As AI-powered developer tools continue to reshape how we write code, Cursor and GitHub Copilot stand out as two prominent solutions in the market. Both offer advanced AI-powered code completion and assistance, but Cursor distinguishes itself with its VS Code fork approach, while GitHub Copilot focuses on broader IDE integration.
This comparison will help you understand the key differences and make an informed decision for your development needs.
Feature Comparison
Code Completion
Cursor
Cursor offers sophisticated code completion through its Cursor Tab feature, providing multi-line suggestions and modifications to existing code. The system can process recent changes and linter errors to make context-aware suggestions. Users can partially accept suggestions using Ctrl/⌘ →, with free users getting 2,000 suggestions and Pro users receiving unlimited access.
GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot provides real-time code suggestions as you type, offering whole-line and full-function completions across multiple programming languages. It excels at pattern recognition and can convert comments to code, making it particularly useful for repetitive coding tasks. The suggestions are deeply integrated into the IDE experience.
AI Chat Capabilities
Cursor
Cursor's built-in AI chat system offers context-aware code discussions with support for multiple AI models. It includes code block generation with instant apply functionality, chat history preservation, and automatic inclusion of relevant file context. The system also features web search capabilities for up-to-date information and customizable chat interface settings.
GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot Chat is available both in IDEs and through GitHub.com, with mobile app integration. It provides natural language coding assistance, code explanation capabilities, debugging help, and architecture suggestions. The chat interface is designed to be intuitive and accessible across different platforms.
Context Awareness
Cursor
Cursor implements automatic indexing of codebases for improved context understanding, using embeddings-based search for accurate code references. Users can customize indexing rules via .cursorignore, and the system maintains privacy with no plaintext code storage.
GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot maintains context awareness through its deep integration with the codebase, offering suggestions based on the current file, related files, and common coding patterns. It understands project structure and can provide context-specific suggestions across different files and functions.
Privacy and Security
Cursor
Cursor emphasizes privacy with an optional Privacy Mode to prevent code storage, no permanent storage of plaintext code, and local processing of sensitive information. The platform features transparent data handling policies and configurable codebase indexing.
GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot processes code suggestions locally, complying with GitHub's privacy policy. It offers options to disable telemetry and implements enterprise-grade security measures. The system ensures no storage of personal code and maintains high data encryption standards.
Pricing
Cursor
- Hobby
- Free for individual users
- Pro two week trial
- 2000 completions
- 50 slow premium requests
- Pro
- $20 per month
- Unlimited completions
- 500 fast premium requests
- Unlimited slow premium requests
- 10 o1-mini uses per day
- Business
- $40 per user, per month
- Enforce privacy mode org-wide
- Centralized team billing
- Admin dashboard with usage stats
- SAML/OIDC SSO
GitHub Copilot
- Individual Plan
- $10/month or $100/year
- Real-time code suggestions
- Multi-language support
- IDE integrations
- Basic chat features
- Business Plan
- $19/month per user
- Team management features
- Advanced security controls
- Custom model fine-tuning
- Priority support
- Enterprise Plan
- $39/month per user
- Custom deployments
- Advanced analytics
- SSO and SAML integration
- Dedicated support team
Conclusion
Both Cursor and GitHub Copilot offer powerful AI-assisted development capabilities, but they cater to slightly different needs. Cursor excels in its deep VS Code integration and multiple AI model support, making it particularly attractive for developers who prefer a more customizable experience with access to different AI models. The platform's focus on privacy and comprehensive chat features makes it a strong choice for teams requiring detailed code discussions and explanations.
GitHub Copilot, on the other hand, offers broader IDE support and deeper integration with the GitHub ecosystem, making it an excellent choice for developers working across multiple platforms, or those heavily invested in the GitHub environment. Its more accessible pricing structure and established market presence make it a safe choice for individuals and teams looking for a reliable AI coding assistant.
Ultimately, the choice between the two largely depends on specific needs regarding IDE support, pricing constraints, and desired AI model flexibility.