In this comparison
Overview
GitHub Copilot and Cursor represent two different visions for AI-assisted coding. Copilot is a plugin that adds AI to your existing VS Code setup. Cursor is a full editor — a VS Code fork with AI baked into every interaction.
That distinction matters more than you'd think. Copilot works alongside your coding workflow. Cursor reimagines the workflow entirely. Both make you faster, but in different ways.
Copilot has the market share advantage — it was first, it's backed by GitHub/Microsoft, and millions of developers already use it. Cursor has the momentum — it's the tool everyone's talking about, and its multi-file editing capabilities have changed how people think about AI coding.
GitHub Copilot vs Cursor: Side-by-Side
| Category | GitHub Copilot | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | GitHub (Microsoft) | Anysphere |
| Type | VS Code Extension | Full Editor (VS Code Fork) |
| Price | $10/mo (Individual) | $20/mo (Pro) |
| Free Tier | Yes (2,000 completions/mo) | Yes (limited) |
| AI Models | GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 | GPT-4o, Claude 4, custom |
| Inline Completion | Excellent | Excellent |
| Chat Interface | Yes (sidebar) | Yes (integrated) |
| Multi-file Editing | Limited | Yes (Composer) |
| Codebase Awareness | Good (@workspace) | Excellent (indexing) |
| Terminal Integration | Basic | Yes (Ctrl+K) |
Autocomplete & Inline Suggestions
Both tools are excellent at inline code completion — the "ghost text" that appears as you type. Copilot pioneered this and it's still very good. Cursor matches it and arguably edges ahead because it has better context awareness of your full project.
In practice, you'll barely notice a difference for single-line completions. For multi-line suggestions, Cursor's tend to be more accurate because it indexes your entire codebase and understands project patterns better.
Winner: Slight edge to Cursor, but both are excellent.
Multi-file Editing (The Killer Feature)
This is where Cursor pulls away. Its Composer feature lets you describe a change that spans multiple files, and it'll make coordinated edits across your entire project. "Add authentication to all API routes" — and it'll modify route files, add middleware, update types, the whole thing.
Copilot's multi-file capabilities are improving but still limited. You can reference files in chat and get suggestions, but it won't make coordinated edits across your codebase the way Cursor does.
For large refactoring tasks or feature additions that touch many files, Cursor saves hours.
Winner: Cursor, and this alone might justify switching.
Codebase Understanding
Cursor indexes your entire project and builds an understanding of your codebase's structure, patterns, and conventions. When you ask it to write code, it matches your existing style and uses your project's patterns.
Copilot's @workspace feature does something similar but isn't as deep. It can search your codebase for relevant context but doesn't build the same level of project-wide understanding.
Winner: Cursor.
Setup & Learning Curve
Copilot is dead simple: install the extension in VS Code, sign in, done. Everything else works exactly as before, with AI suggestions layered on top. Zero learning curve.
Cursor requires switching editors. It is VS Code under the hood, so your extensions and settings transfer, but there are new keybindings to learn (Cmd+K, Cmd+L, Composer) and it takes a week or two to internalize the new workflow.
Winner: Copilot for ease of adoption. Cursor's learning curve pays off long-term.
Pricing & Value
Copilot Individual is $10/month. Cursor Pro is $20/month. Copilot is the obvious budget choice.
But Cursor Pro includes significantly more features and higher usage limits. If multi-file editing and deep codebase awareness save you even an hour per week, $20/month is a steal. For enterprise teams, Copilot Business ($19/user/month) and Cursor Business ($40/user/month) are both available.
Winner: Copilot on price. Cursor on value-per-dollar for serious developers.
The Verdict
If you're a professional developer who writes code all day, switch to Cursor. The multi-file editing alone is transformative, and the deeper codebase understanding means better suggestions across the board. Yes, it costs more and requires switching editors, but the productivity gain is worth it.
If you're a casual coder, student, or someone who doesn't want to change their setup, Copilot is excellent and half the price. It does the core job — inline completions and chat — very well.
The trend is clear though: AI coding is moving toward Cursor's model of deep integration rather than Copilot's model of AI-as-plugin. GitHub is racing to close the gap with Copilot Workspace and agent features, but as of early 2025, Cursor is ahead.
Our pick: Cursor for professional developers. Copilot for everyone else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Cursor with my existing VS Code extensions?
Yes. Cursor is a VS Code fork, so most extensions work out of the box. Your themes, keybindings, and settings can be imported directly. There are occasional compatibility issues with niche extensions, but mainstream ones work fine.
Does Cursor work with all programming languages?
Yes, both Cursor and Copilot support all major programming languages. They're strongest in Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Java, and Go — the languages with the most training data — but work well for basically anything.
Is GitHub Copilot getting multi-file editing?
GitHub is actively developing Copilot Workspace, which promises multi-file editing capabilities. It's in preview as of early 2025 but isn't as mature as Cursor's Composer feature yet.
Which AI models power each tool?
Both use frontier models. Copilot primarily uses GPT-4o with some Claude 3.5 Sonnet. Cursor offers GPT-4o, Claude 4 Sonnet, and its own fine-tuned models. Cursor gives you more model choice.