GitHub Copilot
: How to use it, features, and the business problems it solves
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What is GitHub Copilot?
GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistance service provided by GitHub (a Microsoft subsidiary). In addition to code completion, it includes an agent mode that implements autonomously, a cloud agent that works in the cloud, automatic PR review, and the Copilot CLI. It can be used in VS Code, JetBrains, GitHub, the terminal, and more, and you can choose from major models such as Claude, GPT, and Gemini. For individuals there is the free Free plan, Pro $10, Pro+ $39, and Max $100; for businesses there are Business $19 and Enterprise $39 (per user/month, on a GitHub AI credit system).
Business problems it solves
About "GitHub Copilot"
What is GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistance service provided by GitHub (a Microsoft subsidiary). It started with code completion in the editor and now includes an "agent mode" that implements autonomously according to your instructions, a "cloud agent" that carries work forward in the cloud, and automatic review of pull requests. In addition to major development environments such as VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Xcode, and Neovim, it can be used on GitHub and in the terminal (Copilot CLI), and you can choose from several major models such as Claude, GPT, and Gemini.
From completion to "agent"
GitHub Copilot's focus today goes beyond word-by-word completion to delegating tasks and carrying them through implementation and review. In agent mode it edits multiple files, and when you assign an issue to Copilot on GitHub, it creates a pull request. It also supports delegation to external agents such as Claude Code and Codex.
How to use
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Choose a plan and activate it
You can start with the free Free plan. Students, teachers, and typical OSS maintainers can use it for free.
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Install it in your editor
Install the extension in VS Code, JetBrains, and others, and connect with your GitHub account.
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Use completion and chat
Request implementation, fixes, and explanations through code completion and chat.
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Delegate to an agent
Use agent mode or the cloud agent to delegate everything from multi-file changes to PR creation.
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Review and merge
Use Copilot's code review, check the changes, and merge.
Features
01Completion and chat
Make everyday coding faster.
- Code completion — unlimited on paid tiers, plus next-edit suggestions
- Copilot Chat — implement, fix, and explain through conversation
- Multi-model — choose from Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok, and more
02Agents
Delegate your tasks.
- Agent mode — autonomously edit multiple files
- Cloud agent — create a PR from an assigned issue
- External agent delegation — to Claude Code and Codex (higher tiers)
03Review and extensibility
Quality and integration.
- Code review — diff review in PRs and in the editor
- Copilot CLI — use it from the terminal
- MCP and custom instructions — connect tools and apply your conventions
Pricing
For individuals there are four tiers starting from the free Free plan, plus plans for businesses. Features consume GitHub AI credits (prices in US dollars, as of August 2026).
| Plan | Monthly | Key details |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 2,000 completions/month, agent mode 50 times/month, Copilot CLI |
| Pro | $10/user | Unlimited completion, cloud agent and code review, external agents, $15/month worth of credits |
| Pro+ | $39/user | Premium models, 4x+ usage allowance, $70/month worth of credits, audit logs |
| Max | $100/user | Priority access to new features, 2.9x+ the usage allowance of Pro+, $200/month worth of credits |
For businesses there are GitHub Copilot Business ($19/user) and Enterprise ($39/user), which add organization management and security features.
How it differs from other AI coding tools
GitHub Copilot stands out for being "deeply integrated with GitHub and usable across major editors, GitHub, and the terminal". You choose between it and alternatives depending on whether you want to avoid migrating to a dedicated editor or depending on a specific model, versus doing GitHub-centered development.
| GitHub Copilot | Cursor | Cline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form | Extension for major editors + GitHub + CLI | A dedicated editor built for AI | An OSS agent extending your existing editor |
| Models | Choose from Claude/GPT/Gemini, etc. | In-house Composer + major models | All providers, BYO key |
| Strengths | Integration with GitHub, cloud agent | A carefully crafted editor experience | Open source, model freedom |
For the experience of a dedicated editor, Cursor is a comparison option; for open source with model freedom, Cline; and for OpenAI's coding agent, Codex.
The information on this page is based on content published on the official site as of August 2026. Please check the official site for the latest specifications and pricing.
