GitHub Copilot Alternatives (2026): 10 Tools Compared

GitHub Copilot is the AI coding assistant most people have heard of. It sits in your editor, suggests the next line and answers questions about your code. If you build websites, tools or automations for your business, you may have wondered whether something else would suit your habits better, or whether you're really using what you've got.

Below are ten GitHub Copilot alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. Some are full editors, some are agents that work from the terminal, and one is built for reviewing code rather than writing it. I've taken the descriptions from each tool's own website, so check the current details there. If you're not sure where AI helpers fit in your day, my guide to which AI agents are free to try is a gentle way in.

GitHub Copilot alternatives at a glance

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a free plan, a free tier or free open-source software. Trial only means a free trial and no ongoing free plan. No means neither is stated. Free allowances change, so confirm on the site itself.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Amp	Coding agent	A coding agent with a hobby tier	Yes
Cursor	AI code editor	An agent inside a desktop editor	Yes
JetBrains Junie	Coding agent	JetBrains users, with any model	Yes
Kilo Code	Open-source agent	One agent for editors and terminal	Yes
Kiro	Agentic IDE	Planning first, then building	Yes
OpenAI Codex	Terminal agent	A command-line coding agent	Yes
Qodo	Code review platform	Checking code changes before they merge	Trial only
Tabby	Self-hosted assistant	Running suggestions on your own server	Yes
Trae	AI coding tool	Desktop app and web version	Yes
Zed	Code editor	A fast editor with optional AI	Yes

Ten coding assistants to try next to your editor

Amp

Best for: Developers who want an agent and a development environment from one tool, with a free hobby tier to begin with.

Cursor

Best for: People who want an AI-first editor with an agent, chat and a free plan with limited requests.

JetBrains Junie

Best for: Developers who already live in JetBrains tools and want an agent that works with the model they choose.

Kilo Code

Best for: Developers who want an open-source agent across VS Code, JetBrains and the terminal, with a choice of models.

Kiro

Best for: Developers who like to turn an idea into a written plan before an agent starts building it.

OpenAI Codex

Best for: Developers happy in the terminal who want an open-source agent they can run against a local project.

Qodo

Best for: Teams who care most about reviewing changes and keeping standards steady, with a free trial to look around.

Tabby

Best for: Teams who want completions and chat from software they host themselves, with a free community plan.

Trae

Best for: Beginners who want a downloadable app or a browser version with a free plan to try.

Zed

Best for: Developers who want a quick, open-source editor where the AI side is optional and uses their own keys.

What an AI coding assistant does inside your editor

Most assistants do three jobs. They finish the line you're typing, they answer questions about the file you have open, and the newer ones will take a written task and carry it out across several files. Those are three different levels of trust, and it's worth knowing which one you're buying into.

Autocomplete is the gentlest. You still write the code and the tool offers shortcuts. Chat is the next step, where you ask for an explanation or a fix. An agent goes furthest: it reads your project, makes changes and may run commands. The further along that line you go, the more checking you need to do.

Plug-in, standalone editor or terminal: which kind of Copilot alternative

Some tools are plug-ins that add AI to an editor you already use. That's the smallest change, and your shortcuts, themes and settings stay put. Others are whole editors with AI built in, which can feel smoother but means moving your set-up across.

Terminal agents are a third group. They suit people who are comfortable with the command line and like to see each step. If you only edit the odd website template, a plug-in is usually plenty. If you build something every week, trying an editor of its own is more reasonable.

• Plug-in. Smallest change, easy to remove if it isn't for you.
• Standalone editor. Deeper integration, but you'll need to move your settings and extensions.
• Terminal agent. Good for scripted jobs, and you see every command it suggests.
• Review tool. Focused on checking changes rather than writing them.

Reviewing AI-written code and keeping secrets out of prompts

Review code before you run it. An assistant can write something that looks confident and still contains a mistake, an outdated method or a setting you didn't intend. Read the changes, run them somewhere safe first, and keep a copy of your project so you can step back.

Never paste secrets or API keys into a prompt, a chat box or a shared file. Check what each tool sends to the cloud, whether your code is kept, and whether you can switch that off. Tools you host yourself or run on your own computer keep more of that in your hands. For ideas on getting more from prompts safely, see my notes on using ChatGPT prompts to speed up coding work.

Questions to settle before you switch from your Copilot set-up

• Which editors and languages does it support today?
• Does it work with the model I want to use, or only its own?
• Where is my code processed, and can I opt out of it being kept?
• What does the free route include, and what limits apply?
• Can my whole team use it with the same settings?
• How easy is it to export my settings or remove the tool later?

If you'd rather have someone map this to your business, you can ask about working with an AI consultant in the UK.

Why a smaller Copilot alternative can be a sensible pick

Smaller tools often move quickly and focus on one job. A review tool, a self-hosted assistant or a planning-first editor may fit your work better than a general helper. The trade-off is that younger products change fast, so look for recent updates, read the help pages and try one small project first.

Static checks help too, whichever helper you pick. My piece on AI-driven static analysis tools explains how automatic checks catch problems an assistant might miss.

Do you make an AI coding assistant or developer tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

A short checklist before you leave your current Copilot habit

Pick two options that match how you work. Try each on a small, low-risk project, note what it gets wrong, and check the privacy settings before you point it at anything important. Keep the one that fits your routine and set a date to review it again.

Frequently asked questions

What can I use instead of GitHub Copilot?

You can use another editor with AI built in, a plug-in for the editor you already have, or an agent that works from the terminal. The right choice depends on how much you want the tool to do for you.

Do I need to know how to code to use these tools?

It helps a great deal. These tools are built for people who read and write code, and you still need to review what they produce before it goes anywhere near a live site.

Are there free options?

Several tools describe a free plan, a free tier or free open-source software on their own sites. Allowances differ and change, so check each site for the current details.

Is my code safe when I use an AI assistant?

It depends on the tool and its settings. Check what is sent to the cloud, whether it's stored, and whether you can opt out. Never paste passwords or API keys into prompts.

Can I run an assistant on my own computer?

Some tools can be hosted by you or used with models on your own machine. That keeps more control with you, though it usually needs more set-up.