GitHub Copilot Pricing Guide: Plans, Cost Comparison & What You Get

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GitHub Copilot offers plans for individuals and organizations. Individuals can choose Copilot Pro at $10/month or $100/year, or Pro+ at $39/month. Teams can opt for Copilot Business at $19/user/month or Enterprise at $39/user/month. Free access is available for verified students and open-source maintainers.

But as its features evolve and pricing structures shift, especially with the introduction of GitHub Copilot Chat, figuring out what you’re actually paying for can get confusing.

You want to know if it’s worth the investment, whether you’re getting the right features for your needs, and how pricing scales across teams and organizations. From individual developers looking to boost productivity to enterprises needing scalable, secure solutions, understanding the cost of GitHub Copilot is no longer optional; it’s essential.

This blog is your complete GitHub Copilot pricing guide, updated. We’ll explore every pricing  model, break down plan comparisons, examine what’s included in each option, and help you decide whether GitHub Copilot and its chat functionality are the right fit for your workflow and budget.

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TL;DR 

• GitHub Copilot starts at $10/month for individuals and $19/month for businesses, with a 30-day free trial available.
• Copilot Chat is included in all paid plans, offering real-time AI coding help directly in supported IDEs.
• Students and open-source contributors may get free access through GitHub’s education and sponsorship programs.
• Plan features vary by tier, business plans include admin controls, policy settings, and team management tools.
• CloudEagle.ai helps reduce Copilot costs by tracking usage, benchmarking pricing, and flagging unused licenses.
  
  

What is GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered coding assistant developed by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI. Think of it as your AI pair programmer, always available, always learning. 

It uses the context of your code and natural language prompts to suggest lines of code, entire functions, or even solve complex logic problems on the fly.

Integrated directly into popular IDEs like Visual Studio Code, JetBrains, and Neovim, Copilot helps developers write better code, faster. Whether you're building a full-stack web app, debugging an API, or writing unit tests, Copilot provides intelligent suggestions that adapt as you type. 

Key Capabilities of GitHub Copilot:

• Code Autocompletion: Suggests individual lines and entire functions as you type.
• Natural Language Prompts: Converts human instructions into working code.
• Context Awareness: Understands surrounding code, file structure, and comments.
• Multi-language Support: Works with JavaScript, Python, Java, TypeScript, Go, Ruby, and more.
• Editor Integration: Seamlessly works inside VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, and Neovim.
• Copilot Chat (Business & Enterprise): Offers real-time code explanations, documentation generation, and error troubleshooting through natural language interaction.

For a broader look at GitHub’s overall pricing, not just Copilot, check out our detailed GitHub Pricing Guide, where we cover core repository features, collaboration tools, and enterprise options.

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Is GitHub Copilot Worth Paying For?

Whether GitHub Copilot is worth paying for depends on your coding needs and daily workflow. It can greatly boost productivity by automating repetitive tasks and offering intelligent code suggestions. However, it's not flawless and may struggle with complex logic or edge cases.

Now let’s get to the core of this GitHub Copilot pricing guide: how much is GitHub Copilot in 2025? Here’s a detailed breakdown:

It’s especially valuable if you:

• Work on complex or repetitive coding tasks.
• Use languages like Python, JavaScript, or TypeScript.
• Want to onboard new developers more efficiently.
• Need fast access to code explanations or test generation (via Copilot Chat).

That said, occasional users or non-developers may not get enough value to justify the monthly fee. But for active developers or engineering teams, the cost of GitHub Copilot often pays for itself in time saved and code improved.

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How Much Does GitHub Copilot Cost?

GitHub Copilot has tiered pricing tailored to different user types. Individuals can subscribe to Copilot Pro for $10/month or $100/year. Teams can opt for Copilot Business at $19 per user/month, while large organizations with advanced needs can choose Copilot Enterprise at $39 per user/month.

GitHub Copilot for Individuals

• Cost: $10/month or $100/year
• Best For: Freelancers, students, and solo developers
• Features: Access to GitHub Copilot in supported IDEs (VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim), AI-powered code suggestions, multi-language support
• Drawbacks: No Copilot Chat, no admin controls, limited scalability

GitHub Copilot for Business

• Cost: $19/month per user
• Best For: Small to mid-sized teams needing collaboration and policy management
• Features: Everything in the individual plan plus Copilot Chat, centralized billing, organization-wide policy enforcement, and privacy-first features
• Drawbacks: Lacks some of the advanced analytics and enterprise-grade controls

GitHub Copilot for Enterprise (New in 2025)

• Cost: $29/month per user
• Best For: Large organizations needing secure, scalable AI coding solutions
• Features: Includes everything in the Business plan plus enterprise-grade security, admin dashboards, license analytics, advanced access controls, and audit logs
• Drawbacks: Requires onboarding and seat minimums; not suited for smaller teams

Whether you're a student coding on a budget or an engineering leader evaluating tools for hundreds of developers, the GitHub Copilot pricing plans provide flexibility based on scale, compliance needs, and collaboration. Each plan is built to suit a different stage of your growth.

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GitHub Copilot vs Copilot Chat Pricing

GitHub Copilot offers both free trials and paid plans. Copilot Pro is available for individuals at $10/month or $100/year, while Copilot Enterprise (often referred to as Pro+) costs $39/month or $390/year. For organizations, Copilot Business is priced at $19 per user/month. Copilot Chat is included in all paid plans and isn’t sold separately.

Here’s how the pricing breaks down:

GitHub Copilot (Basic Tier – Individual Plan)

Cost: $10/month or $100/year

• Provides AI code suggestions, auto-completions, and inline code generation
• Supports multiple languages and works across major IDEs
• Does not include Copilot Chat

GitHub Copilot Chat (Business & Enterprise Plans)

Cost: Starting at $19/month per user (Business), $29/month per user (Enterprise)

• Offers all Copilot features plus Chat capabilities
• Chat works directly within your IDE, allowing you to ask questions like “What does this function do?” or “Why is this code breaking?”
• Also includes smart code explanations, inline documentation, test case generation, and error resolution via natural language

So if you're specifically searching "GitHub Copilot Chat pricing" or wondering where the chat features live, here’s the simple answer: Copilot Chat is only available in the Business and Enterprise plans. If you’re on the $10 individual plan, you won’t have access to chat, regardless of your usage or IDE.

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What Is the Cost of GitHub Copilot for Different User Types?

GitHub Copilot offers flexible pricing tiers in 2025, ensuring users only pay for the value they need. Whether you're an individual developer or managing hundreds of engineers, there's a plan designed for you. Here's how the GitHub Copilot pricing plans break down by user type:

For Individuals

• Price: $10/month or $100/year
• Best for: Freelancers, students, hobbyists
• Included: Core AI coding suggestions across supported IDEs
• Excluded: No access to Copilot Chat or admin tools
• GitHub Copilot cost: Most affordable tier
• Bonus: Free for verified students and open-source maintainers

For Teams and Businesses

• Price: $19/user/month
• Best for: Startups and growing teams
• Included: Everything in the individual plan plus:
  
  • GitHub Copilot Chat access
  • Organization-wide policy controls
  • Privacy features
• Why it matters: Great for teams needing both collaboration and control
• Relevant keywords: GitHub Copilot Chat pricing, Copilot GitHub pricing, GitHub Copilot tiers

For Enterprises

• Price: $29/user/month
• Best for: Large companies with compliance or security needs
• Included: Everything in the Business plan plus:
  
  • SAML SSO & advanced admin controls
  • License management and audit logging
  • Usage analytics and SLA guarantees
• GitHub Copilot fees: Highest tier, but built for scale and governance
• Use case: Ideal for regulated industries (finance, healthcare, government)

Whether you're trying to control SaaS spending or planning a large-scale deployment, these GitHub Copilot tiers make it easier to align features with your team’s exact needs. 

The cost of GitHub Copilot reflects its expanding capabilities, and for most, the productivity gains more than justify the investment.

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What Features Are Included in GitHub Copilot Plans?

GitHub Copilot isn’t just about how much it costs; it’s about what it delivers. Each GitHub Copilot pricing plan unlocks a specific set of features tailored for individual use, team collaboration, or enterprise-level governance.

Here’s a clear look at the capabilities packed into each plan, so you know exactly what you're paying for:

Individual Plan

• Context-aware code suggestions directly in your IDE (VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim)
• Multi-language support for JavaScript, Python, TypeScript, Go, Ruby, and more
• Autocomplete for comments and inline logic
• Simple telemetry opt-out controls
• Access to core Copilot features includes only chat or admin tools.

Business Plan

• Everything in the Individual Plan, plus:
• GitHub Copilot Chat: Ask coding questions, get explanations, and debug interactively
• Organization-level settings: Enforce policy controls and manage access centrally
• Improved data privacy: Admins can limit training data exposure
• Centralized billing and account management

Enterprise Plan

• All Business Plan features, plus:
• SSO/SAML support for secure identity management
• Tenant isolation for stricter data separation
• Audit logging and compliance reporting
• Advanced admin dashboards and license analytics
• SLAs and onboarding support for large-scale adoption

The difference across these GitHub Copilot tiers isn’t just access, it’s how deeply Copilot integrates into your workflow. 

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Which GitHub Copilot Plan Is Right for You?

Choosing the right GitHub Copilot pricing plan depends on how you code, who you collaborate with, and what level of control or compliance you need.

Choose the Individual Plan if:

• You’re a solo developer, student, or freelancer
• You want code suggestions in your IDE without team features
• You don’t need GitHub Copilot Chat or admin controls

Choose the Business Plan if:

• You manage a small to mid-sized development team
• You need GitHub Copilot Chat for real-time coding help
• You want policy enforcement, privacy controls, and shared billing

Choose the Enterprise Plan if:

• You’re a large organization with compliance or security needs
• You require SAML SSO, audit logs, and tenant isolation
• You want deep admin control and usage analytics

Each tier scales with your needs, from solo workflows to secure enterprise environments. Picking the right one ensures you get maximum value from your GitHub Copilot subscription without overpaying.

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GitHub Copilot Pricing: How to Streamline Purchasing with CloudEagle.ai

Tips to Negotiate GitHub Copilot Pricing

Here are some proven negotiation strategies to help ensure you’re securing the most value-driven GitHub Copilot pricing:

• Focus on Value, Not Just Price

It’s not just about lowering the cost of GitHub Copilot. Prioritize full value: premium AI features, policy controls, and enterprise security.

• Ask for Strategic Add-Ons

Instead of pushing for a discount on GitHub Copilot fees, ask for extended trials, pilot licenses, or bundled support for other GitHub tools.

• Frame the Business Case Clearly

Show how broader Copilot adoption improves developer productivity and aligns with GitHub’s AI vision, making your request a strategic partnership.

• Leverage Timing and Market Options

Use your renewal window to compare GitHub Copilot pricing plans with market alternatives like CodeWhisperer or Tabnine. Use that data to get customized terms.

How Much Do Companies Actually Pay for GitHub Copilot?

Prices may start at $10–$29 per user/month, but what companies actually pay depends on team size, usage, and negotiation.

With CloudEagle.ai’s price benchmarking, you can compare real-world GitHub Copilot costs across similar companies, removing the guesswork from pricing discussions.

Breaking Down the Data

CloudEagle.ai shows:

• How many GitHub Copilot licenses do you currently own
• Which teams actively use it (and which don’t)
• Which users are duplicating seats across accounts
• When contracts auto-renew, so you can renegotiate first

Importance of This Benchmarking Data

Without usage and pricing benchmarks, you’re negotiating blind. CloudEagle.ai uses data from $3B+ in SaaS transactions to show if you’re overpaying for GitHub Copilot tiers, or missing cost-saving opportunities.

Premium Negotiation Insights

Beyond pricing, CloudEagle.ai delivers strategic advice. You’ll see how others negotiated better Copilot contracts by:

• Asking for longer free trials
• Getting early access to new Copilot Chat features
• Bundling Copilot with GitHub Enterprise for discounts
• Negotiating usage credits for inactive months

GitHub Copilot Pricing Models: Which Teams Should Use Which Plan?

GitHub Copilot’s pricing tiers are designed to match the needs of different team sizes, budgets, and governance requirements. Whether you're an individual coder or managing a large engineering org, there's a tier that fits your workflow and compliance needs.

Here’s how the plans stack up by team type:

• Startups: The Business plan is ideal. It offers GitHub Copilot Chat, admin controls, and flexible team management without the overhead of enterprise-level complexity. Perfect for scaling teams that need collaboration features.
• Freelancers & Solo Developers: The Individual plan offers everything a solo dev needs, inline suggestions, comment-based code generation, and access to multiple languages, for a low monthly GitHub Copilot cost.
• Enterprises: The Enterprise plan is built for scale. It includes advanced governance tools like audit logging, tenant isolation, and SSO/SAML integration. It ensures compliance while maximizing team productivity.
• Academia & Non-Profits: GitHub offers free Copilot access for verified educational institutions and eligible non-profits. This helps educators and researchers use AI-driven coding without budget barriers.

GitHub’s tiered pricing ensures Copilot is both accessible and scalable, allowing teams to adopt the AI assistant that fits their unique needs, without paying for features they don’t use.

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What Are the Alternatives to GitHub Copilot?

There are several strong alternatives to GitHub Copilot that offer comparable code completion and AI-assisted development features. Popular options include Tabnine, Codeium, Amazon Q Developer, and Replit Ghostwriter. 

You’ll also find open-source choices like Tabby and Fauxpilot, along with tools such as Visual Studio IntelliCode and Sourcegraph Cody that integrate AI into coding workflows.

CodeWhisperer by AWS

CodeWhisperer is free for individual developers and integrates natively with AWS services. It offers real-time code suggestions and security scanning for credentials. While not as GitHub-focused, it’s a strong option for teams building within the AWS ecosystem and looking for a no-cost Copilot alternative.

Tabnine

Tabnine prioritizes privacy, allowing teams to run models locally or on-premises for full data control. It’s a paid tool like GitHub Copilot but appeals to organizations needing stricter security. While it doesn’t offer GitHub Copilot Chat functionality, it’s strong on customization and multi-language support.

Replit Ghostwriter

Replit Ghostwriter comes bundled with Replit Pro and is best suited for learners, solo devs, or quick browser-based development. It offers AI-powered code completions and in-editor suggestions. Though it lacks the advanced capabilities found in GitHub Copilot tiers, it’s affordable and beginner-friendly.

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Conclusion

GitHub Copilot helps developers code faster and automate repetitive tasks, but choosing the right plan matters. With different pricing tiers and features, it’s important to match your choice to your team size, usage habits, and security needs. Comparing Copilot Chat pricing and alternatives ensures you get the best value without overspending.

CloudEagle.ai helps you track GitHub Copilot usage, optimize licensing, and benchmark real-world pricing data. It flags unused seats, prevents auto-renewal waste, and supports smarter negotiations.

Book a free demo to see how CloudEagle.ai can cut your GitHub Copilot costs.

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Frequently asked questions

1. Is GitHub Copilot totally free?
No, GitHub Copilot isn’t completely free. It offers a 30-day free trial, but after that, you’ll need a paid subscription starting at $10/month for individuals or $19/month for business users.

2. Can I use GitHub Copilot in VS Code for free?
You can use GitHub Copilot in VS Code during the 30-day trial. After that, a paid subscription is required to continue using it within the editor.

3. How to get GitHub Copilot Pro for free?
Students and verified open-source contributors may be eligible for free access to GitHub Copilot Pro through GitHub's education and sponsorship programs.

4. Is GitHub Copilot better than ChatGPT?
GitHub Copilot is optimized for coding within IDEs, while ChatGPT is broader in scope. Copilot is better for in-editor coding assistance; ChatGPT excels at multi-purpose tasks.

5. Is Copilot free for students?
Yes, verified students can get GitHub Copilot for free through the GitHub Student Developer Pack, which includes a one-year free subscription.

6. What are the limitations of Copilot Chat?
Copilot Chat is limited to supported IDEs like VS Code and JetBrains and may struggle with complex logic, large codebases, or highly specialized tasks.

7. Is GitHub Copilot Chat unlimited?
Copilot Chat doesn’t have a fixed usage cap, but performance and responsiveness may vary based on usage patterns and plan type.

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