GitHub Copilot vs Claude Code (2026)
Side-by-side prices, plans and who each one is for. Checked 2026-10-14.
| GitHub Copilot | Claude Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Works in | editor, terminal | terminal, editor |
| Skill level | beginner, intermediate, pro | intermediate, pro |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | $10/mo | $20/mo |
| Team pricing | $19/user/mo | $25/user/mo |
| Best for | existing, learning, automation, game | existing, automation, webapp |
| Try GitHub Copilot | Try Claude Code |
Pick GitHub Copilot if...
- you want the cheapest solid paid plan ($10/mo)
- you use JetBrains, Visual Studio, Xcode or Neovim
- your team is already on GitHub
Pick Claude Code if...
- you're comfortable in the terminal
- you want an agent that edits many files in a large repo
- you already pay for Claude Pro or Max
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Sponsored placement for comparison pages Sponsor this spotGitHub Copilot plans
| Plan | Price | Notes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 2,000 completions and 50 chat requests/month | verified |
| Pro | $10/mo | Unlimited completions; $10 base AI credits + ~$5 flex | verified |
| Pro+ | $39/mo | $39 base credits + ~$31 flex | verified |
| Max | $100/mo | $100/month in AI credits plus flex | verified |
| Business | $19/mo per user | 1,900 AI credits/user/month, pooled | search only |
| Enterprise | $39/mo per user | 3,900 AI credits/user/month, pooled | search only |
Sources: github.com/features/copilot/plans docs.github.com/en/copilot/get-started/plans
Claude Code plans
| Plan | Price | Notes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Claude chat only. Claude Code is NOT included | verified |
| Pro | $20/mo ($17/mo billed annually) | Includes Claude Code; $17/mo billed annually ($200/yr) | verified |
| Max | from $100/mo | 5x or 20x Pro usage; includes $100-$200/mo API credits. Exact 20x price not shown on page | verified |
| Max 20x | Not verified | Page only says 'From $100' | unverified |
| Team Standard seat | $25/mo per user ($20/mo billed annually) | 2-150 users | verified |
| Team Premium seat | $125/mo per user ($100/mo billed annually) | 5x Standard usage | verified |
| Enterprise | $20/mo per user | $20/seat/month plus usage at API rates, billed annually | verified |
Sources: www.anthropic.com/pricing
FAQ
Is GitHub Copilot or Claude Code cheaper?
GitHub Copilot paid plans start at $10/month and Claude Code at $20/month (checked 2026-10-14). GitHub Copilot has the lower entry price.
Does GitHub Copilot or Claude Code have a free plan?
GitHub Copilot: yes. Claude Code: no.
Which is better for beginners, GitHub Copilot or Claude Code?
GitHub Copilot suits beginners. Claude Code is aimed less at beginners.
Still unsure? Take the 30-second quiz.
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