GitHub Copilot suits developers who want AI help inside the editor they already use, with a free tier that includes agent mode in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Eclipse and Xcode. Cursor suits developers who want an AI-first editor, but read its plans page first: the entry Plus plan includes Grok models only, and other labs' models sit outside the plan allowance. Decide which models you need, then pick.
Both tools write, explain and fix code with AI, and both now run agents that can work through a task for you. The way they're packaged has drifted apart, though. I read Cursor's plans page and FAQ, plus GitHub's Copilot plans page and the GitHub Docs article on Copilot plans, and everything below comes from those pages.
Cursor and GitHub Copilot plans side by side
| Cursor | GitHub Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, Free (limited agent and Chat requests) | Yes, Copilot Free (an allowance of AI credits) |
| What you get | Its own AI code editor, plus CLI and cloud agents | An assistant inside your editor, the terminal and GitHub |
| Editors covered | Cursor's own editor | VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Eclipse, Xcode |
| Models on the entry plan | Plus: Grok models only | Free: auto model selection only |
| Other labs' models | Available at API list rates, outside the allowance | A selection on Pro, premium models on Pro+ |
| AI code review | Bugbot, from Premium | Pull request reviews, from Pro |
| Cloud agents | From Premium | Cloud agent from Pro |
| Student option | Not covered on the plans page | Copilot Student, free for verified students |
What Cursor gives you
Cursor is an editor built around AI. Its Free plan includes the Cursor Agent with limited agent and Chat requests. Plus is the introductory plan, with a shared usage pool across Cursor and Grok, and the FAQ is clear that Plus includes Grok models only.
Premium adds four times the Plus usage, cloud agents and automations, code hosting and AI code reviews through Bugbot. Super and Ultra raise the usage again, and Teams adds central admin, usage analytics, team-wide privacy settings and SSO. Your allowance refreshes weekly, so one heavy day doesn't drain the month, and privacy mode stops your code being used for training.
What GitHub Copilot gives you
GitHub's docs describe Copilot Free as limited access to a selection of Copilot features. That still covers a lot: agent mode in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Eclipse and Xcode, MCP servers, custom instructions, Copilot CLI and the Copilot app, plus Copilot on github.com and GitHub Mobile.
Pro adds a choice of models, pull request code review and the cloud agent, which takes a task and comes back with a pull request. Pro+ lets you hand tasks to third-party coding agents such as Claude by Anthropic and OpenAI Codex, still in preview. Business and Enterprise add central management for companies, and verified students get Copilot Student free.
The detail on Cursor's page most people miss
Here's what surprised me. Cursor's plans page now bundles Grok and X features into the same plans: Grok Chat, Imagine and Voice, plus X account perks such as a premium checkmark and fewer timeline ads. Its FAQ says Plus includes Grok models only, while Premium and above include generous Grok usage but no allowance for third-party models, which stay available at API list rates.
That matters if your team has settled on a model from another lab. On Copilot Free the model is chosen for you, and on Pro you pick from a selection. On Cursor you can reach those models too, but they're metered separately from the plan allowance.
Which developer each one suits
GitHub Copilot suits developers and small teams who already keep their code on GitHub and want AI in the editor they know. Cursor suits developers who'd rather switch to an editor designed around agents, and who are happy working mostly with Grok models or tracking usage of others. If you're exploring agents more widely, my guide to using OpenAI Codex covers another option, and this one on building an AI agent without coding helps non-developers.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
My advice before you install either
Write down the models your team trusts, then check each plan's model row before anything else. If you want those models on day one inside VS Code or JetBrains, start with Copilot Free and move up when you need code review or the cloud agent. If you want an editor built around agents and the Grok models suit you, try Cursor's Free plan on a real project for a week, and watch how fast the requests run out.
Do you make developer or AI coding tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Is GitHub Copilot free?
Yes. Copilot Free gives limited access to a selection of features, including agent mode in supported editors, Copilot CLI and an allowance of AI credits, with auto model selection only.
Is Cursor free?
Yes. Cursor's Free plan includes the Cursor Agent with limited agent and Chat requests.
Which models does Cursor's Plus plan include?
Cursor's FAQ says Plus includes Grok models only. Third-party models stay available at API list rates, outside the plan allowance.
Does GitHub Copilot work in JetBrains and Xcode?
Yes. GitHub lists agent mode in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Eclipse and Xcode, even on the free tier.
Which one reviews pull requests?
GitHub Copilot reviews pull requests on GitHub from the Pro plan. Cursor offers AI code reviews through Bugbot from its Premium plan.
