Github Copilot
ide-coding-assistantGitHub Copilot remains the default go-to coding assistant for many developers. As of July 2025, Copilot supports both "Editor" and "Agent" modes. Agent mode enables Copilot to autonomously execute multi-step tasks—such as refactoring code, running tests, and managing dependencies—directly within supported IDEs. Compared to Cursor's agent mode, Copilot offers broader IDE integration but less granular workflow customization.
Agent Mode: Copilot's Agent mode enables autonomous multi-step task execution, such as code refactoring, running tests, and dependency management, directly within supported IDEs. Compared to Cursor's agent, Copilot Agent is more tightly integrated with GitHub services and offers broader language support, while Cursor focuses on deep IDE-specific automation.
A permanent free-tier was announced in early 2025: Copilot Free lets users choose between Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet or OpenAI’s GPT-4o models.
- Permanent Free Tier: Yes (2,000 code completions and 50 chat messages per month)
- Agent Mode: Available (multi-step task automation)
- BYOK: No
- Cost: 20 USD / month for unlimited usage
Recent updates include improved context awareness, expanded language support, and deeper integration with GitHub Actions and Codespaces. Copilot continues to lead in developer productivity and AI-powered coding experiences.
The by go-to tool by default.
A permanent free-tier was announced early 2025: Copilot Free gives you the choice between Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet or OpenAI’s GPT-4o model
- Permanent Free Tier: Yes (2,000 code completions and 50 chat messages per month)
- BYOK: No
- Cost: 20 USD / month
The by go-to tool by default.
✅ Copilot Enterprise and Business (endorsed by our experts) More on [the company's intranet]
GitHub Copilot remains the default choice for many teams. Recent improvements include:
- Inline chat for prompting without writing comments
- Ability to change existing code, not just write new lines
- Expanded context with the
@workspacetag for questions about the entire codebase - Copilot Enterprise version for even broader context across all GitHub-hosted repositories
- Some chat requests routed to a more powerful GPT-4–based model
- Imminent availability of chat in popular Jetbrains IDEs (in private beta at the time of writing)
These releases show that the pace of improvements in the space has not slowed down. If you tried a coding assistant last year and dismissed it, it's recommended to keep monitoring the features being released and give it another try.
Permanent Free Tier: No Cost: Not specified