Claude CodevsGitHub Copilot
Claude Code bundles Anthropic's models into a Claude subscription. GitHub Copilot spreads a monthly AI-credit budget across models from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and more. Here is how pricing, models, interfaces and usage limits compare.
Updated: October 2026
Claude Code
Anthropic's agentic coding tool
Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic coding tool. It runs in your terminal, in VS Code and JetBrains, on the web, on desktop and mobile, and in Slack. It is included with paid Claude plans (Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise) or billed at API rates through a Claude Console account.
GitHub Copilot
GitHub's multi-model AI coding assistant
GitHub Copilot is GitHub's AI coding assistant and agent. It works in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Xcode, Neovim, Eclipse and Zed, on github.com, in the terminal, and in Slack and Teams, and lets you pick models from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, xAI and others.
Winner Badges
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Claude Code | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Anthropic | GitHub (Microsoft) |
| Interface | Terminal · IDE extensions · web · desktop · mobile · Slack | IDEs · github.com · CLI · desktop · mobile · Slack · Teams |
| Pricing | Pro $17–$20 · Max from $100 | Free · Pro $10 · Pro+ $39 · Max $100 |
| Free tier | ||
| Models | Anthropic Claude only | Claude, OpenAI, Google, xAI, Kimi and more |
| Usage model | 5-hour + weekly limits | Monthly AI credits |
| Inline code completion | Not its focus | |
| Issue → pull request agent | ||
| MCP servers | ||
| Best for | Long agentic tasks | Everyday IDE work + GitHub workflow |
Detailed Feature Matrix
| Claude Fable 5.1 | ||
| Claude Opus 5.5 | ||
| Claude Sonnet 5.5 | ||
| OpenAI GPT models | ||
| Google Gemini models | ||
| xAI Grok models | ||
| Kimi K3 |
Ideal User Profiles
Claude Code
- •Developers who want an agent to take on multi-step tasks
- •Terminal-first workflows
- •Teams already standardised on Anthropic's models
- •Heavy users willing to pay $100+ for higher limits
GitHub Copilot
- •Developers who live in an IDE and want inline completions
- •Teams built around GitHub issues and pull requests
- •Anyone who wants to switch between Claude, GPT, Gemini and other models
- •Budget-conscious users — there is a free plan and a $10 Pro plan
Basics
| Feature | Claude Code | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Anthropic | GitHub (Microsoft) |
| Platforms | macOS · Linux · Windows | Most major editors, web, mobile |
| Free plan | Limited chat & agent usage, 2,000 completions/mo | |
| Team / business plans | Team · Enterprise | Business · Enterprise |
Pricing & Plans (individual)
| Feature | Claude Code | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Entry paid plan | Pro — $17/mo billed annually ($200/yr), or $20 monthly | Pro — $10/mo |
| Mid tier | Max 5x — from $100/mo | Pro+ — $39/mo |
| Top tier | Max 20x — approx. $200/mo | Max — $100/mo |
| What the price buys | Claude usage shared across chat and Claude Code | Monthly AI credits (1 credit = $0.01); Pro includes $15 worth, Pro+ $70, Max $200 |
| Pay-as-you-go option | Usage credits at API rates, or a Console account | Set a budget for additional credits |
Usage Limits
| Feature | Claude Code | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| How limits work | Rolling 5-hour session limit plus weekly limits | Monthly credit allowance that resets each cycle |
| Shared across | Claude on web, desktop, mobile and Claude Code | Agent mode, code review, cloud agent, CLI and chat |
| Code completions | Not applicable | Unlimited on paid plans (no credits used) |
| When you hit the limit | Wait for reset, upgrade, or turn on usage credits | Wait, add paid usage, or switch to a cheaper model |
Privacy & Data
| Feature | Claude Code | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Model training on your data | Opt-out on Pro and Max; none by default on Team | Individual plans may be used for training unless you opt out |
| Local execution | Runs locally in the terminal and talks to model APIs | Cloud-hosted service with IDE extensions |
Pros & Cons
Claude Code
Pros
- Built for long, multi-step agentic work: plans, edits files, runs tests, opens pull requests
- Runs in the terminal, VS Code, JetBrains, web, desktop, mobile and Slack
- Anthropic's latest models (Fable 5.1, Opus 5.5, Sonnet 5.5) are included in the subscription
- One usage pool shared with Claude chat, so a single plan covers both
- Context windows up to 1M tokens, depending on the model
Cons
- No free tier — Claude Code needs Pro ($17–$20/mo) or higher
- Official plans cover Anthropic models only
- Capped by rolling 5-hour and weekly limits; heavy users move up to Max
- Fewer editor integrations than Copilot
GitHub Copilot
Pros
- Lowest paid entry price: Pro is $10/mo, and there is a free plan
- Code completions and next-edit suggestions are unlimited on paid plans and do not use credits
- Models from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, xAI and others in one subscription
- Works in far more editors, plus github.com, the CLI, mobile, Slack and Teams
- Cloud agent can take an issue and come back with a pull request
Cons
- Agent mode, code review, CLI and chat share one monthly credit budget, so long sessions on frontier models can use it up quickly
- Credit cost varies by model and task, which makes spend harder to predict
- Individual plans' interaction data may be used for model training unless you opt out
- Available models can differ by feature
Our Verdict
These two overlap more than they compete. Claude Code is an agent you hand work to, powered by Anthropic's models and paid for through a Claude subscription. GitHub Copilot is a broader assistant that lives in your editor and on GitHub, with unlimited completions and a menu of models you pay for with monthly credits. If your day is mostly in an IDE and on GitHub, Copilot is the cheaper, wider starting point. If you want an agent to take on larger tasks and you are happy with Anthropic's models, Claude Code is the more focused choice. They are separate products with separate billing, so nothing stops you from using both.
Choose Claude Code if...
- You want an agent that takes on multi-step tasks from the terminal
- You prefer Anthropic's models and one subscription for chat and coding
- You are ready to pay $17–$20/mo, or $100+ for heavier use
Choose GitHub Copilot if...
- You want inline completions and chat inside your IDE
- Your workflow revolves around GitHub issues and pull requests
- You want to switch between Claude, OpenAI, Google and other models
- You want a free plan or a $10/mo starting point
Ready to try one? Check current plans and pricing on the official sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Claude Code free?
No. Anthropic lists Claude Code as included in paid plans — Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise — and not in the Free plan. You can also use it with a Claude Console account, where it is billed at standard API token prices.
How much do Claude Code and GitHub Copilot cost?
Claude Pro is $17/month billed annually ($200 up front) or $20 billed monthly, and Max starts at $100/month (5x or 20x Pro usage). GitHub Copilot has a Free plan, Pro at $10/month, Pro+ at $39/month and Max at $100/month. Business and Enterprise plans for organisations are priced separately.
Can I use Claude models inside GitHub Copilot?
Yes. GitHub's plans page lists Anthropic models such as Claude Fable 5.1, Opus 5.5, Sonnet 5.5 and Haiku 5.5 among Copilot's available models, alongside OpenAI, Google, xAI and other models. Usage draws on your monthly GitHub AI Credits, and model availability can vary by feature.
What happens when I hit my usage limit?
With Claude, limits reset on a rolling five-hour window and paid plans also have weekly limits; you can wait, move up a plan, or turn on usage credits to keep working at API rates. With Copilot, your allowance resets monthly; you can wait, set a budget for additional usage at $0.01 per credit, or switch to a cheaper model.
Does Copilot's price include unlimited completions?
On paid Copilot plans, code completions and next edit suggestions do not use AI credits and remain unlimited. Agent mode, code review, the cloud agent, the CLI and chat do consume credits. The Free plan is limited to 2,000 completions per month.
Can I use both tools together?
Yes. They are separate products with separate subscriptions. Claude Code has VS Code and JetBrains extensions and a terminal interface, and Copilot works as an extension in many editors, so you can run both side by side if you want.
Sources & notes
Prices and features were checked against the vendors' official pages on October 26, 2026. Plans change often, so confirm current details before you buy. We do not publish benchmark scores on this page.