Cursor and GitHub Copilot compared side by side: pricing, platforms, features, pros and cons, from the facts in our listings.
Cursor
AI coding agent and code editor
GitHub Copilot
GitHub's AI coding agent from issue to pull request
| Feature | Cursor | GitHub Copilot |
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| Our score | 89/100 | 96/100 |
| Pricing | Freemium · from $8/month (Plus, Grok models only) | Freemium · from $10/month (Pro) |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, API |
| Categories | AI Coding Assistants | AI Coding Assistants |
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| Last checked | October 22, 2026 | October 22, 2026 |
Which should you choose?
- Choose Cursor if you mainly need building features from a prompt.
- Choose GitHub Copilot if you mainly need writing code faster.
- Both run on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Our score is calculated from the facts in each listing with a published rubric (how we score); it is not a hands-on benchmark. Confirm prices on the official sites before you buy.
More comparisons
How Cursor and GitHub Copilot really differ
Cursor and GitHub Copilot both put AI into your coding workflow, but in different places. Cursor is a complete code editor (built on the open-source VS Code base) with AI agents designed into every part of it. GitHub Copilot is an assistant that plugs into the editor you already use, such as VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Visual Studio or Xcode, and also works on GitHub.com and in the Copilot CLI.
Pricing compared
Both have a free tier with limited AI use. GitHub Copilot Pro costs $10 a month and includes 1,500 monthly AI credits, with unlimited code completions; Pro+ is $39 a month and Max is $100. Business seats are $19 per user per month. Cursor is now sold as part of a bundled subscription that also covers Grok and X: Plus at $8 a month (Grok models only), Premium at $30 a month, and higher tiers at $100 and $200. On Premium and above, other companies’ models (for example from OpenAI or Anthropic) are billed separately at API list prices from prepaid credit. Older Cursor Pro plans keep working for existing customers.
When Cursor is the better choice
- You want an AI-first editor. Multi-file edits, an agent that plans and applies changes, and cloud agents that work in the background are central to Cursor rather than add-ons.
- You’re happy to switch editors. Most VS Code extensions and settings carry over, so the move is usually easy.
- Heavy agent use. The weekly usage pool is meant to stop one big day from using up a month.
When GitHub Copilot is the better choice
- You don’t want to change editors. Copilot works inside JetBrains, Visual Studio, Xcode, Neovim and VS Code.
- Your code lives on GitHub. Copilot can review pull requests, explain issues and run coding agents directly on GitHub.com.
- Budget and predictability. At $10 a month with unlimited completions, Copilot Pro is the cheaper way to get everyday autocomplete plus chat.
- Company policy. Many organisations already buy GitHub Business or Enterprise, so Copilot seats are simpler to approve.
Quick decision table
| Situation | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Solo developer on VS Code who wants agents to write whole features | Cursor |
| Java developer living in IntelliJ | GitHub Copilot |
| Team that reviews everything in GitHub pull requests | GitHub Copilot |
| You want to choose third-party frontier models per task | Cursor Premium (pay per use) or Copilot Pro+ |
| Cheapest paid plan with unlimited autocomplete | GitHub Copilot Pro |
The bottom line
Choose GitHub Copilot if you want AI help inside the tools and GitHub workflow you already have, at the lowest price. Choose Cursor if you’re willing to adopt a new editor in exchange for deeper agent features. Both free tiers are enough to try a day of real work before deciding.