To use GitHub Copilot, sign in to GitHub, set up Copilot Free from your Copilot settings and open any file on GitHub.com. Click the Copilot icon at the top right of the file and ask a question. For suggestions as you type, set it up in Visual Studio Code or another supported editor.
GitHub Copilot is built into GitHub, so you can try it without installing anything. GitHub's own quickstart says the basics take about ten minutes. There are three ways to use it: asking questions on GitHub.com, getting suggestions and chat inside your code editor, and handing whole tasks to the cloud agent. Here's each one, plus the plan you'll need.
Step 1: Pick your plan
Copilot Free is the place to start. It gives limited access to a selection of features, and GitHub limits it to 2,000 inline completions a month. Here's how the individual plans compare on GitHub's docs, as of October 2026, in US dollars:
| Plan | Monthly | Total monthly AI credits | Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copilot Free | Free | An allowance of AI credits | Auto model selection only |
| Copilot Student | Free for verified students | An allowance of AI credits | Auto model selection only |
| Copilot Pro | $10 | 1,500 | A selection of models |
| Copilot Pro+ | $39 | 7,000 | Premium models |
| Copilot Max | $100 | 20,000 | Priority access to premium models |
Verified teachers and maintainers of popular open source projects can get Copilot Pro free, and GitHub rechecks that eligibility every month. One catch: if you have free access through being a student, teacher or maintainer, you can't cancel that plan. Copilot Free is also only for individuals who don't already get Copilot through an organisation.
Step 2: Ask Copilot about code on GitHub.com
- Open any repository. It doesn't need to be yours.
- Open a file.
- Click the Copilot icon at the top right of the file view.
- Type a question and press Enter. Copilot answers in the chat panel.
Questions that work well, taken from GitHub's quickstart:
- Explain what this file does.
- How could I improve this code?
- What tests would cover this function?
- What was the last change and why was it made?
Follow up with tell me more, or ask about a pull request, an issue or a commit. This is a great way to understand a project before you touch it.
Step 3: Set up Copilot in your code editor
For suggestions while you type, set Copilot up in your editor. In Visual Studio Code, GitHub says the required extensions install automatically the first time you set Copilot up, so there's nothing to download by hand, and you get Copilot Chat as well. Other editors are supported too:
| Editor | What to know |
|---|---|
| Visual Studio Code | Extensions install automatically during setup; Chat included |
| Xcode | Needs Xcode 8.0 or above and macOS Monterey 12.0 or above, plus two permissions |
| Eclipse | Needs Eclipse 2024-03 or above; sign in with a device code |
For Xcode, GitHub says you'll need to switch on the Accessibility permission and the Xcode Source Editor Extension permission, then restart Xcode. A new GitHub Copilot item appears in the Editor menu when it's working.
What every plan includes
GitHub says all plans include Copilot CLI and the Copilot app. Each plan comes with an allowance of GitHub AI Credits, and on the paid individual plans that total is made of base credits plus a flex allotment. Copilot Pro, for example, has 1,000 base credits and a 500 flex allotment, making 1,500 a month. For teams there are Copilot Business at $19 USD per seat a month and Copilot Enterprise at $39 USD per seat a month, with central management and policy controls. Copilot isn't currently available for GitHub Enterprise Server.
Inside your editor, Copilot Chat gives you inline chat and slash commands, and the same chat is available in GitHub Mobile and on GitHub.com, so you can ask a question about a pull request from your phone.
Step 4: Hand a task to the cloud agent
The cloud agent works on coding tasks on its own and opens a pull request when it's done. It needs a paid plan such as Copilot Pro.
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- In a personal repository you can write to, switch on Copilot cloud agent in your Copilot settings.
- Open an existing issue, or create one describing the change.
- Click Assignees in the right sidebar and choose Copilot.
- Optionally add context in the Optional prompt field, such as files to change or tests to run.
- When Copilot opens a pull request, review the diff. Mention @copilot in a comment to ask for changes, then merge when you're happy.
A good issue for Copilot names the problem, the expected result and how to check it. For example: the contact form on the pricing page doesn't show an error when the email field is empty; it should show a red message under the field; add a test for it and don't change the form layout. You can also push your own commits straight to Copilot's branch if it's nearly right and you'd rather finish the job yourself.
Copilot reads the issue title, description and existing comments, so the clearer your issue, the better the result. Write it the way you'd brief a new developer: what's wrong, what done looks like and anything it mustn't touch.
My verdict
Start with Copilot Free in Visual Studio Code and use the chat to understand code before you ask it to write any. If you find yourself running out of completions, Copilot Pro is the obvious step up, and the cloud agent is the reason to pay for it. My GitHub Copilot prompts give you ready-made requests, and if you're new to GitHub itself, my guide on how to use GitHub covers repositories and pull requests first.
Frequently asked questions
Is GitHub Copilot free?
Yes, Copilot Free gives limited access to a selection of features, including up to 2,000 inline completions a month. Verified students get Copilot Student free.
How much is GitHub Copilot Pro?
GitHub's docs list Copilot Pro at $10 USD a month as of October 2026, with 1,500 total monthly AI credits.
Can teachers get GitHub Copilot free?
Yes. Verified teachers on GitHub Education and maintainers of popular open source projects can get Copilot Pro free, and GitHub rechecks eligibility monthly.
Do I need to install anything to use GitHub Copilot?
No. Copilot is built into GitHub.com, so you can ask questions about any file there. For suggestions while you type, set it up in an editor such as Visual Studio Code.
Can GitHub Copilot fix an issue on its own?
Yes, with the cloud agent on a paid plan. Assign the issue to Copilot and it opens a pull request for you to review.
