Pick GitHub Copilot if…
you're settled in VS Code or JetBrains, work in GitHub pull requests, and want agent mode with several model families.
Copilot is an AI add-on for VS Code, JetBrains and GitHub; Zed is a whole editor — native, Rust-built, open source at its core — with AI edit prediction built in. Their entry plans are priced side by side ($10/mo and $10/mo), so the question is whether you keep your current IDE and add AI, or switch editors for speed and multiplayer editing.
Pick GitHub Copilot ($10/mo) to keep your current IDE and get unlimited completions, 1,500 AI credits, agent mode and model choice. Pick Zed if you want a native editor built for speed: Pro ($10/mo) adds unlimited Zed-hosted edit predictions, and the free editor works with your own API keys.
| App | Free tier | Paid from | Top plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub Copilot | Yes | $10/mo | $100/mo | Developers already living in VS Code/JetBrains/GitHub who want autocomplete, chat, and PR reviews without leaving their workflow |
| Zed | Yes | $10/mo | $30/mo | Developers who want a fast, native multiplayer editor with AI edit prediction rather than a heavier Electron-based IDE |
Monthly prices in US dollars before tax, from each vendor's official pricing (US list price; weekly-billed plans converted to a monthly figure). Updated November 2, 2026
| GitHub Copilot | Zed | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | AI plugin for VS Code, JetBrains and GitHub | Standalone native editor with AI built in |
| Free plan | 2,000 completions/mo, limited chat and agent use | Open-source editor; AI via your own keys or external agents |
| Entry plan | Unlimited completions, 1,500 AI credits, agent mode | Unlimited hosted edit predictions + monthly model credits |
| Agents | Agent mode with Claude, GPT and Gemini | External agents; built-in AI centres on edit prediction |
| Beyond editing | Pull-request reviews on GitHub | Multiplayer editing |
| Team plan | Business: $19/mo per user, 1,900 credits | Business: $30/mo per seat, admin controls |
you're settled in VS Code or JetBrains, work in GitHub pull requests, and want agent mode with several model families.
you want a lighter native editor with pair-editing and inline predictions, and don't need heavy agent workflows.
As an editor, Zed is native and built for performance; as an AI tool, Copilot offers more — agent mode, model choice and PR reviews. Zed's plugin ecosystem is also smaller than that of VS Code forks.
Copilot Free works out of the box with 2,000 completions a month. Zed's free plan has had no hosted AI since 2026, so you need your own API keys or an external agent.
The entry plans are close: Copilot Pro is $10/mo and Zed Pro $10/mo. Copilot's includes agent mode and 1,500 AI credits; Zed's includes unlimited hosted edit predictions.
How we choose: prices come from each vendor's official pricing page and are re-checked every week. We take no affiliate fees, so rankings aren't for sale.