GitHub, the world's largest developer platform, is making its AI coding assistant accessible to everyone. The Microsoft-owned company revealed Wednesday that it had reached 150 million developers on its platform, and announced a free version of GitHub Copilot will now ship by default with Microsoft's VS Code editor.
GitHub Copilot Free for VS Code has arrived. pic.twitter.com/DVChR5Shub
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) December 18, 2024
Key Points:
- Developers can access Copilot Free with no trial or credit card required, unlocking limited monthly usage of AI-powered code completions and chats.
- Users have access to Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet and OpenAI’s GPT-4o models for coding assistance.
- Copilot is now seamlessly integrated into VS Code, simplifying its adoption.
- GitHub's developer base has grown by 50 million users since early 2023
This is a strategic pivot for GitHub, which previously restricted free access to students, teachers, and open source maintainers, while charging other developers $10 monthly for the service. The free tier aims to lower barriers for developers looking to experiment with AI-assisted coding, while paid tiers remain available for power users requiring unlimited access.
The new offering isn't just a stripped-down version of the tool. Free tier users can leverage advanced features like multi-file editing capabilities and access to multiple AI models.
"All of you have access to 2,000 code completions and 50 chat messages per month, simply by signing in with your personal GitHub account," stated GitHub in their announcement.
For developers hitting usage limits, GitHub will still maintain its Pro plan at $10 monthly, offering unlimited access and additional features. A Business tier at $19 per user monthly caters to teams, while an Enterprise version at $39 per user monthly provides organizations with customization options.
Microsoft's decision to bundle Copilot with VS Code reflects growing competition in the AI coding assistant space. But more importantly, it signals a belief that AI-powered development tools should be accessible to developers at all levels, from students to professionals.
If you're interested in trying the free tier, GitHub Copilot can be enabled directly within VS Code or through GitHub's website. The company confirmed that existing free access for students, educators, and open source maintainers will continue unchanged.