Cursor vs GitHub Copilot: $8 Plus vs $10 Pro, and What Happened to the ₹649 Plan

Last updated: 10 October 2026

Cursor vs GitHub Copilot is the most common question Indian developers ask before paying for an AI coding tool. Both promise faster coding, both have AI agents, and both have changed their pricing a lot in 2026. GitHub moved Copilot to "AI Credits" in June. Cursor launched a ₹649 Start plan just for India in July, then in October moved new customers to "The X Subscription", a single plan for Grok, Cursor and X, with Plus at $8/month.

This guide compares the two on features, agent modes, pricing in US dollars and approximate rupees, free tiers and student options. By the end, you will know exactly which one suits a student, a fresher, a freelancer or a team.

Quick answer: Choose GitHub Copilot if you want free access as a verified student, third-party models like GPT and Claude included in a $10/month plan, and support across many editors. Choose Cursor if you want the most powerful multi-file AI agent inside one dedicated editor. Cursor's cheapest paid plan is now Plus at $8/month, but it covers only Cursor's own models.

Cursor vs GitHub Copilot at a glance

INR values are approximate, using about ₹95 per US dollar (October 2026). They exclude GST and bank forex charges.

What is Cursor?

Cursor is a standalone code editor built on top of VS Code. Because it is a fork of VS Code, your extensions, themes and shortcuts mostly carry over. The difference is that AI is built into every part of the editor instead of being an add-on.

Key Cursor features in 2026, as listed on Cursor's pricing page (opens in new tab):

• Tab: Smart autocomplete that predicts your next edit, not just the next word.
• Agent: Give a task in plain English and it edits many files, runs terminal commands and fixes errors.
• Cloud agents: Agents that run in the background in the cloud, so you can keep working while they build and test (Premium plan and above).
• Cursor models: Cursor's own Composer 2.5 plus xAI's Grok 4.7, 4.6 and 4.5. These are the models included in Cursor's plan usage. Cursor has been part of SpaceX since August 2026, which is why Grok is so central.
• Bugbot: AI code review on pull requests (Premium plan and above).
• MCP, skills and hooks: Connect the agent to outside tools like databases, GitHub or Figma.
• Mobile and CLI: Cursor has an iOS app and a command-line tool for agents.

Cursor is popular with people who like the vibe coding style of building apps, because its Agent can take a vague idea and turn it into a working project.

What is GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is an AI assistant from GitHub (owned by Microsoft) that works inside the editor you already use. You don't switch editors. As of October 2026, GitHub's docs list support for VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, Eclipse, Xcode and Neovim, so you just install the Copilot extension in the one you use.

Key Copilot features in 2026:

• Code completions and Next Edit Suggestions: Inline suggestions as you type. On paid plans these are unlimited and do not use AI Credits.
• Copilot Chat: Ask questions about your code and choose from several AI models.
• Agent mode: In the IDE, Copilot can plan and make multi-file changes and run commands.
• Copilot cloud agent: Assign an issue to Copilot on GitHub. It works in a cloud environment, pushes commits and opens a pull request for you to review. Each session can run for up to 59 minutes, as per GitHub's docs.
• Code review: Copilot can review pull requests on GitHub.
• MCP support: Connect Copilot to outside tools and data.

Copilot's biggest strength is that it lives where your code already lives: on GitHub.

Feature comparison

Where Cursor is stronger

• Agent quality and speed in day-to-day use is the main reason people switch to Cursor. It was designed around agents from the start.
• Codebase understanding feels deeper because the whole editor is built for AI.
• One place for everything: Tab, chat, agent and review sit in one tool.

Where GitHub Copilot is stronger

• Editor freedom: Use it in IntelliJ, PyCharm, Android Studio or Visual Studio without changing tools.
• GitHub integration: Assign issues to Copilot and get pull requests back.
• Price for model choice: The $10 Pro plan includes AI Credits you can spend on models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and others. On Cursor, third-party models are paid separately at API prices, and only from the $30 Premium plan up.
• Students: Free access for verified students through GitHub Education.

Agent modes compared

Both tools now have two kinds of agents: one that runs in your editor and one that runs in the cloud.

In-editor agents

Cursor Agent works inside the editor. You describe the task, it reads relevant files, makes edits across the project, runs commands in the terminal and shows you a diff. You approve or reject changes. It can also use MCP tools if you have set them up.

Copilot agent mode works similarly in VS Code and other supported IDEs. It plans the change, edits files, runs terminal commands (with your approval) and fixes errors it finds.

Cloud agents

Cursor cloud agents run in the background on Cursor's servers. They can build, test and open pull requests. On The X Subscription, cloud agents come with Premium ($30/month) and higher plans, not with Free or Plus, as per Cursor's pricing docs (opens in new tab). Existing customers on the legacy India Start plan keep cloud agents.

Copilot cloud agent starts from the agents panel, a chat, or an issue or pull request on GitHub. It works in a temporary cloud environment, runs tests and linters, and opens a pull request. Each task is limited to one repository and one branch. It is included on paid individual plans and the Copilot Student plan, but not on Copilot Free, as per GitHub's plan documentation (opens in new tab).

Which agent is better?

For quick, interactive changes while you watch, many developers prefer Cursor's Agent. For "assign it and forget it" tasks tied to GitHub issues, Copilot's cloud agent fits naturally into team workflows. Results depend heavily on the model you choose and how clearly you write the task.

To give either agent access to databases, docs or design files, read our explainer on what an MCP server is.

Pricing in USD and INR

Both companies changed their pricing in 2026, so read this section carefully.

Cursor pricing (October 2026)

In October 2026 Cursor started selling its plans as part of The X Subscription, one subscription for Grok, Cursor and X. New customers start here. Paid plans get a weekly usage pool for Cursor models, shared with Grok. Third-party models such as Claude or GPT are not included; on Premium and above you pay for them at API list price from prepaid credit.

Source: Cursor's Models & Pricing docs (opens in new tab), checked 20 October 2026. Prices exclude tax.

What happened to Cursor Pro and the ₹649 Start plan? Hobby, Start (India only, ₹649/month incl. tax, payable by UPI), Pro ($20), Pro+ ($60), Ultra and the old Teams seats are now legacy plans. They keep working for existing customers at the same price, and switching to The X Subscription is optional but permanent. New sign-ups get The X Subscription instead. Cursor's legacy plans page lists Plus as the closest match to Start, and Premium as the closest match to Pro.

GitHub Copilot pricing (October 2026)

From 1 June 2026, Copilot moved to AI Credits, where 1 credit = $0.01. Credits are used up based on the tokens your chats and agents consume. Completions and Next Edit Suggestions do not use credits.

Source: GitHub Copilot plans documentation (opens in new tab).

What this means in real money

• Cheapest paid option: Cursor Plus at about ₹760 (Cursor models only) or Copilot Pro at about ₹950 (includes credits for third-party models).
• If you want Claude or GPT inside the tool: Copilot Pro ($10) or Pro+ ($39) cover them from included credits. On Cursor you need Premium ($30) plus separate API-price usage, so heavy use of these models can cost more than the plan price.
• Card payments: Dollar plans are charged in USD, so your bank may add forex markup, and 18% IGST can apply to online services bought from overseas providers. Check your invoice to see whether GST has been charged.

Free tiers and student plans

Free plans compared

Both free plans are good for testing, but neither is enough for full-time work. If you only need a free tool, keep an eye on our upcoming list of the best free AI coding tools.

Student plans

GitHub Copilot: Verified students get the free Copilot Student plan. You apply through GitHub Education at github.com/settings/education/benefits, verify with your college ID or email, and then activate Copilot Student. GitHub rechecks eligibility every month. The Student plan gives more than Copilot Free but less than Pro. Copilot Student (like Copilot Free) uses auto model selection only, so you cannot pick a specific model yourself. GitHub paused new Student, Pro and Pro+ sign-ups in April 2026 and later reopened them in phases. Verified teachers and maintainers of popular open-source projects may get Copilot Pro free.

Cursor: Cursor ran a "free Pro for a year" student offer in 2025. As of October 2026, its students page (opens in new tab) does not describe an active free-Pro offer. It says anyone can start free and asks students to look out for promotions at Cursor's on-campus and online events. For Indian students who want to pay, Plus at $8/month is now the cheapest way in, since the ₹649 Start plan is closed to new sign-ups.

Privacy, security and company use

If you work at a company, check its policy before using either tool on office code.

• Cursor offers a privacy mode, and Teams plans add team-wide privacy settings and SAML/OIDC single sign-on.
• GitHub Copilot Business and Enterprise let admins control policies, model access and features across the organisation. Copilot cloud agent can be turned off for specific repositories.
• Both tools can run terminal commands through their agents. Always review commands before approving, especially anything that deletes files or touches production servers.
• Never paste secrets (API keys, passwords) into chat. Use environment variables.

AI-generated code can contain security issues even when it looks correct. Treat every agent change like a pull request from a new team member.

Which one should you pick?

Our simple verdict

• Pick GitHub Copilot if you are a student, love your current editor, or want models like Claude and GPT in a $10 plan.
• Pick Cursor if you want the most capable AI-first editor and are happy to switch from VS Code.
• Indian budget pick: Cursor Plus at $8 (about ₹760) works if Grok and Composer models are enough for you. If you already hold the legacy ₹649 Start plan, keep it; you can't get it back after switching.

Many professional developers actually use both: Copilot inside JetBrains at work and Cursor for side projects. If you prefer a terminal-based agent instead, look out for our Claude Code tutorial.

How to try both without wasting money

1. Start free. Install Cursor Hobby and Copilot Free on the same laptop.
2. Pick one real task. For example, "add a contact form with validation to my portfolio site".
3. Run the same prompt in both. Note time taken, number of errors, and how much you had to fix by hand.
4. Check limits. See how fast each free quota drops after a normal day of coding.
5. Upgrade only the winner. Pay monthly first; switch to annual only after a month of steady use.
6. Track spend. With usage-based billing on both sides, check your usage dashboard every week.

These AI tools are also great for building portfolio projects. If you are job hunting, see our guide on AI jobs for freshers in India for project ideas recruiters like.

Cursor or Copilot: the points that decide it

• Cursor is an AI-first code editor; GitHub Copilot is an AI assistant that plugs into many editors and GitHub.
• Copilot Pro costs $10/month (about ₹950) with 1,500 AI Credits that cover third-party models.
• New Cursor customers get The X Subscription: Plus $8 (Cursor models only), Premium $30 (cloud agents, Bugbot, third-party models at API price).
• Cursor Pro ($20) and the India-only ₹649 Start plan are legacy plans, kept only by existing subscribers.
• Verified students get the free Copilot Student plan; Cursor has no formal student plan right now.
• Pick Cursor for its agent, Copilot for editor freedom and GitHub integration.

So should you pay for Cursor or GitHub Copilot?

Pay for Copilot if you are a student, work in JetBrains or Visual Studio, or want Claude and GPT included in a $10 plan; pay for Cursor if its agent saves you more time. The Cursor vs GitHub Copilot choice comes down to your editor, your budget and how much you depend on AI agents. Cursor's new $8 Plus plan is cheap, but remember it covers only Grok and Composer models.

Try both free plans with the same task, then pay only for the one that saves you more time. Next, learn how non-coders build apps with AI in our Lovable vs Bolt comparison, or explore more guides in our AI Coding section.