GitHub Copilot vs OpenAI API

Side-by-side pricing, features, and free plan comparison — everything you need to choose between GitHub Copilot and OpenAI API.

Feature	GitHub Copilot	OpenAI API
Starting price	$10/mo	Pay-as-you-go
Pricing model	per seat	usage
Free plan	No	Yes
Free trial	Yes	No

Frequently asked questions

Verified May 2026.

What is the difference between GitHub Copilot and OpenAI API?

GitHub Copilot: AI coding assistant integrated into VS Code, JetBrains, and the GitHub web IDE. OpenAI API: API access to GPT-4o, o3, and other OpenAI models via REST.

Which is cheaper, GitHub Copilot or OpenAI API?

GitHub Copilot starts from $10/mo. OpenAI API starts from Pay-as-you-go.

Does GitHub Copilot or OpenAI API have a free plan?

GitHub Copilot: No free plan. OpenAI API: Yes, free plan available.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page earn us a commission if you sign up. Pricing verified manually.