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GitHub Copilot vs Zed: free plans compared

Both are in AI Coding Assistants. Here is what each gives you for free, from the vendors’ pricing pages, with the date we last verified each offer (latest ).

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
Zed
Zed is a high-performance, multiplayer code editor from the creators of Atom and Tree-sitter, with optional AI.
How to get Zed free
Free plans compared: GitHub Copilot, Zed
GitHub CopilotAI Coding AssistantsTry
ZedAI Coding AssistantsTry
Free plan
  • Free forever
  • 2,000 completions per month
  • Access to entry level models
  • Free forever
  • Editor free forever with limited AI prompts
How long it's freeFree foreverFree forever
Cheapest paid plan$10/moPro$10/moPro
Best forWrite code with AI, Review code & PRsDevelopers, StudentsWrite code with AI, Build AI agentsDevelopers
Limitations
  • Users with Copilot Business or Enterprise seats are not eligible for Copilot Free
Not in our data
How to get it freeFree account · email, Google or Apple
  1. 1Create a free GitHub account (email, Google or Apple)
  2. 2Verify your email address
  3. 3Pick Copilot Free ($0) and open it in VS Code or on github.com
Get the free plan
Free account · GitHub
  1. 1Download Zed from zed.dev
  2. 2Sign up with GitHub (needed for AI and collaboration)
  3. 3Use the editor free; bring your own AI keys
Get the free plan
Free offer verified

GitHub Copilot vs Zed: common questions

Is GitHub Copilot or Zed free?
Both have a free option. GitHub Copilot has a free plan: Copilot Free $0 with monthly usage limits (checked 2026-10-18). Zed has a free plan: Editor free forever with limited AI prompts (checked 2026-10-18).
Which free plan includes more?
It depends on what you need; here is what each free plan includes. GitHub Copilot: 2,000 completions per month; Access to entry level models (source: github.com, checked 2026-10-18). Zed: Editor free forever with limited AI prompts (source: zed.dev, checked 2026-10-18).
How do I get each for free?
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). Zed: Download Zed from zed.dev; Sign up with GitHub (needed for AI and collaboration); Use the editor free; bring your own AI keys (checked 2026-10-18).