Free
Individual
Free
VerifiedClaude chat only. Claude Code is not included.
Do not plan a coding workflow on the free plan.
Claude Code vs GitHub Copilot
A decision for a beginner, not a spec sheet. Scores are our weights. Prices are the public plans, and anything marked verify on the tool page should be re-checked before you pay.
The call
- Claude Code: Terminal agent, plus the Claude apps that share one usage pool. GitHub Copilot: IDE extension, github.com, agent, and CLI.
- Neither tool is a clear no-code winner over the other. Read the skill scores before you decide on comfort.
- GitHub Copilot has the lower verified individual paid plan: Pro at $10/mo.
- On the kind of project, these two are close. Budget and where you want to work should break the tie.
Pick Claude Code if you want an agent in the terminal on an existing repo.
Pick GitHub Copilot if you want an assistant inside VS Code, JetBrains, or GitHub.
Claude Code
A terminal coding agent that shares your Claude plan.
Cheapest verified paid plan: Pro · $20/mo
Pick it when
- Developers who want an agent in the terminal on an existing repo
- Web app and automation work where you already have a project
- People who also want Claude chat and are fine sharing one allowance
Leave it when
- Anyone who needs a free coding agent (free Claude does not include Claude Code)
- No-code site or app building in the browser
- Native mobile publishing or game engines
GitHub Copilot
An IDE assistant at $10 a month, if you already live in GitHub.
Cheapest verified paid plan: Pro · $10/mo
Pick it when
- A developer who wants an assistant inside VS Code, JetBrains, or GitHub
- Staying near $10 a month
- Web app and script work where you already have the repo open
Leave it when
- Building a SaaS from a browser prompt with hosting included
- No-code landing pages
- Native mobile or game production
Where the weights differ
Web app or SaaS
Claude Code5/5
GitHub Copilot4/5
Mobile app
Claude Code2/5
GitHub Copilot2/5
Game
Claude Code2/5
GitHub Copilot2/5
Website or landing page
Claude Code2/5
GitHub Copilot3/5
Automation or script
Claude Code5/5
GitHub Copilot4/5
No code
Claude Code0/5
GitHub Copilot1/5
I can follow a change
Claude Code3/5
GitHub Copilot4/5
I already develop
Claude Code5/5
GitHub Copilot5/5
Claude Code plans
Last verified 2026-10-19
Pro
Individual
$20/mo
Verified$17/mo when billed annually ($200 up front).
Includes Claude Code. At least 5x Free chat usage per five-hour session, plus weekly limits. Shared with claude.ai. No fixed prompt count.
Anthropic's pricing page lists $20 monthly and $17/mo annual.
Max 5x
Individual
$100/mo
Verified5x Pro usage per five-hour session, higher output limits, and a weekly cap. Max also has a separate weekly limit for Fable, and the pricing table caps Fable at 50% of weekly limits. Includes $100/mo of platform API credits that Anthropic says cannot be spent inside Claude Code.
Price is from Anthropic's Max plan help article. The marketing page says Max starts at $100.
Max 20x
Individual
$200/mo
Verified20x Pro usage per five-hour session, plus a separate weekly limit for Fable (50% of weekly limits on the pricing table). Includes $200/mo of platform API credits that do not spend inside Claude Code.
Price is from Anthropic's Max plan help article, which lists Max 20x at $200/mo.
GitHub Copilot plans
Last verified 2026-10-19
Free
Individual
Free
VerifyA limited free tier. The plans FAQ still lists 2,000 completions and 50 chat requests. The billing docs say 2,000 completions a month plus an AI credit allowance whose size is not stated, with auto model selection only.
The free price is real. On 2026-10-19 the chat allowance and the credit allowance still disagree across GitHub's own pages, so this row stays verify.
Pro
Individual
$10/mo
Verified1,500 AI credits a month (1,000 base + 500 flex). Completions and next edit do not use credits. 1 credit = $0.01.
From GitHub's usage-based billing docs for individuals.
Pro+
Individual
$39/mo
Verified7,000 AI credits a month (3,900 base + 3,100 flex). Completions stay unlimited.
Flex allotments can change. Base credits are tied to the subscription price.
Max
Individual
$100/mo
Verified20,000 AI credits a month (10,000 base + 10,000 flex).
The individual plan for sustained agent work.
When Claude Code runs out
A rolling five-hour window, plus weekly limits on paid plans. Chat and Claude Code share one pool.
Wait for the five-hour window or the weekly reset. There is no fixed message count.
When GitHub Copilot runs out
Monthly. Included credits do not roll over. Base credits are used before the flex allotment.
Wait for the monthly reset.
Questions people actually ask
Which is cheaper, Claude Code or GitHub Copilot?
GitHub Copilot's cheapest paid plan the ranking counts is Pro at $10/mo. Claude Code's cheapest paid plan the ranking counts is Pro at $20/mo.
Who is Claude Code for?
Claude Code is for developers who want an agent in the terminal on an existing repo, web app and automation work where you already have a project, and people who also want Claude chat and are fine sharing one allowance.
Who is GitHub Copilot for?
GitHub Copilot is for a developer who wants an assistant inside VS Code, JetBrains, or GitHub, staying near $10 a month, and web app and script work where you already have the repo open.
Which is a better fit if I do not want to read code, Claude Code or GitHub Copilot?
Claude Code scores 0 out of 5 for someone who does not want to read code. GitHub Copilot scores 1 out of 5. GitHub Copilot has the higher no-code score. Skip it. Claude Code assumes a terminal, a repo, and comfort with commands. Copilot assumes an editor. It is the wrong first tool if you do not want files.
Do Claude Code and GitHub Copilot have free plans?
Claude Code: Free Claude does not include Claude Code. You need Pro or Max before this tool exists for you. GitHub Copilot: Free is real, with a tight cap. The plans FAQ still says 2,000 completions and 50 chats. A later billing post describes limited completions plus limited chat and agent usage. Confirm the live counter.