GitHub Copilot Free vs Claude Free
Free vs Free: choose by included models and usage limits. API usage is separate.
| Compare | GitHub Copilot Free | Claude Free |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly USD | Free | Free |
| Included models | GitHub Copilot automatic model selection | Claude Sonnet 5.5, Claude Haiku 5.5 |
| Billing | free | free |
| Verified · Monthly USD source · Included models source · How we verify → | ||
Same price · Updated 2026-11-12
Which one should you pick?
Pick GitHub Copilot Free if you want
- GitHub Copilot automatic model selection as your main model
- coding agent
Pick Claude Free if you want
- Claude Sonnet 5.5 as your main model
- web search
Same price. Based on listed plan terms; check usage limits before upgrading.
| Attribute | GitHub Copilot Free | Claude Free |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Best for | Individual devs trying Copilot | Trying Claude Sonnet |
| Usage | 2,000 completions/mo | Base 5-hour window |
| Billing | free | free |
| Audience | developer | consumer |
| Models | GitHub Copilot automatic model selection | Claude Sonnet 5.5, Claude Haiku 5.5 |
| Key perks | 2,000 completions/mo; Agent mode in IDEs; Automatic model choice | Sonnet 5.5 & Haiku 5.5; Artifacts, Slides & Docs; No Opus or Fable |
| Context window | Not fixed per plan | Not fixed per plan |
| Web search | Not listed | Yes |
| Coding agent | Yes | Not listed |
| Verified | Price 2026-11-12 · models 2026-11-12 | Price 2026-11-12 · models 2026-11-12 |
✓ listed in the provider's current plan terms · — not listed (may still be available) · Pricing data: How we verify →
Usage limits in full
- GitHub Copilot Free
- For individual developers without an organization or enterprise Copilot seat. 2,000 inline suggestions per month; limited chat and agent usage with automatic model selection only. No fixed AI-credit amount is published. Current documentation uses an AI-credit allowance; no fixed chat quota is promised.
- Claude Free
- Sonnet and Haiku access; no Opus or Fable in Free. Usage resets on a rolling five-hour window and depends on task complexity; no fixed message count is guaranteed.
Everything each plan lists
Only in GitHub Copilot Free
- +CLI
- +Agent mode use in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Eclipse, and Xcode
- +Integrates with MCP servers
- +Copilot Spaces
Only in Claude Free
- +Claude Sonnet 5.5 and Claude Haiku 5.5
- +web, desktop, and mobile chat
- +web search
- +Artifacts, Claude Design, Slides, and Docs
How to decide
Same price. Picking between GitHub Copilot Free and Claude Free usually comes down to three things: which models you want access to, how much you'll actually use, and what ecosystem you already live in. Still unsure? The Subscription vs API calculator tells you the break-even usage where pay-as-you-go API access would be cheaper than either subscription.
Frequently asked questions
What is the price difference between GitHub Copilot Free and Claude Free?
GitHub Copilot Free and Claude Free are both priced at Free per month, so cost is not a deciding factor — pick based on included models and feature fit.
Which AI models are included with GitHub Copilot Free vs Claude Free?
GitHub Copilot Free bundles GitHub Copilot automatic model selection. Claude Free bundles Claude Sonnet 5.5, Claude Haiku 5.5. The model lineup is usually the most important factor — pick the plan whose flagship models match the work you actually do.
Is GitHub Copilot Free or Claude Free better value for power users?
Both plans are priced the same, so value comes down to feature depth and model access — see the "Only in" lists above.
Can I switch between GitHub Copilot Free and Claude Free?
Check each provider's billing terms before switching. Monthly, annual and per-seat commitments can differ; cancellation usually stops renewal rather than refunding the current period.