Claude Code vs GitHub Copilot
Short answer: Claude Code is in CLI coding agents; GitHub Copilot is in IDE assistants, so they solve different parts of the job. GitHub Copilot has the lower entry price ($10/month vs $20/month for Claude Code). GitHub Copilot has a free plan; Claude Code does not.
| Claude Code | GitHub Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | CLI coding agents | IDE assistants |
| Vendor | Anthropic | GitHub (Microsoft) |
| Status | Active | Active |
| Free plan | No (Claude Free does not include Claude Code; "Claude Code is included in all paid plans.") | Yes (Free: limited chat and agent usage.) |
| Paid plans from | $20/mo | $10/mo |
| Plans | Pro: $20 · Max 5x: $100 · Max 20x: $200 · Team (standard seat): $25 · Team (premium seat): $125 · Enterprise: $20 (annual) | Free: Free · Pro: $10 · Pro+: $39 · Max: $100 · Business: $19 · Enterprise: $39 |
| Open source | Not verified yet | Not verified yet |
| Editors named on vendor page | VS Code, JetBrains, terminal/CLI | — |
| Features named on vendor page | MCP, self-hosting, code review, test generation, debugging, refactoring, SSO/SAML | — |
| Model families named | Claude | — |
| Checked | Oct 26, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 |
“Named on vendor page” means the phrase appears on the vendor's own page we captured; it is not a hands-on test. Unknown values are left blank rather than guessed.
FAQ
Is Claude Code cheaper than GitHub Copilot?
GitHub Copilot has the lower entry price ($10/month vs $20/month for Claude Code). Prices are from each vendor's pricing page.
Do Claude Code and GitHub Copilot have free plans?
GitHub Copilot has a free plan; Claude Code does not.
What is the difference between Claude Code and GitHub Copilot?
Claude Code is in CLI coding agents; GitHub Copilot is in IDE assistants, so they solve different parts of the job. Claude Code is made by Anthropic; GitHub Copilot is made by GitHub (Microsoft). See the table for plans, editors and features each vendor names.
Sources
- https://claude.com/pricing
- https://github.com/features/copilot/plans
- https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/get-started/plans