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GitHub Copilot vs Gemini Code Assist

GitHub Copilot: AI pair programmer inside VS Code, JetBrains and GitHub. Gemini Code Assist: Google's AI coding assistant for VS Code, JetBrains IDEs and the terminal. Here is how they compare on features, pricing, platforms, pros and cons.

Quick verdict

GitHub Copilot

Best for: Developers who want help inside the editor they already use.

Stands out for: Works in many popular editors; Deep link with GitHub repos and pull requests.

Gemini Code Assist

Best for: Developers who want a capable free coding assistant.

Stands out for: Generous free tier; Large context window.

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of GitHub Copilot, Gemini Code Assist
GitHub Copilot
Visit github.com (opens in a new tab)
Gemini Code Assist
Visit codeassist.google (opens in a new tab)
What it isAI pair programmer inside VS Code, JetBrains and GitHub.Google's AI coding assistant for VS Code, JetBrains IDEs and the terminal.
Pricing
Free + Paid
Free + PaidFree for individuals; paid editions for businesses
Free to useYesYes
CategoryAI CodingAI Coding
Editor rank#1 in category#14 in category
Made byGitHub (Microsoft)Google
Best forDevelopers who want help inside the editor they already use.Developers who want a capable free coding assistant.
Key features
  • Inline code completion
  • Chat about your codebase
  • Coding agent for pull requests
  • Code completion and chat
  • Agent mode for multi-file changes
  • GitHub pull request reviews
  • Works with Gemini CLI
Pros
  • Works in many popular editors
  • Deep link with GitHub repos and pull requests
  • Free tier for individuals
  • Generous free tier
  • Large context window
Cons
  • Suggestions still need careful review
  • Free tier has monthly usage limits
  • Enterprise features need a Google Cloud setup
Use it to
  • Get inline code suggestions as you type
  • Ask chat to explain or refactor a function
  • Hand an issue to the coding agent to open a pull request
  • Generate a function from a comment
  • Ask questions about an unfamiliar codebase
  • Get automatic reviews on pull requests
Web app
Windows
Mac
Linux
VS Code

GitHub Copilot vs Gemini Code Assist: questions

Is GitHub Copilot better than Gemini Code Assist?

Neither wins for everyone. Our editors rank GitHub Copilot slightly higher overall in AI Coding, but Gemini Code Assist can be the better fit: Developers who want a capable free coding assistant.

Which is free, GitHub Copilot or Gemini Code Assist?

Both can be used without paying: GitHub Copilot is free + paid and Gemini Code Assist is free + paid. Paid plans add more usage or features.

Can I use GitHub Copilot and Gemini Code Assist together?

Yes. Many people keep both and pick per task, for example get inline code suggestions as you type with GitHub Copilot, and generate a function from a comment with Gemini Code Assist.

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