ToolRankCursor vs GitHub Copilot
Updated 16 Oct 2026 · Facts from vendor pages · How we rank →
Who should pick which
Pick GitHub Copilot if you want to keep your current editor. It plugs into VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Eclipse and Xcode, plus GitHub.com itself, and Pro is $10/month. Pick Cursor if you're happy to switch editors for an AI-native one, where agents, cloud automations and Bugbot review are part of the app rather than a plugin. Cursor's $8 Plus plan is cheaper on paper but limited to Grok models. To use third-party models you need Premium ($30), and that usage is billed at API prices on top.
Side by side
| Cursor | GitHub Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $8/month (Plus) | $10/month (Pro) |
| Pricing model | freemium | freemium |
| Free tier | Free: limited agent requests and limited chat requests | Limited chat and agent usage; no code review or cloud agent |
| Best for | Developers who want an AI-first editor with agents and code review | Teams already on GitHub who want AI in their existing IDE |
| Main limitation | Free plan has limited agent and chat requests; third-party model usage is billed separately from plan prices. | Free plan has limited chat and agent usage and no code review or cloud agent. |
| Key plans & features |
|
|
| Platforms | Desktop, CLI, Mobile, Cloud agents | VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Eclipse, Xcode, CLI, GitHub.com, GitHub Mobile |
| Integrations | Grok models, Third-party models (billed by usage), Bugbot code review | MCP servers, GitHub pull requests |
| Model / provider | Grok models; third-party models on higher plans (billed by usage) | Not yet verified |
| Last checked | 16 Oct 2026 | 16 Oct 2026 |
| Visit Cursor → | Visit GitHub Copilot → |
Prices as listed by each vendor on the check date, before tax. Plans and limits change; follow the sources below.
Starting price
Lowest paid plan shown on each vendor’s pricing page, checked 16 Oct 2026. Currencies as listed.
Open in the interactive comparer →
Full profiles: Cursor profile · GitHub Copilot profile
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Cursor or GitHub Copilot?
Cursor Plus is $8/month and Copilot Pro is $10/month, as listed on 16 Oct 2026. Cursor Plus only includes Grok models, and third-party models on Cursor's higher plans are billed at API list price. Copilot plans include GitHub AI Credits, with extra usage bought as credits.
Does GitHub Copilot work in JetBrains IDEs?
Yes. GitHub lists VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Eclipse, Xcode, the CLI, GitHub.com and GitHub Mobile. Cursor is its own desktop editor (plus CLI, mobile and cloud agents).
Do both have a free plan?
Yes. Copilot Free has limited chat and agent usage and no code review or cloud agent. Cursor Free has limited agent and chat requests.
Sources
- Cursor: Cursor pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
- GitHub Copilot: GitHub Copilot plans checked 16 Oct 2026
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