GitHub Copilot

At a glance

GitHub Copilot puts code suggestions, explanations and agents inside a development workflow. It is worth trying if you already work in a supported editor and want help understanding or changing an existing project without repeatedly copying code into a separate chat. Start with an explanation or a small edit you can verify. Its broader agents can change files and run commands, so the work shifts toward setting boundaries and reviewing results; a subscription does not remove that responsibility.

Good fit

Developers who can judge the proposed change and want help where their code already lives. Inline completion suggests code as you type; chat can explain the open file; agent mode can work across files and run commands. These are different levels of delegation. The CLI extends that approach into a terminal, while the cloud agent can prepare changes for review. Developers building their own agent applications can use the official SDK, which communicates with Copilot CLI rather than acting as a standalone model endpoint.

Consider something else when

You need a completely offline assistant, or want someone to guarantee that generated code is correct without reviewing it. For occasional questions, test the Free allowance before paying. For a tightly controlled company repository, establish the permitted plan, model access and code-sharing policies first. An agent that produces a large patch can create more review work than a small, specific request; start with the level of delegation you can check.

Start here

With an active plan, the Copilot extension and a signed-in editor, open a non-sensitive code file. In Copilot Chat, ask what does this file do, then compare the explanation with the code. Visual Studio Code is one supported editor. For a next step, select Agent and request a bounded change with a testable outcome, such as adding a test for an existing function. Review the diff and run the relevant tests before accepting it. Success means a change you understand and can verify, rather than a plausible answer alone. This first-use path is documented, not a workflow exercised for this guide.

Cost and requirements

As of 31 October 2026, Free includes 2,000 code completions a month and limited AI credits. Pro costs $10 USD a month, with 1,000 base credits and a variable flex allowance, currently 500 more. Chat and agent tasks consume credits according to model and token use; one credit equals $0.01 USD. Paid code completions and next-edit suggestions are unlimited and do not consume those credits. Set an additional-usage budget deliberately; the subscription does not mean unlimited agent work. Company plans have separate allowances and policies. The SDK also needs the Copilot CLI runtime and authentication; some language packages bundle the CLI.

Limits to know

Generated explanations, edits and review comments can be wrong. Local agents can modify files and execute commands; permission modes can approve some actions automatically, so check the active settings rather than expecting a prompt every time. GitHub says Free, Pro, Pro+ and Max interactions, including code context, may be used for model training unless you opt out in Copilot settings. Business and Enterprise customer data is excluded from training under their policy, which does not make processing local. Before sharing private code, check the applicable policy. This guide is based on primary documentation; coding quality, speed, setup and agent behaviour were not personally tested.

Related work

• Visual Studio Code: one editor that hosts Copilot chat and suggestions (complement)