GitHub Copilot vs Zed (2026): $10/mo vs Free
GitHub Copilot is $10/mo, Zed is Free. Where they actually differ on the 15 dimensions we track, with prices re-verified against each vendor's own page.
DevTools Review
We track 11 AI coding tools and re-check every price against the vendor’s own pricing page. Where we have not tested something ourselves, we say so.
Where GitHub Copilot and Zed actually differ
These are the only dimensions on which the two record different values. Everything else we track, they match on.
| GitHub Copilot | Zed | |
|---|---|---|
| Autocomplete | Very Good | Good |
| Codebase context | Workspace | Full project |
| VS Code compatible | yes | no |
| Runs in JetBrains | yes | no |
| Open source | no | yes |
| Usage model | Flat + per-seat | Free + flat tiers |
“Not verified” means we have not confirmed it against the vendor — it never means no.
| Feature | G GitHub Copilot | Z Zed |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10/mo | Free |
| Autocomplete | Very Good | Good |
| Chat | ||
| Multi-file editing | ||
| Codebase context | Workspace | Full project |
| Custom models | ||
| VS Code compatible | ||
| Terminal AI | ||
| Free tier | ||
| Try GitHub Copilot | Try Zed Free |
What each one costs
GitHub Copilot — $10/mo, verified 1 September 2026
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | Free (limited) |
| Pro | $10/mo |
| Pro+ | $39/mo |
| Max | $100/mo |
| Business | $19/user/mo |
| Enterprise | $39/user/mo |
Zed — Free, verified 6 August 2026
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Personal | Free |
| Pro | $10/mo |
| Business | $30/seat/mo |
Full detail: GitHub Copilot pricing · Zed pricing
What has changed recently
- GitHub Copilot, 6 July 2026 — Pro+ rose from $20/mo to $39/mo. Pro held at $10/mo.
- Zed, 5 July 2026 — Zed added to tracking — Personal free, Pro $10/mo, Business $30/seat/mo.
GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot
GitHub's AI pair programmer, deeply integrated with the GitHub ecosystem.
GitHub’s AI pair programmer, deeply integrated with the GitHub ecosystem. We rate it 3.5/5 in our GitHub Copilot review.
Try GitHub CopilotZed
Zed
Rust-native, open-source code editor with agent-agnostic AI via ACP and real-time collaboration.
Rust-native, open-source code editor with agent-agnostic AI via ACP and real-time collaboration. We rate it 4/5 in our Zed review.
Try Zed FreeAt a Glance
- Which is better, GitHub Copilot or Zed?
- DevTools Review rates GitHub Copilot 3.5/5 and Zed 4/5. They differ on 6 of the 15 dimensions we track, listed above.
- Is GitHub Copilot cheaper than Zed?
- GitHub Copilot is $10/mo and Zed is Free. Both figures were re-checked against each vendor’s own pricing page — GitHub Copilot on 1 September 2026, Zed on 6 August 2026.
- Can you use GitHub Copilot and Zed together?
- Yes. They are separate tools and many developers run more than one — a completion tool in the editor alongside an agent for larger tasks. You pay for both.
The bottom line
GitHub Copilot at $10/mo and Zed at Free differ on 6 of the 15 dimensions we track. The table above lists exactly which, so you can decide against your own constraints rather than ours.
Still unsure? Our 30-second picker narrows all 11 down using four questions.
Disclosure: we earn nothing from the links in this article. We are not enrolled in an affiliate programme for any tool here — most of them do not run one. Nobody pays to be ranked, and where we have not used a tool ourselves we say so.
Written by DevTools Review
We're developers who use AI coding tools every day. Our reviews are based on real-world experience, not press releases. We test with real projects and share what we actually find.