Pick GitHub Copilot if
developers already in GitHub who want completions and chat without switching to a separate AI IDE.
Read the GitHub Copilot pageGitHub Copilot vs Windsurf
Our take
Pick GitHub Copilot if developers already in GitHub who want completions and chat without switching to a separate AI IDE. Pick Windsurf if software engineers who want an agent in a VS Code-like desktop and will accept Cognition’s routing. Skip GitHub Copilot if teams that cannot send code to GitHub’s model pool, or users who want a local-only model (Ollama). Skip Windsurf if non-developers, or teams that cannot send
Best for
GitHub Copilot Code in a real editor
Windsurf Changing a repo in an editor
Free plan
GitHub Copilot $0 · limited completions and chat
Windsurf $0 · limited quota
Lowest paid
GitHub Copilot Pro $10/mo
Windsurf Pro $20/mo
Next step up
GitHub Copilot Pro+ $39/mo
Windsurf Max from $200/mo
Coding agent
GitHub Copilot Agent + Tab inside the editor
Windsurf Devin Local
Watch out
GitHub Copilot Flex credits are not unlimited Agent
Windsurf The name moved
Last checked
GitHub Copilot 2026-10-19 · github.com/features/copilot
Windsurf 2026-10-19 · windsurf.com/pricing
Which one, then?
Pick Windsurf if
software engineers who want an agent in a VS Code-like desktop and will accept Cognition’s routing.
Read the Windsurf page