Alternatives
GitHub Copilot alternatives in 2026
Since 1 June 2026, every Copilot plan is billed in GitHub AI Credits, and code review also uses GitHub Actions minutes. Copilot is still one of the cheapest options, so the reasons to look elsewhere are usually the editor, the models or the billing, not the price.
Why people look
What changed at GitHub Copilot.
Credits instead of requests
Each plan includes a monthly allowance of AI credits at $0.01 each, part of which is a flex allotment that GitHub says can change.
An assistant, not an editor
Copilot adds AI to the IDE you already use. Some developers want an editor designed around agents instead.
Reviews are billed twice
Copilot code review uses AI credits and Actions minutes, and its model is picked automatically.
At a glance
7 alternatives to GitHub Copilot.
| Feature | What it is | Pricing per month | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flintr | AI code editor, in development | Hobby free. Pro $20, Pro+ $60, Ultra $200 | VS Code users who want an AI-native editor |
| Cursor | AI code editor | Free. Plus $8, Premium $30, Super $100, Ultra $200 | An AI editor you can use today |
| Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) | Agent board with a full editor | Free. Pro $20, Max $200, Teams $40 per seat | Running local and cloud agents |
| Claude Code | Coding agent for the terminal and IDE | With Claude Pro $20 or Max $100 and $200 | Teams that standardise on Claude |
| OpenAI Codex | Coding agent for the terminal, IDE and cloud | With ChatGPT Plus $20 or Pro from $100 | People who already pay for ChatGPT |
| Zed | Native code editor | Free with your own keys. Pro $10 | A fast native editor |
| Cline | Open-source agent for VS Code | Free. Pay for model usage, or ClinePass $9.99 | Keeping VS Code with your own API keys |
Swipe sideways to see every column.
Prices are in US dollars per month from each product's public pricing, checked in October 2026. Flintr is in development and its prices are planned prices. We make Flintr; the order puts it first, and the trade-offs say where the others are better.
- 1
Flintr
AI code editor, in development · Independent · Hobby free. Pro $20, Pro+ $60, Ultra $200
Best for: VS Code users who want an AI-native editor
Built on Code OSS, so your VS Code extensions, settings and keybindings import with one command. Plans include a monthly dollar amount of usage on any model, and you can hold several plans with each project pinned to one.
Trade-off: Still in development, and Copilot costs less at the low end.
- 2
Cursor
AI code editor · X · Free. Plus $8, Premium $30, Super $100, Ultra $200
Best for: An AI editor you can use today
Also built on Code OSS, with Tab, agents, cloud agents and code review. New customers buy The X Subscription, from $8 a month.
Trade-off: Included usage covers Grok and Cursor models. Other models are billed separately.
- 3
Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)
Agent board with a full editor · Cognition · Free. Pro $20, Max $200, Teams $40 per seat
Best for: Running local and cloud agents
Cognition's agent board with a full editor, formerly Windsurf. Pro is $20 with daily and weekly quotas.
Trade-off: The agent board is the default view, and quotas vary by model.
- 4
Claude Code
Coding agent for the terminal and IDE · Anthropic · With Claude Pro $20 or Max $100 and $200
Best for: Teams that standardise on Claude
Anthropic's agent for the terminal and IDE, in VS Code and JetBrains like Copilot. It comes with Claude Pro and Max.
Trade-off: Claude models only, with session and weekly limits.
- 5
OpenAI Codex
Coding agent for the terminal, IDE and cloud · OpenAI · With ChatGPT Plus $20 or Pro from $100
Best for: People who already pay for ChatGPT
OpenAI's agent in the terminal, an IDE extension, the desktop app and the web, included with ChatGPT Plus and Pro.
Trade-off: OpenAI models only.
- 6
Zed
Native code editor · Zed Industries · Free with your own keys. Pro $10
Best for: A fast native editor
Rust and GPU-rendered, with edit predictions on Pro ($10) and external agents. It can also use Copilot for edit predictions.
Trade-off: No VS Code extensions.
- 7
Cline
Open-source agent for VS Code · Cline · Free. Pay for model usage, or ClinePass $9.99
Best for: Keeping VS Code with your own API keys
A free, open-source agent for VS Code and its forks that works with any provider or a local model. JetBrains support is part of Cline Enterprise.
Trade-off: An agent only, and you manage model costs yourself.
How to choose
Questions to ask before you switch.
What you get per dollar
Copilot Pro+ includes $70 of credits for $39, which is hard to beat. Compare what each plan includes, not just the headline price.
Editor or extension
Copilot, Claude Code, Codex and Cline work inside your editor. Flintr, Cursor, Devin Desktop and Zed replace it.
Where your code lives
If your organisation runs on GitHub Enterprise, Copilot's GitHub integration may matter more than anything else on this list.
Sources, checked October 2026
- Cursor: Pricing
- Cursor Docs: Legacy Cursor plans
- Cognition: Windsurf is now Devin Desktop
- Devin Docs: Devin Desktop FAQ
- GitHub Docs: Plans for GitHub Copilot
- GitHub Docs: Usage-based billing for individuals
- Anthropic: Claude plans and pricing
- Claude Help Center: Use Claude Code with your Pro or Max plan
- Zed: Pricing
- Zed Docs: Edit Prediction
- OpenAI: Codex pricing
- Cline: Pricing
FAQ
GitHub Copilot alternatives, answered.
What is the best alternative to GitHub Copilot?
It depends on what you want to change. For an AI-native editor that keeps your VS Code setup, Flintr once it launches, or Cursor today. For an agent in the IDE you already use, Claude Code or Codex. To keep costs down with your own keys, Cline.
Is anything cheaper than Copilot?
Cline and Zed are free if you bring your own API keys, and you pay the model provider directly. Among paid plans with included usage, Copilot Pro at $10 is one of the lowest.
Can I keep my VS Code extensions?
Yes in Flintr, Cursor and Devin Desktop, which are all built on Code OSS. Flintr installs extensions from Open VSX, where most popular extensions are published.
Does Flintr work with GitHub?
Yes. Git works as it does in VS Code, and GitHub extensions, such as the one for pull requests, install from Open VSX.
Also see Cursor alternatives, Windsurf alternatives and every comparison.
Your editor. Your models. Your bill.
Flintr is in development and funded by the people who'll use it. Back the launch from €5, or from €25 to get into the private beta.
Coming to macOS 12+ · Windows 10+ · Linux (deb, rpm, AppImage)