Continue vs GitHub Copilot (2026): Pricing, Features & Which to Choose

Who comes out ahead

Based only on the facts in our directory. The right pick still depends on the job you need done.

Lower starting price
Continue
From $3/mo against from $10/mo
Free plan
Tie
Both have one
Higher rating
GitHub Copilot
4.4 against 4.6
Same job?
Yes
Both are Coding tools

Side by side

Compared on	Continue	GitHub Copilot
Our rating	4.4	4.6Better
Starts at	$3/moBetter	$10/mo
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Category	Coding	Coding
Plans	From $3/mo	Free$0 Pro$10/mo Pro+$39/mo Max$100/mo Business$19/user/mo
Key features	Fully configurable model, context, and command setup Works with hosted or locally run models Custom context providers and slash commands Open source and free VS Code and JetBrains IDE support	Original AI coding autocomplete, launched in 2021 Chat-based assistance and multi-file agent mode Multiple underlying model options beyond OpenAI Deep integration across GitHub, VS Code, and JetBrains Free tier with limited monthly usage
Pros	Deep configurability suits developers who want full control over their setup Works with local models for privacy or cost reasons Open source with an active contributor community	Earliest mover in this category with the largest existing user base Deep, native integration with GitHub's own platform Expanded well past autocomplete into full agentic capabilities
Cons	Configuration flexibility means more setup time than an opinionated out-of-the-box tool Quality depends heavily on which model a user chooses to connect Less polished default experience than tools with one curated model	Free tier's completion and chat limits are restrictive for daily professional use Newer, more specialized competitors move faster on some agentic features Full capability requires a paid subscription
Company	Continue Dev, Inc., founded 2023	GitHub (Microsoft), founded 2021

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 20260629. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Continue better than GitHub Copilot?

In our reviews Continue scores 4.4 and GitHub Copilot scores 4.6. The better pick depends on the job. Continue: Open source and built to be configured exactly how you want it. GitHub Copilot: The 2021 launch that started this entire category.

Which is cheaper, Continue or GitHub Copilot?

Continue has the lower starting price: from $3/mo for Continue and from $10/mo for GitHub Copilot.

Do Continue and GitHub Copilot have free plans?

Yes, both have a free plan.

More comparisons

Continue compared with

All Continue alternatives

GitHub Copilot compared with

All GitHub Copilot alternatives