The Cheapest Way to Get GitHub Copilot
Verified 2026-10-19 by Michael Okeje
Cheapest way in: Free tier, then paid plans if you outgrow it (Free). GitHub's current setup guide lets verified GitHub Education students activate Copilot Student. Eligibility is re-evaluated monthly, and GitHub warns that the benefit can take several days to appear after education verification.
Ways to pay less, cheapest first
Copilot Free includes 2,000 completions a month
GitHub lists Copilot Free at $0 with 2,000 inline completions per month plus limited chat and agent usage. It is an individual plan, not a temporary Black Friday promotion.
Copilot Student is free for verified students
GitHub's current setup guide lets verified GitHub Education students activate Copilot Student. Eligibility is re-evaluated monthly, and GitHub warns that the benefit can take several days to appear after education verification.
Eligible teachers and open-source maintainers can get Pro free
GitHub says verified teachers and maintainers of popular open-source projects may receive Copilot Pro without paying the normal $10 monthly price. This is an eligibility benefit, not a seasonal discount.
GitHub Copilot price ladder
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per mo) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | - | 2,000 completions/month plus limited chat and agent usage |
| Student | Free | - | Free for verified GitHub Education students |
| Pro | $10 | - | Individual plan; free for eligible teachers and popular open-source maintainers |
| Pro+ | $39 | - | Higher AI-credit allowance and premium-model access |
| Max | $100 | - | Highest individual AI-credit allowance |
| Business | $19 | - | Per granted seat; organization controls |
| Enterprise | $39 | - | Per granted seat; enterprise capabilities |
KEEP READING
Prices are checked against GitHub Copilot's official pricing page on the date shown and can change at any time. Some outbound links are affiliate links; see the disclosure in the footer.