ai ide
for Developers
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot: which is better for Developers?
TL;DR for Developers
Cursor gives deep repository context and AI-powered refactors via its own IDE, whereas GitHub Copilot offers lightweight AI coding assistance across many IDEs.
Key Differences
| Feature | Cursor | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone IDE vs plugin | Cursor approach | GitHub Copilot approach |
| Repo context & multi-file edits | Cursor approach | GitHub Copilot approach |
| Model flexibility (multiple LLMs) | Cursor approach | GitHub Copilot approach |
| Pricing & free tiers | Cursor approach | GitHub Copilot approach |
| IDE coverage | Cursor approach | GitHub Copilot approach |
| Collaboration features | Cursor approach | GitHub Copilot approach |
Pricing Snapshot
Cursor: free 200 completions & Pro $20/mo (500 completions); Copilot: $10/mo, free for students (2025‑10‑13)
Last reviewed: 2025-10-13
Cursor
Choose Cursor if:
- You want deep, project-wide context & AI refactoring
- You’re okay using a dedicated IDE
- You need multi-model flexibility
Pros
- + Deep codebase understanding (@files/@folders)
- + Ask/Agent/Manual AI modes
- + Supports multiple LLMs (GPT, Claude, Gemini)
- + Inline edits & refactors
- + Great for repo-scale changes
Cons
- - Paid plans start at $20/mo
- - Limited free completions
- - No cross-IDE support
- - Newer product; smaller community
GitHub Copilot
Choose GitHub Copilot if:
- You need quick inline suggestions in your existing IDE
- You want lower cost or student access
- You prefer broad IDE coverage
Pros
- + Wide IDE support
- + Good autocomplete & chat
- + Low cost & free for students
- + Integrated with GitHub
- + Large user base
Cons
- - Limited repo-wide context
- - Variable code quality
- - Data privacy concerns
- - Requires GitHub account
Also Consider
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