🚀 GitHub Copilot in 2025: A Complete Guide to Features and Getting Started
01.07.2025
📌 Table of Contents
- What is GitHub Copilot
- Who Should Use Copilot
- How to Start: Setup and Installation
- How to Write Code with Copilot
- Copilot vs Cursor AI: Comparison
- Pricing and Plans
- Final Thoughts
🧠 What is GitHub Copilot <a name="what-is-copilot"></a>
GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistant developed by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI. Powered by GPT-based models, it integrates directly into your favorite code editors (VS Code, Neovim, JetBrains, and more), offering autocomplete suggestions, complete functions, and even entire modules on the fly.
Copilot can:
- Complete lines of code based on context;
- Generate functions from comments (e.g. // sort an array);
- Create unit tests and documentation;
- Help beginners and speed up workflows for seasoned developers.
🔍 Essentially, it's next-generation autocomplete that understands your style, goals, and the programming language you're using.
👩💻 Who Should Use Copilot <a name="who-needs-it"></a>
|
User Type |
Benefit |
|
Beginners |
Learn faster by seeing code examples in real time |
|
Experienced Developers |
Automate routine tasks: templates, tests, parsing |
|
Startup Teams |
Increase productivity without expanding dev headcount |
|
Open-source Contributors |
Boost quality of pull requests and documentation |
Copilot is especially effective when:
- You're working with repetitive patterns;
- You're using frameworks like React, Django, or FastAPI;
- You need to prototype ideas quickly.
⚙️ How to Start: Setup and Installation <a name="setup"></a>
- Sign up for GitHub Copilot
You’ll need a GitHub account to begin. - Install the extension in your IDE
- VS Code: Open Extensions → Search "GitHub Copilot" → Install
- JetBrains IDEs: Use Plugin Marketplace
- Neovim: Use copilot.vim plugin (advanced users)
- Authorize through GitHub and choose a subscription plan (30-day free trial available).
- Start coding — Copilot will begin suggesting completions instantly.
✍️ How to Write Code with Copilot <a name="writing-code"></a>
Copilot works best when you write clear and predictable code. Here are a few tips:
|
What to Do |
Why It Helps Copilot |
|
Write descriptive comments |
Generates code based on your intent |
|
Use meaningful variable names |
Helps AI understand structure and logic |
|
Break logic into small functions |
Easier for Copilot to generate concise code |
|
Add type hints (if possible) |
Improves output quality |
|
Edit suggestions as needed |
It's your assistant, not a substitute for logic |
Example (Python):
python
# Function to sort students by their grades
def sort_students_by_grade(students):
Copilot will suggest a working implementation of the function.
⚔️ GitHub Copilot vs Cursor AI: Full Comparison <a name="copilot-vs-cursor"></a>
|
Feature |
GitHub Copilot |
Cursor AI |
|
Type |
IDE plugin (VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim) |
Standalone code editor with built-in AI |
|
Core Feature |
Autocompletion and code generation |
Interactive chat + natural-language refactoring |
|
Where It Works |
Inside traditional IDEs |
Inside its own editor (built on top of VS Code) |
|
Code Chat |
Copilot Chat: Explain, fix, or generate code |
Ask AI: Fix bugs, refactor, rewrite code conversationally |
|
Refactoring & Commands |
Basic, text-based |
Natural language: “Replace axios with fetch,” “Add logging,” etc. |
|
Language Support |
20+ (Python, JS, TS, Go, C++, Rust, etc.) |
All major languages (via OpenAI’s LLM) |
|
Code Context Window |
100–300 lines |
Over 100,000 tokens (understands full project structure) |
|
Repository Understanding |
Limited to current file |
Understands and navigates entire repositories |
|
Team Features |
Copilot Business Plan |
Focused on solo and indie developers |
|
Pricing |
$10/month (Individual) / $19/month (Business) |
Free version + Pro ($20/month) |
|
Best for |
Developers using IDEs with integrated tools |
Frontend devs, indie hackers, AI-chat coding fans |
|
Unique Advantage |
Generates unit tests; adapts to coding style |
Natural-language search & replace + live code conversations |
🧠 Verdict: Copilot or Cursor?
Choose Copilot if you prefer working inside your regular IDE, want fast autocomplete, and don’t need full-project intelligence.
Choose Cursor if you like working with conversational coding tools, want better code refactoring, or need to edit across large projects with natural language.
🎯 Ideal setup: use Copilot for inline code and Cursor AI for smart project refactoring and deep code reviews.
🔗 Discover more about Cursor’s capabilities on our website.
💸 GitHub Copilot Pricing <a name="pricing"></a>
|
Plan |
Price |
Includes |
|
Individual |
$10/month or $100/year |
All features for one developer |
|
Business |
$19/user/month |
Enterprise features: SSO, analytics, domain restrictions |
|
Free Trial |
30 days |
For everyone |
|
Students/OSS |
Free |
For active open-source contributors and students |
Subscribe via GitHub Billing
✅ Final Thoughts <a name="conclusion"></a>
GitHub Copilot in 2025 is a mature, powerful tool that significantly enhances the coding experience. It excels in daily development tasks, boosts learning, reduces repetitive work, and increases team productivity.
Recommendation: Start with the free trial, test it in your project, and see if it fits your workflow.
📌 Table of Contents
- What is GitHub Copilot
- Who Should Use Copilot
- How to Start: Setup and Installation
- How to Write Code with Copilot
- Copilot vs Cursor AI: Comparison
- Pricing and Plans
- Final Thoughts
🧠 What is GitHub Copilot <a name="what-is-copilot"></a>
GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistant developed by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI. Powered by GPT-based models, it integrates directly into your favorite code editors (VS Code, Neovim, JetBrains, and more), offering autocomplete suggestions, complete functions, and even entire modules on the fly.
Copilot can:
- Complete lines of code based on context;
- Generate functions from comments (e.g. // sort an array);
- Create unit tests and documentation;
- Help beginners and speed up workflows for seasoned developers.
🔍 Essentially, it's next-generation autocomplete that understands your style, goals, and the programming language you're using.
👩💻 Who Should Use Copilot <a name="who-needs-it"></a>
|
User Type |
Benefit |
|
Beginners |
Learn faster by seeing code examples in real time |
|
Experienced Developers |
Automate routine tasks: templates, tests, parsing |
|
Startup Teams |
Increase productivity without expanding dev headcount |
|
Open-source Contributors |
Boost quality of pull requests and documentation |
Copilot is especially effective when:
- You're working with repetitive patterns;
- You're using frameworks like React, Django, or FastAPI;
- You need to prototype ideas quickly.
⚙️ How to Start: Setup and Installation <a name="setup"></a>
- Sign up for GitHub Copilot
You’ll need a GitHub account to begin. - Install the extension in your IDE
- VS Code: Open Extensions → Search "GitHub Copilot" → Install
- JetBrains IDEs: Use Plugin Marketplace
- Neovim: Use copilot.vim plugin (advanced users)
- Authorize through GitHub and choose a subscription plan (30-day free trial available).
- Start coding — Copilot will begin suggesting completions instantly.
✍️ How to Write Code with Copilot <a name="writing-code"></a>
Copilot works best when you write clear and predictable code. Here are a few tips:
|
What to Do |
Why It Helps Copilot |
|
Write descriptive comments |
Generates code based on your intent |
|
Use meaningful variable names |
Helps AI understand structure and logic |
|
Break logic into small functions |
Easier for Copilot to generate concise code |
|
Add type hints (if possible) |
Improves output quality |
|
Edit suggestions as needed |
It's your assistant, not a substitute for logic |
Example (Python):
python
# Function to sort students by their grades
def sort_students_by_grade(students):
Copilot will suggest a working implementation of the function.
⚔️ GitHub Copilot vs Cursor AI: Full Comparison <a name="copilot-vs-cursor"></a>
|
Feature |
GitHub Copilot |
Cursor AI |
|
Type |
IDE plugin (VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim) |
Standalone code editor with built-in AI |
|
Core Feature |
Autocompletion and code generation |
Interactive chat + natural-language refactoring |
|
Where It Works |
Inside traditional IDEs |
Inside its own editor (built on top of VS Code) |
|
Code Chat |
Copilot Chat: Explain, fix, or generate code |
Ask AI: Fix bugs, refactor, rewrite code conversationally |
|
Refactoring & Commands |
Basic, text-based |
Natural language: “Replace axios with fetch,” “Add logging,” etc. |
|
Language Support |
20+ (Python, JS, TS, Go, C++, Rust, etc.) |
All major languages (via OpenAI’s LLM) |
|
Code Context Window |
100–300 lines |
Over 100,000 tokens (understands full project structure) |
|
Repository Understanding |
Limited to current file |
Understands and navigates entire repositories |
|
Team Features |
Copilot Business Plan |
Focused on solo and indie developers |
|
Pricing |
$10/month (Individual) / $19/month (Business) |
Free version + Pro ($20/month) |
|
Best for |
Developers using IDEs with integrated tools |
Frontend devs, indie hackers, AI-chat coding fans |
|
Unique Advantage |
Generates unit tests; adapts to coding style |
Natural-language search & replace + live code conversations |
🧠 Verdict: Copilot or Cursor?
Choose Copilot if you prefer working inside your regular IDE, want fast autocomplete, and don’t need full-project intelligence.
Choose Cursor if you like working with conversational coding tools, want better code refactoring, or need to edit across large projects with natural language.
🎯 Ideal setup: use Copilot for inline code and Cursor AI for smart project refactoring and deep code reviews.
🔗 Discover more about Cursor’s capabilities on our website.
Cursor AI: How the Smart AI Code Editor Works and Why It's a Game Changer
💸 GitHub Copilot Pricing <a name="pricing"></a>
|
Plan |
Price |
Includes |
|
Individual |
$10/month or $100/year |
All features for one developer |
|
Business |
$19/user/month |
Enterprise features: SSO, analytics, domain restrictions |
|
Free Trial |
30 days |
For everyone |
|
Students/OSS |
Free |
For active open-source contributors and students |
Subscribe via GitHub Billing
✅ Final Thoughts <a name="conclusion"></a>
GitHub Copilot in 2025 is a mature, powerful tool that significantly enhances the coding experience. It excels in daily development tasks, boosts learning, reduces repetitive work, and increases team productivity.
Recommendation: Start with the free trial, test it in your project, and see if it fits your workflow.
Cursor AI: How the Smart AI Code Editor Works and Why It's a Game Changer
