GitHub launches Copilot for free: AI code autocompletion for all users

GitHub, the corporate development platform owned by Microsoft, announced on Wednesday that Copilot, its AI-assisted programming tool, will have a free version. This will also be available by default in the Visual Studio Code (VS Code) editor, one of the most popular among developers. Until now, Copilot required a monthly payment of at least $10, except for students, teachers, and verified open-source maintainers, who had free access.

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The CEO of GitHub, Thomas Dohmke, explained in an interview with TechCrunch that this decision is part of the evolution towards a more accessible GitHub. “My first project [at GitHub] in 2018 was free private repositories,” he commented. “Then, in 2020, we launched free private organizations and GitHub Actions entitlements. It felt natural to reach the point of also offering a completely free Copilot, not just for students and open-source maintainers.”

The free version is designed for occasional use and has certain limitations. Users will be able to access 2,000 code autocompletions per month and, although the AI models Claude 3.5 Sonnet (Anthropic) and GPT-4o (OpenAI) can be used, the platform reserves other more advanced options for paid plans. In the case of Copilot Chat, up to 50 messages per month are allowed. However, users will have access to all Copilot extensions and skills.

Dohmke emphasized that the goal of this strategy is to expand GitHub’s global reach and reduce economic barriers, especially in countries where average incomes make it difficult to access tools like Copilot. “We want to enable a billion people to become developers worldwide,” he noted. Additionally, the CEO hopes that this initiative will make Copilot more popular among students, who will no longer have to validate their academic status.

The move comes at a time when competition in the AI-assisted programming tools market is increasing, including GitHub rivals like Tabnine, Qodo, and AWS. By betting on a freemium model and leveraging the wide distribution of VS Code, GitHub’s intention is to maintain its leadership and continue making access to AI-assisted programming more accessible.

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