Claude Code and GitHub Copilot are both AI coding tools, but they start from different places. Claude Code is a terminal-first agentic coding tool focused on delegating code work, while GitHub Copilot is integrated into your editor and deeply tied to the GitHub ecosystem. This guide covers form, models, strengths, and how to choose. Pricing and credits change often, so we point to official pages rather than asserting numbers. (As of June 2026.)
The biggest difference — form
Claude Code is an agent that starts at the command line and can also delegate work from the desktop, app, and IDE. It reads and edits files, runs commands, and works through multiple steps on its own. GitHub Copilot lives inside editors like VS Code and JetBrains for inline completion and chat, and has expanded to an agent mode that edits across files, plus a CLI and a coding agent. One starts as "delegate from the terminal," the other as "assist inside the editor and GitHub."
Models
Claude Code uses Anthropic's Claude models (Opus/Sonnet/Haiku families). GitHub Copilot lets you choose among multiple providers' models, and on some plans/features you can select Claude models too (the lineup varies by plan and time). So "I want to use Claude models" alone doesn't separate them — form and workflow are the more fundamental difference.
Strengths and who each fits
Claude Code excels at terminal/automation-centric workflows, large multi-file agentic tasks, connecting external tools and data via MCP, and editor-agnostic delegation. GitHub Copilot excels at inline completion in VS Code/JetBrains, automated issue→PR workflows on GitHub, and unified auth and billing for teams already deep in GitHub.
Pricing
Both have a free path and paid plans. However, GitHub Copilot moved to "GitHub AI Credits" (token-based billing) on June 1, 2026, so per-plan allotments and overage figures differ across sources and change often. Claude's plans and usage limits can also change. For exact amounts, check each official pricing page (GitHub Copilot Plans, Anthropic pricing). This article does not assert specific numbers.
Note: Pricing, credits, and included-model lineups vary over time. Always confirm current details on the official pages before purchasing.
Do you have to pick just one?
No. Many developers use Copilot for inline editor completion and Claude Code for larger agentic work or terminal delegation. Both have free tiers, so the surest approach is to run the same task in each for a few days and decide based on your workflow (editor-centric vs terminal-centric, how much the GitHub tie matters).
Bottom line — which to choose
If you're terminal/automation-centric and want broad external-tool connections via MCP, choose Claude Code. If inline completion in VS Code/JetBrains is central or you're already deep in GitHub, choose GitHub Copilot. If undecided, try the same work in both free tiers and compare.
See other comparisons
Also compare Claude Code vs Cursor and Claude Code vs Codex. New to Claude Code? Start with the install guide.
Note: This article is based on publicly available official information (accessed June 2026); features, plans, pricing, and model lineups may change. This site is not affiliated with Anthropic or GitHub.