AI coding · replacement recipe

Go from GitHub Copilot to GitHub Copilot (free tier)

The job: AI code editor (Code completions, Chat in IDE, Agent mode). Pick where you are today and where you want to land; the move below follows your pick.

From · what you pay for now
GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot Pro · $10/mo
Year one+$108modeled
To · your pickBest fit
GitHub Copilot (free tier)
Free plan · $0 a month
Change where you land

The money

$10/mo today $0/mo

GitHub Copilot Pro

Year one, net+$108
Pays back in1.2 months

Modeled from public list prices, with your time at $50 an hour. Show the math

Does it do the job? 2 of 3 covered

  • Code completions
  • Chat in IDE
  • Agent mode

The work

Setup
About 15 min
Upkeep
None
Watch out
Doesn't cover: Agent mode

Make the move in four steps

  1. Export from GitHub Copilot

    Download your data and files before you change anything.

  2. Check what Free plan keeps

    2,000 completions per month; auto model selection only; limited agents; an allowance of AI credits

    Details

  3. Switch to Free plan

    Change the plan in GitHub Copilot's billing settings before your renewal date.

  4. Check the next bill

    Your next GitHub Copilot invoice should show the lower price. Check that your data and links still work.

Open GitHub CopilotHow to cancel GitHub Copilot
Modeled, not measured. Savings use public prices and planning assumptions: the bill you stop paying, minus the new tool, your upkeep time and your setup time at $50/hour, over the first 12 months. Paths marked Tested by Stackcut were run end to end by us on our own products. They're our tests, not customer results. Check the must-haves in each recipe before you switch.

The whole recipe: 2 ways out, best first

What you use

  • Code completions
  • Chat in IDE
  • Agent mode

Not covered

  • Cloud coding agent
  • Pull request code review
  • Copilot CLI
  • Multiple model choice

Check before switching

  • You only rely on: Code completions, Chat in IDE, Agent mode
  • Export your data from GitHub Copilot before canceling

Agents: get_recipe("replace-github-copilot") on the Stackcut MCP server.

2 ways out, best first

Cheaper planGitHub Copilot (free tier)Saves $108 in year one
$10/mo today → $0/mo · setup 0.25 h · then $120/yr · payback 1.2 mo
If your use fits the free tier (2,000 completions per month; auto model selection only; limited agents; an allowance of AI credits).
Covers 67% of the core features (not: Agent mode)
Copilot Free gives 2,000 completions/mo; Pro+ ($39) and Max ($100) only if you need premium-model credits.
How we got this
You pay now: GitHub Copilot Proflat price$10/mo
New cost: GitHub Copilot (free tier)free plan$0/mo
Difference each month$10 − $0+$10/mo
Over 12 months+$10 × 12+$120
Setup, once0.25 h × $50/h−$12
Year one+$120 − $12+$108
  • Not counting your time (0.25 h in year one): saves $120 in year one.

Year one = 12 × (what you pay now − the new cost − upkeep) − setup, with your time at $50/hour. Prices are public list prices; hours are Stackcut’s planning estimates. Price it for your team

Sources: github.com
Open sourceClineSavings not modeled yet
Covers 67% of the core features (not: Code completions)
Free open-source agent in VS Code with your own model API key. No server; you pay the model provider per token, so cost depends on use.
License: Apache-2.0
Sources: github.comcline.botgithub.com

How to leave GitHub Copilot

Export first

    Cancel

    1. Profile picture → Settings → Billing and licensing → Licensing (or Plans and usage) → GitHub Copilot → Manage subscription → Cancel subscription.
    Takes effect
    At the end of the current billing cycle.
    After you cancel
    You're moved to Copilot Free.
    Sources: docs.github.com · Reviewed 2026-09-25

    Compare before you switch

    Read the checked comparisons and workload guides for the tools this recipe replaces.

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