Pick JetBrains AI if…
you work only in JetBrains IDEs, already pay for the All Products Pack or dotUltimate, or want to run local models.
If you code in IntelliJ, PyCharm or another JetBrains IDE, both are options: JetBrains AI is built into those IDEs (AI Assistant plus the Junie coding agent), and GitHub Copilot runs in JetBrains IDEs as well as VS Code and on GitHub pull requests. The practical differences are quotas and reach. JetBrains AI meters cloud AI in credits worth one US dollar of usage each; Copilot gives unlimited completions on Pro plus a monthly pool of its own AI credits, a different unit.
Pick GitHub Copilot (Pro at $10/mo) for unlimited completions, agent mode, model choice and PR reviews across editors. Pick JetBrains AI (AI Pro at $10/mo) if you stay in JetBrains IDEs, already own the All Products Pack or dotUltimate (which include AI Pro), or want unlimited code completion on a free tier.
| App | Free tier | Paid from | Top plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JetBrains AI | Yes | $10/mo | $60/mo | Developers already working in JetBrains IDEs who want AI chat, code completion and an agent without switching editors |
| 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 |
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
| JetBrains AI | GitHub Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | JetBrains IDEs (not Android Studio or Community on Free) | VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, GitHub PRs |
| Free tier | 3 AI credits per 30 days; unlimited code completion and local models | 2,000 completions/mo, auto model selection only |
| Entry plan | AI Pro: 10 AI credits per 30 days | Pro: unlimited completions, 1,500 AI credits/mo |
| Higher tier | AI Ultimate: 35 AI credits per 30 days | Pro+: 7,000 AI credits/mo, Opus access; Max: 20,000 |
| Agent | Junie coding agent | Agent mode with model choice (Claude, GPT, Gemini) |
| Bundled | Included with All Products Pack and dotUltimate | Separate subscription |
you work only in JetBrains IDEs, already pay for the All Products Pack or dotUltimate, or want to run local models.
you switch between editors, want PR reviews and a choice of Claude, GPT and Gemini models, or run a lot of agent work.
Each JetBrains AI credit equals one US dollar of cloud usage, so AI Pro's 10 credits a month can run out quickly with agent work; extra credits can be bought and stay valid for 12 months. Copilot's AI credits are a different unit, split into base and flex pools. Also note that the JetBrains AI service hasn't been available in China since July 2026, and Copilot's Free plan routes models automatically with no manual picker.
For most developers, Copilot offers more reach: agent mode with model choice, PR reviews on GitHub and support beyond JetBrains IDEs. JetBrains AI makes sense if you're already in that ecosystem, especially if AI Pro comes free with your IDE bundle.
Their entry plans are close: JetBrains AI Pro is $10/mo and Copilot Pro is $10/mo. JetBrains AI Pro is included at no extra cost with the All Products Pack and dotUltimate.
Yes, Copilot runs in JetBrains IDEs as well as VS Code, so you can use it without leaving IntelliJ or PyCharm.
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.