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Alternatives · updated 2026

Best GitHub Copilot alternatives

GitHub Copilot works alongside you directly in your editor, suggesting whole lines or entire functions for you. If it doesn't fit your workflow or budget, these 3 tools do a similar job. Compare them on pricing, free plans and trade-offs below.

CursorWindsurfReplit

GitHub Copilot alternatives at a glance

ToolPricingFree planStarting priceBest for
GitHub CopilotcurrentFreemiumYes$10/monthAutocompleting code while typing in the IDE
CursorFreemiumYes$8/monthWriting and refactoring code with an AI agent
WindsurfFreemiumYes$20/monthDevelopers writing and refactoring code with AI completions and agents
ReplitFreemiumYes$20/monthNon-developers building prototypes or internal tools by describing them to Agent

Prices are taken from each tool's official site and can change. Check the official pricing page before subscribing.

01

Cursor

Freemiumfrom $8/monthDevelopment

Cursor is an AI-powered code editor designed to enhance developer productivity through autonomous agents, codebase indexing, and advanced autocomplete.

Best for

  • Writing and refactoring code with an AI agent
  • Asking questions about an unfamiliar codebase
  • Running background coding tasks with cloud agents

Pros

  • Free tier with limited agent and chat requests
  • Agent, chat, and code review in one editor
  • Privacy mode guarantees code data is not used for training

Cons

  • The $8 Plus plan includes only Grok models
  • Third-party models (non-Grok) are billed separately at API list price
  • Cloud agents and code reviews require Premium ($30/month) or higher
Cursor features & pricingGitHub Copilot vs Cursor
02

Windsurf

Freemiumfrom $20/monthDevelopment

No description available

Best for

  • Developers writing and refactoring code with AI completions and agents
  • Engineers delegating parallel tasks to multiple agents that open PRs
  • Teams reviewing AI-generated diffs before merging

Pros

  • Free plan includes unlimited Tab completions and inline edits
  • Pro gives access to frontier models from several providers plus SWE-2
  • Existing Windsurf plans, settings and extensions carry over to Devin Desktop

Cons

  • The rebrand to Devin Desktop means naming and docs are in transition
  • Free plan has only a light agent quota and limited model availability
  • Usage beyond plan quotas is billed at API pricing
Windsurf features & pricingGitHub Copilot vs Windsurf
03

Replit

Freemiumfrom $20/monthDevelopment

Describe what you want. Replit builds it. Get a working app or website in minutes. No coding required.

Best for

  • Non-developers building prototypes or internal tools by describing them to Agent
  • Developers spinning up full-stack projects without configuring a local environment
  • Small teams collaborating on and publishing commercial web apps

Pros

  • Free Starter plan with no time limit lets you try Agent and publish one app
  • Coding, hosting and publishing live in one browser-based product
  • Paid plans include monthly credits toward more powerful AI models

Cons

  • Usage-based credits and effort-based pricing make monthly costs harder to predict
  • Starter is limited to one published app and has no collaboration seats
  • Replit warns that Agent is probabilistic and can make mistakes
Replit features & pricingGitHub Copilot vs Replit
FAQ

GitHub Copilot alternatives, answered

What is the best alternative to GitHub Copilot?

Cursor is the most direct alternative to GitHub Copilot in this list: Cursor is an AI-powered code editor designed to enhance developer productivity through autonomous agents, codebase indexing, and advanced autocomplete. Other options include Windsurf, Replit. The best choice depends on the features and budget you need.

Is there a free alternative to GitHub Copilot?

Yes. Cursor, Windsurf, Replit offer a free plan or free access, usually with usage limits. Paid plans unlock higher limits and advanced features.

Which GitHub Copilot alternative is the cheapest?

Among the alternatives listed here, Cursor has the lowest starting paid price at $8/month, as of the last update. Prices change often, so check each tool's official pricing page before you subscribe.

Why look for a GitHub Copilot alternative?

Common reasons are price, usage limits on the free plan, or needing a feature GitHub Copilot doesn't focus on. Typical drawbacks people mention: Premium models such as Opus require Pro+ ($39/month) or higher; Usage is limited by monthly credits on each paid plan.

Read the full GitHub Copilot overview

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