Cursor vs GitHub Copilot

A direct comparison of pricing, capabilities and fit. We state where each one is genuinely stronger rather than pretending they are interchangeable.

Criterion Cursor GitHub Copilot
Category Code Assistants Code Assistants
Pricing model Free tier available; Hobby free; Pro $20/mo; Ultra $200/mo Free tier available; Pro $10/mo; Business $19/user/mo; Enterprise $39/user/mo
Entry price $20.00/mo $10.00/mo
Platforms macOS, Windows, Linux VS Code, JetBrains, Visual Studio, Neovim, CLI
API available Yes Yes
Free tier Yes Yes
Open source No No
Rating No reviews No reviews

Cursor

AI-native code editor built around whole-codebase reasoning.

Full review → Visit site

GitHub Copilot

The most widely adopted AI pair programmer, built directly into the IDE.

Full review → Visit site

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Cursor or GitHub Copilot?

It depends on your constraints. Cursor is available with a free tier and has an API. GitHub Copilot is available with a free tier and has an API.

How much does Cursor cost compared to GitHub Copilot?

Cursor: Free tier available; Hobby free; Pro $20/mo; Ultra $200/mo. GitHub Copilot: Free tier available; Pro $10/mo; Business $19/user/mo; Enterprise $39/user/mo.

Can I use Cursor and GitHub Copilot together?

Yes. Both expose an API, so they can be combined in a workflow where one handles a different stage of the process.