Other AI coding assistants
Beyond GitHub Copilot
While GitHub Copilot is the most popular AI coding assistant, several alternatives offer different features, pricing models, or specializations. Some are free, some focus on specific languages, and others emphasize privacy or customization.
Cursor
Cursor is an AI-powered code editor built from the ground up with AI assistance in mind. It combines an editor with a powerful chatbot interface for coding.
What it does: Provides inline code suggestions like Copilot, but also includes a chat interface where you can ask questions, request code changes, or debug issues without leaving the editor.
Best for: Developers who want a unified AI coding environment with chat and inline suggestions combined.
Pricing: Free plan available. Pro plan is around $20/month.
How it's different: Cursor is a full code editor, not just an extension. If you like your current editor, this might be a big change. But if you're open to switching, Cursor offers tight AI integration.
Try it at Cursor.
Tabnine
Tabnine is an AI code completion tool that emphasizes privacy and supports many programming languages and editors.
What it does: Suggests code as you type, similar to Copilot. Offers both cloud-based and local AI models for teams concerned about code privacy.
Best for: Teams that need AI coding assistance but want to keep code on their own servers for privacy or compliance reasons.
Pricing: Free plan with basic features. Pro plan starts at $12/month. Enterprise plans for teams.
How it's different: Tabnine offers local deployment options, meaning your code never leaves your infrastructure. This is important for companies with strict security requirements.
Visit Tabnine to learn more.
Codeium
Codeium is a free AI code completion tool that aims to compete with Copilot without charging individual developers.
What it does: Provides inline code suggestions and a chat interface for questions and debugging. Supports 70+ languages and integrates with popular editors.
Best for: Individual developers who want AI coding help without paying for a subscription.
Pricing: Free for individuals. Paid plans for teams and enterprises.
How it's different: Codeium is completely free for individuals, making it a strong alternative if you don't want to pay for Copilot.
Get started at Codeium.
Amazon CodeWhisperer
CodeWhisperer is Amazon's AI coding assistant, integrated with AWS and optimized for cloud development.
What it does: Suggests code as you type, with a focus on AWS services and cloud-based applications. Includes security scanning to identify vulnerabilities.
Best for: Developers working heavily with AWS or building cloud-native applications.
Pricing: Free tier available with limitations. Professional tier is around $19/month.
How it's different: CodeWhisperer is tailored for AWS development and includes built-in security analysis.
Learn more at Amazon CodeWhisperer.
Replit Ghostwriter
Replit Ghostwriter is an AI coding assistant built into Replit, an online code editor and hosting platform.
What it does: Provides code suggestions, explanations, and debugging help directly in the Replit editor.
Best for: Beginners, students, or anyone who prefers coding in a browser without installing software.
Pricing: Included with Replit's paid plans (starting at $7/month for individuals).
How it's different: Ghostwriter works only in the Replit environment, which is web-based and includes hosting and collaboration features.
Try it at Replit.
Using chatbots as coding assistants
Don't forget that general-purpose chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can also help with coding:
AI prompt: "Write a Python function that reads a CSV file and calculates the average of the 'sales' column"
AI prompt: "Debug this JavaScript code: [paste code]. It's supposed to sort an array but it's not working."
AI prompt: "Explain this SQL query in simple terms: [paste query]"
Chatbots are especially useful for:
- Learning new concepts or languages
- Debugging complex issues
- Refactoring large blocks of code
- Getting explanations of unfamiliar code
For more on using chatbots, see Which chatbot should I use?.
Choosing the right coding assistant
Use GitHub Copilot if you want the most mature, well-supported tool with strong language support and editor integrations.
Use Cursor if you want an AI-first code editor with chat and inline suggestions tightly integrated.
Use Tabnine if privacy and local deployment are priorities for your team or organization.
Use Codeium if you want a free alternative to Copilot for individual use.
Use Amazon CodeWhisperer if you're building AWS-based applications and want cloud-specific suggestions.
Use Replit Ghostwriter if you're a beginner or prefer web-based coding environments.
Use a chatbot if you need high-level help, debugging, or learning, rather than inline code suggestions.
Many developers use a combination: a coding assistant for day-to-day writing and a chatbot for problem-solving and learning.
Things to keep in mind
Always review AI-generated code: Coding assistants can make mistakes, introduce bugs, or suggest insecure patterns. Read and test everything.
AI doesn't replace understanding: Use coding assistants to speed up your work, but make sure you understand what the code does. Don't rely on AI to write code you don't comprehend.
Privacy matters: Some tools send your code to cloud servers for processing. If working with sensitive or proprietary code, choose tools with strong privacy protections or local deployment options.
Related resources
Want to learn more about GitHub Copilot specifically? See GitHub Copilot for coding help. Looking for general AI help? Check out Which chatbot should I use?.