GitHub Copilot uses OpenAI's GPT-4 for superior multi-line code generation and natural language understanding, while Tabnine offers faster local processing, better privacy with on-device models, and lower costs for individual developers.
GitHub Copilot vs Tabnine — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose GitHub Copilot if you need the most advanced AI model (GPT-4), superior multi-line code generation for complex tasks, and lower pricing. Choose Tabnine if you prioritize data privacy with local processing options, need broader IDE support, or prefer models trained on permissive licenses without copyleft code.
AI-powered code completion tool that integrates into code editors and IDEs.
AI code assistant with local and cloud options, trained on permissive-licensed code for reduced copyright concerns.
GitHub Copilot vs Tabnine — Comparison Data
Structured comparison data for GitHub Copilot vs Tabnine with 169 attributes.
Average Response Time for Code Suggestion
GitHub Copilot vs Tabnine — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for GitHub Copilot vs Tabnine.
Does GitHub Copilot send my code to Microsoft?
Yes. GitHub Copilot sends code snippets to Microsoft and OpenAI servers for processing. Both companies claim they don't use code to train models (as of 2026), but sensitive proprietary code may present security concerns. If data privacy is critical, Tabnine's local processing option keeps code entirely on your device.
Yes. Tabnine offers on-device models that work completely offline with no internet connection required. GitHub Copilot requires constant cloud connectivity. This makes Tabnine suitable for secure environments, classified work, or areas with poor internet access.
Which is better for open-source contributions?
Tabnine is safer for open-source work because it trains exclusively on permissive-licensed code (MIT, Apache 2.0, BSD), avoiding GPL and copyleft concerns. GitHub Copilot was trained on all public GitHub code including GPL-licensed projects, raising potential licensing questions if similar patterns appear in generated code.
What's the accuracy difference between them?
GitHub Copilot achieves 92% relevance on multi-line code generation (its primary strength), while Tabnine reaches 87%. For single-line completions, they're nearly identical (Copilot 88% vs Tabnine 87%). Copilot excels with complex, multi-file contexts; Tabnine matches it on basic line-by-line suggestions.
Which offers better team/enterprise features?
GitHub Copilot integrates deeply with GitHub for organization-wide rollouts and seat management. Tabnine's enterprise plan ($30/user/month) includes custom model fine-tuning on your codebase, which Copilot doesn't offer. Choose Tabnine if you need personalized models trained on your team's code patterns.