GitHub Copilot alternatives: 5 free & open-source picks
Curated, verified, and actually free. No trials, no crippled tiers. Star counts and last-activity dates checked by hand, not scraped and forgotten.
A fast local coding agent with no loyalty to any model vendor.
licenseMIT
runson your machine
installInstall with the shell script, Homebrew, npm or Bun; a desktop app is also available
enginesA broad provider catalog covering hosted, OpenAI-compatible and local model endpoints, including optional OpenCode Zen or Go services
dataProject files remain local; configuration, sessions and snapshot metadata are local, and a session is uploaded only when the user explicitly shares it, while prompts go to the chosen provider
the catch vs GitHub CopilotIt is agent-first and lacks Copilot's equally seamless inline completions and integration across GitHub and existing editors.
setupConfigure a provider credential or local model unless using a separately billed OpenCode model service
facts verified 2026-08-10
A fast open editor with completions, chat and agents built in; model usage is separate.
licenseGPL-3.0+
runsyour machine or their cloud
installInstall the native app from Zed or an operating-system package manager on macOS, Linux or Windows
enginesZed-hosted models, bring-your-own-key providers, local Ollama, LM Studio or llama.cpp models, and ACP-compatible coding agents
dataProject files stay on the local or SSH-accessed machine and app state is local; hosted or BYOK prompts go to the selected provider, while collaboration state uses Zed's cloud
the catch vs GitHub CopilotIt requires switching editors, while model usage is separate and Copilot works across more existing editors and GitHub surfaces.
setupNone for the editor itself; AI requires a Zed account, provider key, local model, or external agent
facts verified 2026-08-10
A code agent in your editor; the model bill is still yours.
licenseApache-2.0
runson your machine
installInstall from the VS Code or JetBrains marketplace, or install the Cline CLI
enginesCline account models or bring-your-own-key providers including Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, Azure, Bedrock, Vertex and OpenRouter, plus local Ollama and LM Studio models
dataRepository edits stay in the local workspace; extension/session settings are local, while selected workspace context and prompts go to the chosen model provider
the catch vs GitHub CopilotIt is agent-first and separately model-billed, with weaker low-latency inline completions and GitHub-native integration than Copilot.
setupSign in to Cline or configure a provider API key or local model
facts verified 2026-08-10
Copilot-shaped completions and chat, paid for with your own GPU instead of a seat.
licenseApache-2.0
runsyour server
installRun the server from Docker or a standalone binary, then connect an editor extension
enginesLocal llama.cpp-backed completion, chat and embedding models or separately configured remote HTTP model endpoints
dataModels, configuration, logs, indexed source and Tabby's database live under TABBY_ROOT, which defaults to the user's .tabby directory
the catch vs GitHub CopilotCompletion quality and latency depend on the chosen model and hardware, and the GitHub and editor experience is less turnkey than Copilot.
setupDownload and size suitable models, provide enough GPU or RAM, start the server, and configure each editor client
facts verified 2026-08-10
One open agent across VS Code, JetBrains and the terminal; inference still has a meter somewhere.
last updated 2026-08-10 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
ContinueAcquired by Cursor; the repo is read-only and 2.0.0 is the last release.
RefactThe original repo was archived and Refact Cloud was retired in May 2026.
Roo CodeThe extension shut down and the repo was archived on May 15, 2026.
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenCode | MIT | one-click install | cli, macos, windows, linux | 193,678 | 2026-08 |
| Zed | GPL-3.0+ | one-click install | macos, windows, linux | 88,100 | 2026-08 |
| Cline | Apache-2.0 | one-click install | browser-extension, cli, macos, windows, linux | 65,800 | 2026-08 |
| Tabby | Apache-2.0 | docker to self-host | browser-extension, self-hosted | 33,819 | 2026-06 |
| Kilo Code | open source | one-click install | browser-extension, cli, macos, windows, linux | 26,735 | 2026-08 |
They pay because low-latency completion and repo-aware coding are available in their editor without setup. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $120 a year.
Is there a free alternative to GitHub Copilot?
Yes: OpenCode, Zed, Cline and 2 more. Every tool on this page is either open source or genuinely free to use long-term: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Should I just build my own GitHub Copilot?
Our verdict is PARCIAL. You can use open-source editor agents and local/API models, but Copilot's value is editor integration, model routing, GitHub context, completions, and managed usage. If you'd rather build, the exact one-shot prompt is free at puedovibecodearlo.app/github-copilot.
