GitHub Copilot is a code-focused IDE extension trained on public repositories, while ChatGPT is a general-purpose conversational AI accessible via web/API. Copilot excels at code completion and generation within your editor, whereas ChatGPT offers broader knowledge and multi-modal capabilities but requires context switching.
GitHub Copilot vs ChatGPT — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose GitHub Copilot if you're a developer spending 6+ hours daily coding and want seamless IDE integration that dramatically speeds up routine coding tasks. Choose ChatGPT if you need a versatile AI assistant for writing, research, debugging explanations, and general problem-solving across multiple domains, or if you prefer a free option with no subscription required.
AI code assistant by Microsoft/OpenAI with GPT-4 integration and enterprise-grade accuracy.
Large language model AI assistant for conversational tasks, writing, coding, and general knowledge.
GitHub Copilot vs ChatGPT — Comparison Data
Structured comparison data for GitHub Copilot vs ChatGPT with 322 attributes.
Code Suggestion Accuracy (Python/JavaScript)
Average Response Time for Code Suggestion
Minimum Monthly Cost for Advanced Features
Coding Task Accuracy (HumanEval Benchmark)
GitHub Copilot vs ChatGPT — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for GitHub Copilot vs ChatGPT.
Can I use GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT together?
Yes, they complement each other well. Use Copilot for rapid inline code suggestions during active coding, and ChatGPT for debugging explanations, architecture discussions, or learning concepts. Many developers use both: Copilot in the editor (2-4 second latency) and ChatGPT in a browser tab for longer-form questions.
ChatGPT is superior for beginners because: (1) it offers free access, (2) it explains concepts in plain English before showing code, (3) web browsing updates mean current documentation. However, Copilot is better for practicing since it accelerates muscle memory by showing real patterns. Ideal: use ChatGPT to learn, Copilot to practice.
GitHub Copilot costs $120/year ($10/month) or $100 annually if paid upfront. ChatGPT Plus is $240/year ($20/month). The free ChatGPT tier is $0 but has strict rate limits (40 messages/3 hours). For professional developers, Copilot's lower cost plus faster integration typically yields 3-5x better ROI.
Can GitHub Copilot access my private code?
No. GitHub Copilot does not upload your code to external servers by default. Suggestions are generated locally in your IDE when connected to GitHub's API. However, GitHub processes metadata about your usage. For enterprise, GitHub Copilot for Business offers additional privacy controls and no code retention.
ChatGPT's 128,000 token context window (GPT-4 Turbo) handles entire files of 10,000+ lines, while Copilot's 8,000 token limit works best for methods/functions under 100 lines. If you frequently debug or refactor large files, ChatGPT is superior. For typical incremental coding, Copilot's inline approach is more practical.