GitHub Copilot vs Cursor: Full Comparison (2026)
Quick Answer
GitHub Copilot is the established leader with deep IDE integration and a free tier. Cursor is an AI-native editor offering multi-file editing and codebase-aware chat that power users love.
GitHub Copilot vs Cursor at a Glance
| Dimension | GitHub Copilot | Cursor | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease Of Use | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 | GitHub Copilot |
| Features | 8.0/10 | 9.0/10 | Cursor |
| Overall | 8.2/10 | 8.0/10 | Tie |
| Pricing | 8.5/10 | 7.5/10 | GitHub Copilot |
| Support | 8.0/10 | 7.0/10 | GitHub Copilot |
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | GitHub Copilot | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Free / Hobby | $Custom/monthly per user | $Custom/monthly |
| Pro | $10/monthly per user | $20/monthly |
| Business | $19/monthly per user | $40/monthly per user |
| Enterprise | $39/monthly per user |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GitHub Copilot | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Bug detection | Yes | Yes |
| CLI support | Yes | Yes |
| Chat/explain code | Yes | Yes |
| Code completion | Yes | Yes |
| Code review | Yes | Yes |
| Custom model training | No | No |
| JetBrains support | Yes | Yes |
| Local/private mode | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-file editing | No | Yes |
| Multi-line suggestions | Yes | Yes |
| Neovim support | Yes | No |
| Refactoring | Yes | Yes |
| Test generation | Yes | Yes |
| VS Code support | Yes | Yes |
Ease Of Use: GitHub Copilot vs Cursor
Copilot integrates into your existing IDE. Cursor requires switching editors.
Features: GitHub Copilot vs Cursor
Cursor's multi-file editing and codebase-aware chat give it an edge for complex refactoring.
Overall: GitHub Copilot vs Cursor
Copilot for broad adoption; Cursor for power-user AI coding workflows.
Pricing: GitHub Copilot vs Cursor
Copilot's free tier and $10/mo Pro plan undercut Cursor's $20/mo.
Support: GitHub Copilot vs Cursor
Microsoft/GitHub's enterprise support infrastructure is more mature.
Our Recommendation
GitHub Copilot is safer for teams wanting proven reliability and broad IDE support. Cursor is the better pick for developers who want aggressive AI-assisted editing across entire codebases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cursor better than GitHub Copilot?
For multi-file editing and codebase-wide refactoring, Cursor is more capable. For general code completion across any IDE, Copilot is more reliable and broadly supported. Both offer free tiers.
Does GitHub Copilot have a free plan?
Yes. GitHub Copilot Free includes 2,000 code completions and 50 chat messages per month at no cost.
Can I use Cursor with my existing VS Code extensions?
Yes. Cursor is built on VS Code and supports most VS Code extensions. Migration is straightforward.