Updated April 2026 - includes March 2026 Windsurf relaunch
GitHub Copilot vs Codeium (Windsurf) 2026:
Free Tier Showdown and Paid Plan Comparison
Windsurf overhauled its pricing on March 19, 2026. Pro is now $15/month. Copilot Pro is $10/month. Windsurf has no team plan equivalent. Here is the honest comparison.
Pricing Comparison (April 2026)
| Tier | GitHub Copilot | Windsurf (Codeium) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 (2,000 completions + 50 PRUs/mo) | $0 (daily/weekly quota - see note) |
| Individual paid | $10/mo (Pro) or $100/yr | $15/mo (Pro) - no annual |
| Heavy individual use | $39/mo (Pro+) | $200/mo (Max) |
| Team / org plan | $19/seat (Business) | Not available |
| Enterprise | $39/seat (+ $21 GHE) | Not available |
| IDE type | Plugin (all IDEs) | Standalone IDE (VS Code fork) |
| IP indemnity | Yes (Business+) | No |
Note: Windsurf switched from a credit-based system to daily/weekly quotas on March 19, 2026. Existing subscribers were grandfathered on old pricing.
When to Choose Each
Choose GitHub Copilot if...
- ✓You want to keep your existing IDE (JetBrains, Visual Studio, Xcode)
- ✓You need a team plan with IP indemnity and policy controls
- ✓The lower price at $10/mo (vs $15/mo) matters to you
- ✓You want predictable monthly limits, not daily quotas
- ✓You want annual billing at $100/year
- ✓GitHub integration in PRs and Actions is valuable
Consider Windsurf if...
- ✓You prefer Windsurf's IDE experience for individual use
- ✓You are a solo developer without team plan requirements
- ✓You primarily use VS Code and are open to switching
- ✓You want to evaluate both tools free before committing
- ✓The Windsurf IDE UX appeals to you over Cursor
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GitHub Copilot or Codeium/Windsurf better for free?▼
GitHub Copilot's free tier is more structured: 2,000 code completions and 50 premium requests per month. Windsurf (formerly Codeium) switched from a credit system to daily/weekly quotas in March 2026. For reliable, predictable free access, Copilot's defined limits are easier to plan around.
Is Windsurf cheaper than GitHub Copilot?▼
Windsurf Pro is $15/month after the March 2026 relaunch, versus Copilot Pro at $10/month. Copilot is now cheaper at the individual paid tier. Previously Codeium was more competitively priced at the individual level. For teams, Windsurf has no equivalent to Copilot Business ($19/seat) or Enterprise ($39/seat).
What is Windsurf (Codeium) and how does it differ from GitHub Copilot?▼
Windsurf (the IDE formerly called Codeium) is a standalone IDE like Cursor - a VS Code fork with deep AI integration. GitHub Copilot is a plugin for your existing IDE. Windsurf requires switching editors. Copilot works in VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, Xcode, and Visual Studio without disrupting your workflow.