GitHub has firmly established itself as the go-to platform for developers, serving as a hub for collaboration and code sharing. Back in 2018, Microsoft acquired GitHub, and since then, the company has continuously invested in enhancing its capabilities.
This includes introducing new features like GitHub Copilot, initially available only to paid subscribers.
Good news, though: Microsoft has now launched GitHub Copilot Free, a version of the service that offers key features without the subscription fee. As reported by Windows Central, this free version brings exciting tools and options, making GitHub’s AI-powered assistant more accessible to developers. Let’s explore what it has to offer.
More than 150 million developers can enjoy the benefits of GitHub Copilot Free
Since its launch, GitHub Copilot has become a go-to tool for developers, offering valuable features like intelligent coding suggestions and robust support for languages such as TypeScript, Python, and JavaScript.
However, Copilot wasn’t initially free—developers had to subscribe, with plans costing up to $40 per month. This price tag deterred many potential users from exploring its benefits.
In a surprising move, Microsoft has introduced GitHub Copilot Free, a new plan designed to give developers access to many core features without a subscription fee. This free version opens the door for more developers to leverage Copilot’s capabilities, making it a powerful and accessible tool for coding projects.
As expected with a free plan, GitHub Copilot Free comes with some notable limitations. Users are restricted to 2,000 completions and 50 messages per month, along with limited access to Copilot Chat and suggestions for code blocks that reference public repositories.
To get started with the free plan, you’ll need to create a user account, which is a quick process. Once signed up, you’ll gain access to either OpenAI’s GPT-4o model or Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet, both of which are valuable for identifying errors and providing detailed explanations to improve your code.
Interestingly, Microsoft has confirmed that Copilot Pro for students and educators will remain unaffected, offering the same benefits as before. Additionally, the company shared that GitHub now supports a thriving community of over 150 million developers, further cementing its status as the go-to platform for coding and collaboration.
