Cursor and GitHub Copilot both cover Coding. Cursor: A code editor and CLI built around an AI coding agent (Freemium). GitHub Copilot: GitHub's official AI pair programmer and coding agent (Freemium). This page compares published facts only; we have not run a head-to-head test.
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot at a glance
| Cursor | GitHub Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Cursor (Anysphere) | GitHub / Microsoft |
| What it is | Cursor is a coding tool built around an AI agent, available as a desktop editor and as a command-line tool. You hand it a development task and it drafts a plan, reads the relevant code and docs, then makes the changes. Paid plans add cloud agents that run tasks on their own machines, automations and AI code review. A good fit for developers who want to offload routine implementation work and spend their time on decisions. | GitHub Copilot is GitHub's AI coding assistant: completions and chat in your editor, an agent mode that carries out tasks, and the Copilot CLI. Each plan includes a monthly allowance of AI credits (1 credit = $0.01), and you can set a budget for extra usage. |
| Good for | Hand a feature request to the agent to plan and implement Fix bugs and edit files from the terminal with the CLI Run several tasks in parallel with cloud agents Get AI code reviews on changes | Code completion in your editor Let the agent fix bugs and write tests Use AI on your repo from the command line |
| Use cases | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Pricing details | From the official pricing page: Free $0 (limited AI usage); Plus $8/month; Premium $30/month; Super $100/month; Ultra $200/month; Teams from $30/user/month; Enterprise custom. Prices exclude taxes, and third-party model usage is billed separately. | Individual plans: Free $0 (2,000 code completions a month, limited chat and agent usage); Pro $10/month; Pro+ $39/month; Max $100/month. |
| Sources | cursor.com | github.com |
| Last verified |
FAQ
Is Cursor or GitHub Copilot cheaper?
Cursor: From the official pricing page: Free $0 (limited AI usage); Plus $8/month; Premium $30/month; Super $100/month; Ultra $200/month; Teams from $30/user/month; Enterprise custom. Prices exclude taxes, and third-party model usage is billed separately. GitHub Copilot: Individual plans: Free $0 (2,000 code completions a month, limited chat and agent usage); Pro $10/month; Pro+ $39/month; Max $100/month. Prices change; check the official sites before paying.
Should I choose Cursor or GitHub Copilot?
Choose Cursor if you mainly need: Hand a feature request to the agent to plan and implement; Fix bugs and edit files from the terminal with the CLI; Run several tasks in parallel with cloud agents; Get AI code reviews on changes. Choose GitHub Copilot if you mainly need: Code completion in your editor; Let the agent fix bugs and write tests; Use AI on your repo from the command line.
More alternatives to Cursor → · More alternatives to GitHub Copilot →