AI code editor with agents, cloud agents and code review, offered with a free Hobby tier and paid plans.
Free stops at: Limited Agent requests
Listed Not yet reviewed
Free · paid from $20/mo US · checked Sep 29
Head-to-head · profiles checked Sep 30, 2026
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot in 2026: which one fits your work
GitHub Copilot fits developers who want to keep their current editor and pay less: Pro is $10/mo and runs in VS Code, JetBrains, Xcode and more. Cursor fits developers who want an agent-first editor with CLI, Slack and GitHub surfaces, from $20/mo. Cursor Hobby and Copilot Free are both free tiers. No benchmark was run.
Starting price$20/mo (Individual) · $10/mo (Pro)Cursor · GitHub Copilot
Free tierYes (Hobby) · Yes (Free)Cursor · GitHub Copilot
Plans documented5 · 8Cursor · GitHub Copilot
Team plan price$40/user/mo (Teams) · $19/seat/mo (Business)Cursor · GitHub Copilot
We based this comparison on our verified profiles of Cursor (checked 2026-09-29) and GitHub Copilot (checked 2026-09-30); we ran no benchmark and took no vendor payments or third-party benchmark data.
Is Cursor better than GitHub Copilot? The short answer
Cursor is an AI code editor built around coding agents, with a free Hobby plan and Individual from $20/mo. GitHub Copilot works inside the editors you already use, starts free, and Pro costs $10/mo. Pick Cursor if you want an agent-first editor with CLI, Slack and GitHub surfaces. Pick Copilot if you are on GitHub and want completions, chat and a cloud agent in VS Code, JetBrains, Xcode and other IDEs.
Based on our verified profiles of Cursor (checked 2026-09-29) and GitHub Copilot (checked 2026-09-30); no benchmark was run.
Cursor or GitHub Copilot: which to use, by task
If you only want the answer, this is the table. Everything below is the evidence from the two documented profiles.
| You want to | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Write and refactor code | Either | Cursor lists writing and refactoring code; Copilot offers inline suggestions, chat and IDE agent mode |
| Get autocomplete while I type | GitHub Copilot | Copilot documents inline and next edit suggestions, unlimited on paid plans |
| Hand a larger feature to an agent | Either | Cursor has a coding agent and cloud agents; Copilot has IDE agent mode and a cloud agent |
| Keep working in JetBrains, Xcode or Neovim | GitHub Copilot | Copilot lists VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Eclipse, Xcode and Neovim |
| Review pull requests automatically | Either | Cursor has Bugbot; Copilot has code review on paid plans |
| Start work from Slack | Either | Cursor's agent runs from Slack; Copilot's cloud agent can be started by @mentioning GitHub in Slack and Teams |
| Run an AI agent in the terminal | Either | Cursor and GitHub Copilot both document a CLI |
| Choose between models from many vendors | GitHub Copilot | Copilot lists Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, xAI, Kimi and Microsoft models on paid plans |
| Keep code out of model training on a personal plan | Cursor | Cursor with privacy mode on does not use code for training; Copilot Free, Pro and Pro+ may, unless you opt out |
| Get it free as a student | GitHub Copilot | Copilot Student is free for verified students |
Who should pick which
Pick Cursor if
- You want a dedicated AI code editor rather than an extension in your current IDE
- You want a coding agent reachable from the editor, CLI, Slack and GitHub
- You want Bugbot agentic code review on a Teams plan, with team-wide privacy mode and SAML/OIDC SSO
- You are fine with usage beyond the included amount being billed on demand
Pick GitHub Copilot if
- You want to stay in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Eclipse, Xcode or Neovim
- Your team already works on GitHub and wants a cloud agent that opens pull requests
- You want a lower entry price: Pro is $10/mo, and verified students get access free
- You need content exclusion, audit logs and IP indemnity on Business ($19/user/mo) or Enterprise ($39/user/mo)
What Cursor does better, and what GitHub Copilot does better
Cursor
- Is a dedicated AI code editor built around coding agents rather than an add-on to another IDE
- Runs cloud agents in parallel on their own cloud computers, with automations
- Extends the agent with MCPs, skills and hooks on Individual and above
- Lists team-wide privacy mode and SAML/OIDC SSO on Teams
GitHub Copilot
- Works inside VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Eclipse, Xcode and Neovim, plus github.com and GitHub Mobile
- Its cloud agent and CLI produce commits, branches and pull requests on GitHub
- Offers a model catalog spanning Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, xAI, Kimi and Microsoft
- Adds content exclusion, audit logs and IP indemnity on Business and Enterprise
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot pricing: plans and free tiers
| Plan | Tool | Price | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cursor Hobby | Cursor | Free | Limited Agent requests |
| Cursor Individual (Pro) | Cursor | $20/mo | Extended limits on Agent; usage beyond the included amount billed on demand |
| Cursor Individual (Pro+ / Ultra) | Cursor | Not stated | Pro+ recommended for daily agent users, Ultra for power users |
| Cursor Teams (Standard / Premium) | Cursor | $40/user/mo | Included usage plus on-demand billing |
| Cursor Enterprise | Cursor | Custom | Pooled usage |
| Copilot Free (also free for verified students) | GitHub Copilot | Free | 2,000 completions per month; limited chat and agent usage; auto model selection only |
| Copilot Pro | GitHub Copilot | $10/mo | 1,500 total monthly AI credits ($15 value); unused credits do not carry over |
| Copilot Pro+ | GitHub Copilot | $39/mo | 7,000 total monthly AI credits ($70 value); flex allotments may change |
| Copilot Max | GitHub Copilot | $100/mo | 20,000 total monthly AI credits ($200 value) |
| Copilot Business | GitHub Copilot | $19/seat/mo | 1,900 AI credits per user per month, pooled; extra usage $0.01 per credit if admins allow |
| Copilot Enterprise | GitHub Copilot | $39/seat/mo | 3,900 AI credits per user per month, pooled; requires GitHub Enterprise Cloud |
USD as published on each vendor's pricing page, checked Sep 30, 2026. Cursor pricing in full · GitHub Copilot pricing in full
Usage limits: what the vendors state
| Cursor | GitHub Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Agent and chat usage | Hobby: limited Agent requests; paid plans: included usage, then on-demand billing | Metered in monthly AI credits that vary by plan, model and tokens |
| Overage | Usage beyond the included amount is billed on demand | Business: $0.01 per AI credit beyond the pool if admins allow paid usage; Pro offers additional AI credits |
| Context / file size | Not stated | Not stated |
| Seats / team | Teams from $40/user/mo with centralized billing; Enterprise has SCIM seat management | Business and Enterprise: seat management, policies, budgets and audit logs |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Cursor | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Coding agent | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud agent | Yes (Individual and above) | Yes (paid plans) |
| Automated PR code review | Yes (Bugbot) | Yes (paid plans) |
| CLI | Yes | Yes |
| MCP servers | Yes | Yes |
| Inline completions | Not stated | Yes (2,000 per month on Free, unlimited on paid) |
| Mobile apps | Not stated | Yes (GitHub Mobile) |
| API | Not stated | No standalone model API; Copilot SDK exposes sessions and credit usage |
| Multi-vendor model choice | Yes (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, SpaceXAI, Cursor) | Yes (paid plans) |
Privacy and data training
| Cursor | GitHub Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Training on your data | Not used for training unless flagged for security review, reported as feedback or agreed to; with privacy mode on, not used by Cursor or model providers | Free, Pro and Pro+ may be used for training unless you opt out; Business and Enterprise are not used for training |
| Retention | Not stated | Business/Enterprise IDE chat and completions: engagement data kept two years; chat on github.com, mobile and CLI retains prompts and suggestions for thread history |
| Business controls | Team-wide privacy mode, SAML/OIDC SSO, audit logs (Enterprise) | Content exclusion, public code filter, model and feature policies, budgets, audit logs, MCP allow lists, IP indemnity |
Taken from each vendor's published policy pages at the time of our check. Policies change; the source links are at the bottom.
Switching between Cursor and GitHub Copilot: what carries over
Cursor → GitHub CopilotCarries over
- Agent-style work through Copilot's IDE agent mode, cloud agent and CLI
- MCP servers and custom instructions
- Pull request review through Copilot code review
- The dedicated Cursor editor and its Bugbot reviews
- Cursor's team-wide privacy mode setup on Teams
GitHub Copilot → CursorCarries over
- Coding agent, CLI and MCP support
- Pull request review through Bugbot
- GitHub as a surface for agent work
- Copilot's inline suggestions inside your current IDE as the main workflow
- Copilot's multi-vendor model catalog and content exclusion
Pros and cons
Cursor
- Free Hobby plan with no credit card required
- Access to frontier models on paid plans
- Team SSO and privacy mode on Teams
- Free plan has limited agent requests
- Usage beyond the included amount is billed extra
- Prices exclude taxes
GitHub Copilot
- Works inside existing IDEs and github.com rather than a separate editor
- Free tier with 2,000 completions per month and no credit card
- Business and Enterprise data is not used for model training
- Chat and agent usage is metered in AI credits, so it is hard to predict when an allowance runs out
- Individual plan interactions may be used for training unless you opt out
- Not available for GitHub Enterprise Server
The two tools
AI coding assistant from GitHub offering code completions, chat and agent features in editors, the terminal and GitHub.
Free stops at: 2,000 completions per month, Limited chat and agent usage (allowance of GitHub AI Credits)
Listed Not yet reviewed
Verified github.com (opens GitHub Copilot website in a new tab)
Free · paid from $10/mo US · checked Sep 30
Cursor or GitHub Copilot: how to choose
- If you want to stay in your current IDE (JetBrains, Xcode, Eclipse, Neovim), pick Copilot
- If you want a dedicated agent-first editor, pick Cursor
- If entry price matters most, Copilot Pro at $10/mo undercuts Cursor Individual at $20/mo
- If you need predictable spend, note that Cursor and GitHub Copilot both bill beyond included usage: Cursor on demand, Copilot through AI credits
- If individual-plan privacy matters, Cursor with privacy mode on avoids training use; on Copilot opt out or use Business
- If your team lives on GitHub and wants agent pull requests, pick Copilot; if you want an agent in editor, CLI and Slack, pick Cursor
Frequently asked questions
Is Cursor or GitHub Copilot cheaper?
GitHub Copilot has the lower entry price: Pro is $10/mo against $20/mo for Cursor Individual (Pro). Both have a free tier. Cursor bills usage beyond the included amount on demand, and Copilot meters usage through monthly AI Credits.
Do Cursor and GitHub Copilot have a free plan?
Yes, Cursor and GitHub Copilot both have a free plan. Cursor Hobby needs no credit card but has limited Agent requests. Copilot Free includes 2,000 completions per month plus limited chat and agent usage, and verified students get Copilot free.
Which tool is better for privacy, Cursor or GitHub Copilot?
For individual plans, Cursor with privacy mode on does not use code for training, while Copilot Free, Pro and Pro+ may use data for training unless you opt out. On Copilot Business and Enterprise, data is not used for training. Cursor lists team-wide privacy mode on Teams.
Can I use GitHub Copilot in my current editor instead of switching to Cursor?
Yes, GitHub Copilot works in your current editor. Copilot supports VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, Eclipse, Xcode and Neovim. Cursor is its own AI code editor, with a CLI, Slack and GitHub surfaces; its docs also list JetBrains and Xcode integrations.
Sources
- https://cursor.com/pricing
- https://cursor.com/
- https://cursor.com/download
- https://cursor.com/privacy
- https://cursor.com/docs
- https://cursor.com/changelog
- https://github.com/features/copilot
- https://github.com/features/copilot/plans
- https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/get-started/plans
- https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/concepts/billing-and-usage/individuals/billing
- https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/copilot-feature-matrix
- https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/concepts/agents/cloud-agent/about-cloud-agent
- https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/concepts/agents/copilot-cli/about-copilot-cli
- https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/concepts/security-governance-and-network-settings/content-exclusion
- https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/manage-your-account/get-started-with-a-copilot-plan
- https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/copilot-sdk/features/usage-and-billing
- https://docs.github.com/en/site-policy/github-terms/github-terms-for-additional-products-and-features
- https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/responsible-use/chat
- https://github.blog/changelog/label/copilot/
Only official vendor pages. No third-party benchmarks, forum threads or press were used. How we review.