Cursor vs GitHub Copilot: In-Depth Comparison of AI Code Editors in 2024
Comprehensive comparison of Cursor and GitHub Copilot features, performance, and user experience to help you choose the right AI coding tool.
Overview
Cursor and GitHub Copilot are currently the two most popular AI coding tools. This article provides an in-depth comparison across multiple dimensions to help you make a wise choice.
Feature Comparison
Code Completion
| Feature | Cursor | GitHub Copilot | |---------|--------|----------------| | Inline completion | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Excellent | | Multi-line completion | ✅ Powerful | ✅ Good | | Context understanding | ✅ Outstanding | ✅ Good |
AI Chat
Cursor's killer feature is built-in AI chat capability:
Cmd + K: Quick edit selected code
Cmd + L: Open AI chat panel
GitHub Copilot's chat feature (Copilot Chat) requires a separate plugin installation.
Performance
Based on our testing:
- Response speed: Cursor is slightly faster (avg 200ms vs 300ms)
- Accuracy: Both comparable (approximately 85%)
- Resource usage: Copilot is lighter
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Personal | Team | |---------|----------|------| | Cursor | $20/month | $40/month/person | | GitHub Copilot | $10/month | $19/month/person |
My Recommendations
- Choose Cursor: If you need powerful AI chat functionality and are willing to pay for a better experience
- Choose Copilot: If your budget is limited or you're deeply integrated with GitHub ecosystem
Summary
Both tools are excellent. The best approach is to try both and find the one that fits your workflow best.