Cursor vs GitHub Copilot: free plans compared
Here is what each gives you for free, from the vendors’ pricing pages, with the date we last verified each offer (latest ).
- Cursor
- Cursor is an AI coding agent and editor available as a desktop app and a CLI. You describe a task and Cursor's agents plan, write and review code across your project. Plans share one AI usage pool across Cursor and Grok products.
- How to get Cursor freeFree Cursor alternatives
- GitHub Copilot
- GitHub Copilot is GitHub's AI coding assistant for editors, the terminal, desktop and github.com. It offers completions, chat, agents and code review.
- How to get GitHub Copilot freeFree GitHub Copilot alternatives
| Free plan |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| How long it's free | Free forever | Free forever |
| Cheapest paid plan | $8/moPlus | $10/moPro |
| Best for | Build a web app, Build a website, Write code with AI, Build AI agentsDevelopers, Indie hackers | Write code with AI, Review code & PRsDevelopers, Students |
| Limitations |
|
|
| How to get it free | Free account · email
| Free account · email, Google or Apple
|
| Free offer verified |
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot: common questions
- Is Cursor or GitHub Copilot free?
- Both have a free option. Cursor has a free plan: Limited agent and chat requests (checked 2026-10-18). GitHub Copilot has a free plan: Copilot Free $0 with monthly usage limits (checked 2026-10-18).
- Which free plan includes more?
- It depends on what you need; here is what each free plan includes. Cursor: Limited agent requests; Limited chat requests (source: cursor.com, checked 2026-10-18). GitHub Copilot: 2,000 completions per month; Access to entry level models (source: github.com, checked 2026-10-18).
- How do I get each for free?
- Cursor: Download Cursor; Sign up with your email; Use the Free plan's limited agent and chat requests (checked 2026-10-18). GitHub Copilot: Create a free GitHub account (email, Google or Apple); Verify your email address; Pick Copilot Free ($0) and open it in VS Code or on github.com (checked 2026-10-18).