GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is GitHub's AI coding assistant. Official docs no longer describe it as "OpenAI Codex in VS Code". Today it is a suite: inline completions in the IDE, Copilot Chat, CLI and Windows Terminal chat, GitHub Mobile, a desktop Copilot app, and a cloud agent that can research a repo, open a branch, and draft a pull request. It also checks suggestions against public code and can attach a code reference or drop the match. This page replaces the 2021 Codex-only writeup.

Key Features

• IDE completions and chat: Type-ahead suggestions plus a chat that can use Copilot Spaces for shared context.
• Cloud agent: Research, plan, edit on a branch, then let you review the diff and open a PR.
• Surfaces: IDE, github.com, GitHub Mobile, gh CLI, Windows Terminal Canary, and the Copilot desktop app.
• Enterprise controls: Policy, centralized agent management, custom agents, automations, and geographic data residency on GitHub Enterprise Cloud.
• Not on Enterprise Server: Official plans page says Copilot is not currently available for GitHub Enterprise Server.

Use Cases

• Everyday GitHub shops that want completions where the code already lives.
• Async PR drafting via the cloud agent when you do not want to babysit a local CLI.
• Orgs that need residency and policy on Enterprise Cloud.

Pricing

Official docs plans table (accessed 2026-08-17):

Credits are usage-based beyond the included allotment. Recheck Plans for GitHub Copilot.

Getting Started

1. Open github.com/settings/copilot and start Free, or request access from an org.
2. Install the IDE extension or gh copilot. Students should apply for the Student plan before paying Pro.
3. For unattended work, enable the cloud agent on a disposable branch and review the PR in GitHub.
4. Enterprises: confirm you are on Enterprise Cloud. Server is not supported.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Copilot still just Codex autocomplete?

No. Completions remain, but chat, CLI, mobile, a desktop app, and a cloud agent are first-party.

Can I use it without GitHub.com?

The product is tied to a GitHub account and, for orgs, to Cloud. It is not on Enterprise Server.

How does it compare to Claude Code?

Claude Code operates your local checkout across CLI and desktop. Copilot is GitHub-native and strongest when issues, PRs, and policy already live on github.com.

Alternatives

• Claude Code: Anthropic's repo agent.
• Codex CLI: OpenAI's terminal agent on ChatGPT plans.
• Cursor: Editor-native agent if you are not standardized on GitHub.

Tips

1. Start on Free to measure completion quality before Pro.
2. Treat cloud-agent PRs as drafts. Official flow is review, iterate, then merge.
3. Recheck Business self-serve status. The 2026-04-22 pause may still apply.

Conclusion

Copilot is the default GitHub-native assistant in 2026: completions plus chat plus a cloud agent, billed from Free through Enterprise. Ignore any leftover "powered by Codex" line. Start at github.com/features/copilot and the plans table.