Cursor vs GitHub Copilot
A detailed comparison of Cursor and GitHub Copilot to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Cursor | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ 2,000 completions/mo | ✓ Free for OSS/students |
| Lowest Paid | $20/mo | $10/mo |
| Enterprise | $40/user/mo | $39/user/mo |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | Cursor | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| AI autocomplete | ✓ | — |
| AI chat | ✓ | — |
| Code generation | ✓ | — |
| Codebase awareness | ✓ | — |
| Multi-file editing | ✓ | — |
| VS Code compatible | ✓ | — |
| Cmd-K editing | ✓ | — |
| Import extensions | ✓ | — |
| Custom models | ✓ | ✓ |
| Privacy mode | ✓ | — |
| Code completion | — | ✓ |
| Chat | — | ✓ |
| Code explanation | — | ✓ |
| Bug fixing | — | ✓ |
| Test generation | — | ✓ |
| Multi-language | — | ✓ |
| IDE integration | — | ✓ |
| CLI assistance | — | ✓ |
| Pull request summaries | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✗ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.5 | ⭐ 4.4 |
Pros & Cons
Cursor
Pros
- ✓ Powerful AI features
- ✓ VS Code familiar
- ✓ Codebase-aware
- ✓ Fast iterations
Cons
- ✗ Subscription model
- ✗ Resource heavy
- ✗ Newer product
- ✗ VS Code fork concerns
GitHub Copilot
Pros
- ✓ Great code suggestions
- ✓ Wide IDE support
- ✓ Improving rapidly
- ✓ Free for OSS
Cons
- ✗ Subscription required
- ✗ Can suggest wrong code
- ✗ Privacy concerns
- ✗ Resource usage
🏆 The Verdict
Choose Cursor if: You need developers wanting ai-native coding. Cursor excels with its powerful ai features and vs code familiar.
Choose GitHub Copilot if: You need developers wanting ai code assistance. GitHub Copilot stands out with its great code suggestions and wide ide support.
Best free option: Both Cursor and GitHub Copilot offer free tiers. Cursor offers "2,000 completions/mo" while GitHub Copilot offers "Free for OSS/students".
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cursor better than GitHub Copilot?
It depends on your needs. Cursor is better for developers wanting ai-native coding, while GitHub Copilot is better for developers wanting ai code assistance. Both are excellent tools rated 4.5 and 4.4 respectively.
Which is cheaper, Cursor or GitHub Copilot?
Cursor starts at $20/mo while GitHub Copilot starts at $10/mo. Both offer free tiers.
Can I switch from Cursor to GitHub Copilot?
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying GitHub Copilot's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
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