CursorFree plan
Paid from
$20 a month
View plans and limitsUpdated 4 September 2026 · Independent comparison
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot:
which should you use?
Cursor and GitHub Copilot, side by side. Find the one that fits what you need to do.
Find your best fitThe 30-second answer
Cursor is built for coding, data & technical work.
GitHub Copilot is built for coding, data & technical work.
Pricing, simplified
Start free. Upgrade when you need more.
GitHub CopilotFree plan
Paid from
$10 a month
View plans and limitsThe 30-second comparison
If you only read one section, make it this one. Rows where both sides say the same thing are left out — the point is where they differ. Where each row came from is listed underneath.
| Category | Cursor | GitHub Copilot | Better fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it's built for | The editor most professional developers have converged on. Understands a whole codebase, not just the open file. | The default, and the one already wired into the editor and the pull request your team uses. A free tier now covers light use. | Tie |
| Free plan | Yes. Hobby plan, limited credits | Yes. Free tier, 2,000 completions a month | Tie |
| Cheapest way to pay | $20 a month. | $10 a month. | GitHub Copilot |
| What the paid tiers cost |
|
| Tie |
| What to watch out for | A SpaceX subsidiary since the June 2026 acquisition, which matters if vendor independence does. | Suggestions are strongest on common patterns and weakest exactly where your codebase is unusual. Pro and above bundle a monthly credit allowance, so premium-model work is metered on top of the seat. | Tie |
| Who it is usually for | developers | developers, students | Tie |
| What it asks of you | No setup — it works in a browser. | Expects some technical comfort to get going. | Tie |
| Made by | Anysphere (Cursor) — San Francisco, US. | GitHub — San Francisco, US. | Tie |
GitHub Copilot is ahead on 1 of the 8 rows compared — cheapest way to pay — and it is not about how well it does the job. On fitness for the work, it and Cursor are level. Treat this as a tiebreaker, not a recommendation.
GitHub Copilot
The default, and the one already wired into the editor and the pull request your team uses.
✓ The default, and the one already wired into the editor and the pull request your team uses.
✓ You want the cheaper paid plan, $10 against $20
✓ You are among students
✓ It is built for coding, data & technical work
The editor most professional developers have converged on.
Cursor is the better answer when the job is what it was built for rather than what the pick above does broadly.
✓ The editor most professional developers have converged on.
✓ You would rather not configure anything first
✓ It is built for coding, data & technical work
✓ Understands a whole codebase, not just the open file.
How we know
Every row that separated these two, and where it came from. Nothing here is a hands-on test — if a line rests on a vendor’s own pricing page, it says so and links it.
| Row | Favours | Weight | Where it came from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest way to pay | GitHub Copilot | Everything else | From each vendor’s own pricing page. Dates and pages are listed below. |
The prices
Cursor. Read by hand off cursor.com on 4 September 2026. It is not on the monthly re-check, so confirm there before paying. cursor.com/pricing
GitHub Copilot. Read by hand off github.com on 4 September 2026. It is not on the monthly re-check, so confirm there before paying. github.com/features/copilot/plans
The ratings
The category these two share. Coding, Data & Technical Work — both are listed there in the catalogue, and the fit recorded against each listing is a judgement made here, by hand.
The nine-category grid below. Derived from what each product is listed for, by one script, once per build — so the same pair always reads the same. It is a derivation, not a review.
What this is not
Neither product was run side by side to produce this page. Nobody was paid to appear on it and nothing here is ranked by commission.
To put the same question to both and read the answers yourself, run them side by side — that is a live test, and this is not.
Choose based on what you’re doing
All ten categories, including the ones where neither of these is the answer. These ratings are derived from what each product is listed for, not from running it — a rating here is a reading of the record, and the record is linked.
01
General-Purpose AI Assistants
Questions, brainstorming, explanations, everyday tasks, decision-making, general advice.
Cursor
Not a good fitGitHub Copilot
Not a good fitBest choice: Neither
02
Search, Research & Academics
Web research, deep research, books, academic papers, citations, news, fact-checking.
Cursor
Bad fitGitHub Copilot
Bad fitBest choice: Neither
03
Writing, Communication & Language
Emails, reports, essays, editing, summarizing, translation, presentations.
Cursor
Bad fitGitHub Copilot
Bad fitBest choice: Neither
04
Coding, Data & Technical Work
Programming, debugging, data analysis, spreadsheets, math, engineering, technical research.
Cursor
Built for thisGitHub Copilot
Built for thisBest choice: Tie
05
Business, Finance & Professional Work
Business strategy, investing, market research, legal, sales, HR, accounting, consulting.
Cursor
Not a good fitGitHub Copilot
Not a good fitBest choice: Neither
06
Image & Design
Image generation, photo editing, logos, graphics, product design, advertising creatives.
Cursor
Bad fitGitHub Copilot
Bad fitBest choice: Neither
07
Video
Video generation and editing, clipping, subtitles, avatars, animation and motion capture.
Cursor
Bad fitGitHub Copilot
Bad fitBest choice: Neither
08
Audio, Voice & Music
Voice generation, transcription, music, dubbing, sound cleanup and podcast production.
Cursor
Bad fitGitHub Copilot
Bad fitBest choice: Neither
09
Marketing & Content Creation
Social media, SEO, advertising, copywriting, content ideas, scripts, brand development.
Cursor
Bad fitGitHub Copilot
Bad fitBest choice: Neither
10
Productivity, Automation & Personal Life
AI agents, workflows, scheduling, meetings, organization, shopping, travel, personal finance.
Cursor
Not a good fitGitHub Copilot
Not a good fitBest choice: Neither
The editor most professional developers have converged on.
by Anysphere (Cursor)The editor most professional developers have converged on.
You would rather not configure anything first
It is built for coding, data & technical work
Understands a whole codebase, not just the open file.
The default, and the one already wired into the editor and the pull request your team uses.
by GitHubThe default, and the one already wired into the editor and the pull request your team uses.
You want the cheaper paid plan, $10 against $20
You are among students
It is built for coding, data & technical work
Pricing, simplified
The plans people actually compare, read from each vendor’s own page.
PricingSimple, up-to-date plan overview.
Cursorby Anysphere (Cursor)
GitHub Copilotby GitHubFree version
Cursor
Yes — Free plan availableHobby plan, limited credits
GitHub Copilot
Yes — Free plan available2,000 completions a month
Individual plans
Cursor
Pro
$20 / month$16 / month (annual)
Pro+
$60 / month$48 / month (annual)
Ultra
$200 / month$160 / month (annual)
Teams standard seat
$40 / month
Teams premium seat
$120 / month$96 / month (annual)
GitHub Copilot
Pro
$10 / month
Pro+
$39 / month
Max
$100 / month
Business plans
CursorNot sold to teams
GitHub Copilot
From $19 / user / month
Enterprise
CursorNot published
GitHub Copilot
From $39 / user / month
Tell us what you use AI for
Pick your main job and the verdict below changes to match. Every answer is on the page already, so this works as a reader, not a lookup.
The verdict for that job
Evenly matched
Close call. Both cover coding, data & technical work at the same level; both have a free plan you can start on; GitHub Copilot is cheaper to start paying for, $10 against $20.
8 rows compared
Frequently asked questions
Is Cursor or GitHub Copilot better?
GitHub Copilot is ahead on 1 of the 8 rows compared — cheapest way to pay — and it is not about how well it does the job. On fitness for the work, it and Cursor are level. Treat this as a tiebreaker, not a recommendation. both have a free plan you can start on; GitHub Copilot is cheaper to start paying for, $10 against $20. Cursor: The editor most professional developers have converged on. Understands a whole codebase, not just the open file. GitHub Copilot: The default, and the one already wired into the editor and the pull request your team uses. A free tier now covers light use.
Is Cursor or GitHub Copilot cheaper?
GitHub Copilot — paid plans start at $10 a month against $20 a month.
Do Cursor and GitHub Copilot both have free plans?
Yes. Cursor: Hobby plan, limited credits. GitHub Copilot: Free tier, 2,000 completions a month.
What should I watch out for?
Cursor: A SpaceX subsidiary since the June 2026 acquisition, which matters if vendor independence does. GitHub Copilot: Suggestions are strongest on common patterns and weakest exactly where your codebase is unusual. Pro and above bundle a monthly credit allowance, so premium-model work is metered on top of the seat.
Read more
Cursor
What it is for, who makes it, what it costs and what to use instead.
GitHub Copilot
What it is for, who makes it, what it costs and what to use instead.
Best AI for Coding
Programming, debugging, data analysis, spreadsheets, math, engineering, technical research.