The Cheapest Way to Get GitHub Copilot
Verified 2026-07-16 by Michael Okeje
Cheapest way in: Free tier, then paid plans if you outgrow it (Free). Existing verified students and teachers keep the free Copilot Student plan with unlimited completions and 200 AI credits a month. GitHub temporarily paused new sign-ups for paid and student plans on April 20, 2026, so new applicants cannot count on immediate activation. Copilot Free remains available while sign-ups are paused.
Ways to pay less, cheapest first
Genuinely usable free tier
Copilot Free includes 2,000 code completions and 50 chat messages a month with no subscription - enough for lighter or occasional coding.
Copilot Student is free, but new sign-ups are paused
Existing verified students and teachers keep the free Copilot Student plan with unlimited completions and 200 AI credits a month. GitHub temporarily paused new sign-ups for paid and student plans on April 20, 2026, so new applicants cannot count on immediate activation. Copilot Free remains available while sign-ups are paused.
GitHub Copilot price ladder
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per mo) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | - | 2,000 completions + 50 chats/month |
| Student | Free | - | Free for verified students/teachers: unlimited completions + 200 AI credits/mo |
| Pro | $10 | - | |
| Pro+ | $39 | - | Higher limits and model access |
| Business | $19 | - | Per granted seat |
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.