Cursor vs GitHub Copilot
The line that matters isn't features — it's what a working month costs and where each tool bites. Data as of 2026-09-16 / 2026-09-16.
Cursor
Anysphere · subscription
The AI-native IDE that made the category mainstream — polished, fast, and drifting toward premium pricing.
GitHub Copilot
GitHub (Microsoft) · subscription
The corporate default: predictable per-seat pricing, boring in the best way — and the free tier finally matters.
| Dimension | Cursor | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $20/mo | $10/mo |
| Pricing model | subscription | subscription |
| BYOK (own API key) | No | No |
| Limits score | 5.0 | 7.0 |
| Privacy score | 5.0 | 6.0 |
| Quality score | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| Best for | The most polished AI-first IDE experience — Tab and agent flows feel native | Cheapest credible paid tier in the hub at $10/mo — with a real free tier |
| Watch out for | Usage-based overages arrive mid-flow | Premium requests = a meter inside your flat fee |
Cursor — score breakdown
Price / Value 6.0
Token & Rate Limits 5.0
Speed / Latency 8.0
Privacy & Retention 5.0
BYOK (Own API Key) 2.0
Output Quality 8.5
Stability 7.0
Ease of Setup 9.0
Billing Transparency 5.0
Support & Community 7.0
GitHub Copilot — score breakdown
Price / Value 8.5
Token & Rate Limits 7.0
Speed / Latency 7.5
Privacy & Retention 6.0
BYOK (Own API Key) 1.0
Output Quality 7.5
Stability 8.0
Ease of Setup 9.0
Billing Transparency 8.5
Support & Community 8.5
Both reviews with sources and verification status: Cursor · GitHub Copilot