Microsoft-owned GitHub announced on Wednesday the introduction of a free version of its widely used Copilot code completion and AI pair programming tool, which will now be included by default in Microsoft’s popular VS Code editor. Previously, most developers were required to pay a monthly subscription fee starting at $10, with only verified students, educators, and open-source maintainers receiving complimentary access.
Additionally, GitHub revealed that its platform now boasts 150 million developers, an increase from 100 million at the beginning of 2023.
In an exclusive interview prior to Wednesday’s announcement, GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke reflected on his initial project at GitHub in 2018, which involved the launch of free private repositories in early 2019. He noted the subsequent introduction of free private organizations in 2020, free GitHub Actions entitlements, and free Codespaces announced at his first Universe conference as CEO. Dohmke expressed that it was a natural progression to eventually offer a completely free version of Copilot, extending beyond just students and open-source maintainers.
However, the free version does come with certain limitations, primarily designed for occasional users rather than extensive projects. For instance, developers utilizing the free plan will have access to 2,000 code completions per month, with each Copilot code suggestion counting towards this limit, regardless of whether the suggestions are accepted. Furthermore, while GitHub has recently enabled users to switch between various foundation models, those on the free plan are restricted to using Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet and OpenAI’s GPT-4o. In contrast, paid plans offer access to additional models, including Google’s Gemini 1.5 Pro and OpenAI’s o1-preview and -mini.
The Copilot Chat feature allows for a maximum of 50 chat messages, yet there are no significant restrictions on the free service. Developers continue to have access to all Copilot Extensions and skills.
According to Dohmke, the team analyzed Copilot usage data from recent years to determine the distinction between casual users and professional developers.
“When you log in, Copilot is readily available for free, enabling you to begin coding immediately, which is ultimately the primary goal for users. The objective is to create something using software rather than merely experimenting with an AI tool for its own sake.”
The free version of Copilot will be compatible with various editors, including VS Code, Visual Studio, and JetBrains, as well as on GitHub.com.
Since its launch in 2021, Copilot has established itself as a leading AI coding tool; however, the current market has become more competitive, with startups such as Tabnine and Qodo (formerly Codium), along with major players like AWS, providing alternative services. These competitors also typically offer free plans, making it a strategic move for GitHub to embrace the extensive user base of VS Code and adopt a freemium model to enhance Copilot’s accessibility.
Our objective is to empower one billion individuals globally to become developers. It is evident that in various regions, such as Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, India, Indonesia, and Pakistan, the purchasing power of ten dollars is significantly higher relative to the average income. Consequently, we aspire to facilitate the journey of many who are eager to become developers or utilize Copilot, enhancing their productivity, efficiency, and overall satisfaction in those countries, all in alignment with our goal of cultivating one billion developers, Dohmke stated.
Dohmke also anticipates an increase in student engagement with Copilot, as the company has historically provided a free version for students, albeit with certain verification requirements.
“With Copilot Free, we are revisiting our freemium origins and establishing a foundation for something much more significant: AI is our most promising avenue to achieve a GitHub with one billion developers. There should be no obstacles preventing individuals from experiencing the joy of software creation,” Dohmke remarked. “Now, six years post-acquisition by Microsoft, it is clear that GitHub remains true to its essence — and we are continuing our mission.”
