Free GitHub Copilot alternatives

Top AI Coding Assistants like GitHub Copilot

Updated Oct 12, 2026

The most popular alternative to GitHub Copilot is Cursor, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to GitHub Copilot are Windsurf, Amazon Q Developer, Gemini Code Assist, and Continue.

Most alternatives to GitHub Copilot are in the AI Coding Assistants category, compared here by price, platform and features.

GitHub Copilot alternatives

All Free Open source

7 apps

Cursor
Cursor is a code editor from Anysphere, forked from VS Code, with AI integrated throughout the workflow. Its Tab model predicts multi-line edits, chat understands the whole codebase, and agent mode plans and applies changes across files while running terminal commands. Background agents can also work on tasks in the cloud. It stays compatible with VS Code extensions, themes and keybindings, and has a free Hobby plan.
12 Cursor alternatives
Pros
Tab completion predicts multi-line edits as you type
Agent mode applies changes across files and runs commands
Keeps VS Code extensions, themes and keybindings
Cons
Request limits and usage-based billing can be confusing
As a VS Code fork, it can lag behind upstream updates
The free Hobby plan is quickly limiting for daily work
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI Coding Assistants Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Code completion Extensions marketplace Terminal integration
Visit website More about Cursor
Windsurf
Windsurf is an AI code editor based on VS Code, created by the team behind Codeium and now owned by Cognition, the company behind Devin. Its Cascade agent understands the codebase, edits multiple files, runs terminal commands and remembers project context, while Tab suggests next edits as you type. Plugins also bring its features to JetBrains IDEs and other editors. A free plan is available.
12 Windsurf alternatives
Pros
Cascade agent edits multiple files and runs commands
Remembers project context across sessions
Plugins bring its features to JetBrains and other editors
Cons
Ownership changes have made its roadmap less predictable
Credit-based limits can run out with heavy use
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI Coding Assistants Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Code completion Extensions marketplace Terminal integration
Visit website More about Windsurf
Amazon Q Developer
Amazon Q Developer is the generative AI assistant from AWS for software development. It offers inline code suggestions, chat and agents that implement features, write tests and documentation, review code and upgrade Java applications, in VS Code, JetBrains and Visual Studio and on the command line. It also answers questions about AWS resources in the console, with a free tier alongside the Pro plan.
8 Amazon Q Developer alternatives
Pros
In-depth knowledge of AWS services and console resources
Agents help upgrade Java applications
Free tier, with VS Code, JetBrains and command-line support
Cons
Most useful for teams already invested in AWS
The free tier caps agent requests and code transformations
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI Coding Assistants
Platforms
Web Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Code completion Integrations Terminal integration
Visit website More about Amazon Q Developer
Gemini Code Assist
Gemini Code Assist brings Google's Gemini models into VS Code and JetBrains IDEs for code completion, generation and chat that takes your local codebase into account. Agent mode can plan and carry out multi-step changes, and a GitHub app reviews pull requests. The individual edition is free, while Standard and Enterprise add Google Cloud integrations, private repository customization and admin controls.
10 Gemini Code Assist alternatives
Pros
Free edition for individual developers
GitHub app reviews pull requests automatically
Agent mode carries out multi-step changes
Cons
Enterprise features are tied to Google Cloud
Supports fewer editors than some competing assistants
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI Coding Assistants
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Code completion Integrations
Visit website More about Gemini Code Assist
Continue
36.2Kstars
Continue is an open source extension for VS Code and JetBrains IDEs that adds AI chat, autocomplete, inline edits and an agent mode. Its main appeal is flexibility: you choose the models, from commercial APIs to local models through Ollama, and add rules, prompts and context providers that a team can share. With local models, code never has to leave your machine.
9 Continue alternatives
Pros
Open source, with a free choice of models
Works with local models, so code can stay on your machine
Shared rules and prompts help teams standardize usage
Cons
Setup takes more effort than turnkey assistants
Quality depends on the models you configure
Local models need capable hardware to run smoothly
Cost / License
FreemiumOpen source
Categories
AI Coding Assistants
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Code completion Offline mode
Visit website More about Continue
Cline
70.2Kstars
Cline is an open source AI coding agent that runs inside VS Code and compatible editors. It plans tasks, creates and edits files, runs terminal commands and can drive a browser to test web apps, asking for approval at each step unless you grant more autonomy. You bring your own API key for providers like Anthropic, OpenAI and Google or use local models, and MCP servers extend what it can do.
9 Cline alternatives
Pros
Open source agent that runs inside VS Code
Bring your own API key or use local models
Asks for approval at each step, keeping you in control
Cons
API costs can climb quickly on long agent tasks
Step-by-step approvals can slow down routine work
Cost / License
FreemiumOpen source
Categories
AI Coding Assistants
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Integrations Terminal integration
Visit website More about Cline
Aider
49.5Kstars
Aider is an open source command-line tool for pair programming with large language models. It maps your repository so the model understands the codebase, edits multiple files in place and commits each change to git with a descriptive message, which makes edits easy to review or undo. It works with models from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, DeepSeek or local ones, accepts voice input and can lint and test after edits.
8 Aider alternatives
Pros
Free and open source, and works with any model, including local ones
Commits each change to git for easy review and rollback
Repository map gives the model context across the codebase
Cons
Terminal-only workflow is less approachable than IDE tools
Model API costs are on you unless you run local models
Results depend heavily on the model you choose
Cost / License
FreeOpen source
Categories
AI Coding Assistants
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Git integration Terminal integration
Visit website More about Aider

GitHub Copilot vs its alternatives at a glance

Pricing, platforms and the key features of GitHub Copilot, compared with its most popular alternatives.

GitHub Copilot vs its alternatives at a glance
App	Pricing	Platforms
GitHub Copilot	Freemium	Web, Windows, Mac, Linux
Cursor	Freemium	Windows, Mac, Linux
Windsurf	Freemium	Windows, Mac, Linux
Amazon Q Developer	Freemium	Web, Windows, Mac, Linux
Gemini Code Assist	Freemium	Windows, Mac, Linux
Continue	FreemiumOpen source	Windows, Mac, Linux

GitHub Copilot alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to GitHub Copilot?

The most popular alternative to GitHub Copilot is Cursor: AI code editor built on VS Code, with agents and multi-line autocomplete. Other great alternatives are Windsurf, Amazon Q Developer, Gemini Code Assist, and Continue.