is best for: Developers who live in VS Code and GitHub.
Verdict
On price alone, GitHub Copilot is the value pick at $10/mo Pro. For most people, choose Cursor if you want developers who want an ai-native editor, not just a plugin, and GitHub Copilot if you want developers who live in vs code and github.
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot FAQ
Which is cheaper, Cursor or GitHub Copilot?
GitHub Copilot has the cheaper entry price — about $10/mo less. Cursor starts at $20/mo Pro, while GitHub Copilot starts at $10/mo Pro.
Does Cursor or GitHub Copilot have a free plan?
Both offer a free plan. Cursor: Free Hobby plan with limited fast requests per month. GitHub Copilot: Free tier with capped monthly completions and chat requests.
Is Cursor or GitHub Copilot better for beginners?
GitHub Copilot tends to be the easier starting point thanks to its pricing and free access, though both cover the same core ai coding assistants needs.
Which is better for teams?
Cursor is the stronger team pick given its collaboration support and rating.