// comparison
Cursor vs GitHub Copilot: Which AI Editor?
By the Drydock editorial team at Ahzy Capital · Prices last verified Oct 28, 2026 · How we test
Cursor is a standalone AI first code editor. GitHub Copilot is an assistant that plugs into the editor you already use (VS Code, JetBrains and others) and into GitHub itself.
| Cursor | GitHub Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | AI code editor with fast autocomplete, codebase aware chat and background agents. | GitHub's AI pair programmer with completions, chat and a coding agent that works on issues and opens PRs. |
| Category | Coding Agents | Coding Agents |
| Free tier | Yes ($0) | Yes ($0) |
| Entry paid price | Plus $8/mo | Pro $10/mo |
| Pricing source | Official page | Official page |
| Last verified | Oct 28, 2026 | Oct 28, 2026 |
Pricing
Both have a free tier. At our last check, Cursor's entry Plus plan was the cheapest paid option, but its pricing page notes that plan only includes Grok models. Copilot Pro costs a little more and works through a monthly allowance of GitHub AI credits. Both have higher tiers for heavy agent use.
Fit
Cursor suits developers who are happy to switch editors for deeper AI features. Copilot suits teams that want to stay in their current IDE and use GitHub's pull request and agent features.
Verdict
Staying in your current IDE or living in GitHub? Choose Copilot. Willing to switch editors for an AI first experience? Try Cursor, and read its plan details carefully, because model access differs by tier.
Prices change often. See the live pricing tracker for the latest checked figures.