GitHub Copilot vs JetBrains AI Assistant
Complete comparison guide to help you choose the right coding tool for your needs.
The Winner
GitHub Copilot
Wins for overall value, user satisfaction, and Pro developers & GitHub users.
Quick Comparison
| Criteria |  GitHub Copilot |  JetBrains AI Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free tier Best | Free tier |
| User Rating | 4.6 Best | 3.3 |
| Review Count | 272 | 867 Best |
| Free Trial | No | No |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
| Best For | Pro developers & GitHub users | JetBrains IDE users & Java/Kotlin devs |
Feature Breakdown
Feature Comparison
GitHub Copilot JetBrains AI Assistant GitHub Copilot
- Real-Time Code Suggestions
- Multi-Model Access
- Generous Free Tier
- Proven ROI Metrics
- Learning Curve for Beginners
- No Offline Mode
- Premium Features Behind Paywall
JetBrains AI Assistant
- Zero Context-Switching
- Free for All Products Pack Subscribers
- Model Context Protocol (MCP) Support
- Local Model Support
- Performance Issues Are Real
- Price vs. Copilot Makes It Hard to Recommend
- Language Support Inconsistency
GitHub Copilot Overview
GitHub Copilot accelerates coding with real-time AI suggestions powered by GPT-5, Claude, and Gemini models. The free tier provides basic completions, while Pro ($10/mo) unlocks advanced features like multi-model chat and CLI assistance. Best for: Professional developers seeking 55% faster task completion. Skip if: You're a complete beginner or need offline functionality.
Best For:
- Pro developers & GitHub users
- Teams already using GitHub for version control
- Developers working across multiple programming languages
- Organizations with existing Microsoft/GitHub investments
- Developers wanting integrated AI across IDE, CLI, and mobile
- Teams needing IP indemnity protection (Business/Enterprise tiers)
- Experienced developers automating routine coding tasks
JetBrains AI Assistant Overview
If you're already a JetBrains IDE user, AI Pro at $8/month is a no-brainer. The deep IDE integration eliminates context-switching, and the shared credit system with Junie/Claude Agent is clever. AI Ultimate at $30/month is pricey compared to Copilot's $10, but the frontier model access (GPT-5, Claude 4.5) justifies it for power users. The 2.3 marketplace rating reflects performance concerns-be prepared for occasional lag.
Best For:
- JetBrains IDE users & Java/Kotlin devs
- Polyglot developers working across multiple languages
- Teams already invested in JetBrains ecosystem
- Java/Kotlin developers (strongest language support)
- Developers wanting deep semantic code understanding
- Teams needing enterprise controls (BYOK option)
Our Verdict
GitHub Copilot is our top pick for most users, thanks to its higher user ratings. However, JetBrains AI Assistant remains a solid choice if you need JetBrains IDE users & Java/Kotlin devs.
Try GitHub Copilot Free