Short verdict: GitHub Copilot is the cheapest ($10) and free for students, adding AI to your current editor. Windsurf is a full editor with an agent at $20, plus a free plan with unlimited completions.

Choose GitHub Copilot if

  • You want the lowest price for a paid coding assistant.
  • You're a student (free through the GitHub Student Pack).
  • You work in VS Code or JetBrains and don't want to switch.

Choose Windsurf if

  • You want a full editor that carries out multi-file tasks.
  • Its free plan with unlimited completions is enough for you.
  • You may need a big top tier (Max at $200) for heavy use.

Our advice

Beginners and students should start with Copilot. If you want a full AI editor, compare Windsurf with Cursor too: Cursor vs Windsurf.

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