Cursor vs GitHub Copilot Pricing: Best Value for Developers

Byaitoolvs

TL;DR Verdict

GitHub Copilot ($10/mo) is the budget pick for inline code completions. Cursor Pro ($20/mo) costs double but delivers a full AI IDE experience with multi-file editing, Composer mode, and deep codebase awareness. For serious developers, the extra $10/mo pays for itself in productivity.

Cursor Pricing Plans

Plan Price Key Features
Hobby $0 2,000 completions, 50 slow premium requests/mo
Pro $20/mo Unlimited completions, 500 fast premium requests, 10 Composer agents/day
Business $40/user/mo Everything in Pro, admin dashboard, enforced privacy, SAML SSO

GitHub Copilot Pricing Plans

Plan Price Key Features
Free $0 2,000 completions/mo, 50 chat messages/mo, VS Code + JetBrains
Individual $10/mo Unlimited completions, unlimited chat, CLI access
Business $19/user/mo Everything in Individual, org management, policy controls
Enterprise $39/user/mo Everything in Business, SAML SSO, audit logs, IP indemnity

Quick Price Comparison

Tier Cursor GitHub Copilot
Hobby $0 $0
Pro $20/mo $10/mo
Business $40/user/mo $19/user/mo
Enterprise $39/user/mo

Which Should You Choose?

If You… Choose
You just want inline code suggestions GitHub Copilot Individual ($10/mo)
You want AI-powered multi-file editing Cursor Pro ($20/mo)
You’re a student or open-source contributor GitHub Copilot Free (verified students get Pro free)
Your team needs admin controls Copilot Business ($19/user) or Cursor Business ($40/user)
You want the most powerful AI coding experience Cursor Pro ($20/mo) for Composer + Tab + Chat

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Cursor with my existing VS Code extensions?

Yes. Cursor is built on VS Code, so all your extensions, themes, and keybindings work. You can import your VS Code settings in one click.

Is GitHub Copilot free for students?

Yes. Verified students, teachers, and open-source maintainers get GitHub Copilot for free through GitHub Education.

Do I need to choose one or the other?

You can use both, but it’s usually unnecessary. Cursor includes its own completions plus access to multiple AI models. Most developers pick one.

Which has better code quality?

Cursor generally produces better results because it understands your entire codebase context. Copilot is faster for single-line completions but has less project awareness.

Key Takeaways

  • Both Cursor and GitHub Copilot offer competitive pricing in 2026
  • Free tiers let you test before committing
  • Annual billing saves 15-20% on most plans
  • Choose based on your specific use case, not just price

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