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It's a split decision.
Choose GitHub Copilot if your work already runs through GitHub issues, pull requests and repository history, and you want an agent across GitHub’s app, CLI and editor. Choose OpenCode if you want an open-source, self-hostable agent that runs on your machine and can connect to 200+ model providers, including local models. Copilot’s free tier gives 2,000 monthly completions; OpenCode offers free models, while its Go subscriptions start at $10 per month.
01Side by side
| GitHub Copilot | OpenCode | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | $0–$100/user/month; paid plans include AI credits | Free models; Go $10 and Go Plus $40/month |
| Free tier | 2,000 completions/month; selected models and CLI | Free models available without an account |
| Open source and licence | Open-source status not stated by GitHub | Open source; homepage does not name licence |
| Self-hosting | Self-hosting not stated by GitHub | Self-hostable; runs on your machine |
| API and SDKs | Connect supported cloud models using your API key | SDK for scripts, CI jobs and tools |
| CLI and docs | Copilot CLI included, including on Free | Terminal UI; install scripts and SDK docs |
| Integrations | GitHub issues, pull requests, connectors and MCP | 200+ model providers, MCP and listed services |
| Platforms | Web, macOS, CLI, mobile, Slack and Teams | macOS, Windows, Linux, terminal, iPhone and SDK |
GitHub Copilot Choose GitHub Copilot if
- Choose GitHub Copilot if issues and pull requests anchor your workflow.
- Choose GitHub Copilot if you want agent sessions across GitHub surfaces.
- Choose GitHub Copilot if built-in code review and cloud agents matter.
OpenCode Choose OpenCode if
- Choose OpenCode if you want an open-source coding agent.
- Choose OpenCode if you need a self-hostable, local workflow.
- Choose OpenCode if you want to select from 200+ model providers.
02Pricing at real usage
GitHub Copilot has a Free plan at $0 per user per month, with 2,000 completions monthly and access to selected models. Pro is $10 monthly and includes $15 in AI credits; Pro+ is $39 with $70 in credits; Max is $100 with $200 in credits. Paid plans also list additional flex allotments, and users can buy extra AI Credits. Usage beyond included amounts can therefore add to the plan cost. The pricing page lists Business but does not publish its price; Enterprise requires contacting sales.
OpenCode offers free models without an account. Its Go plan is $10 monthly, with estimated five-hour request limits of 110 for Kimi K3 and 1,050 for DeepSeek V4 Pro. Go Plus costs $40 and lists 440 and 4,200 estimated requests respectively. Extra Usage credit top-ups are available, but their price is not published. Both subscriptions are monthly; OpenCode says they can be canceled any time.
03API, SDKs and integration
GitHub describes Copilot as an agent connected to GitHub issues, pull requests and repository context. Its workflow spans the app, CLI, editor, github.com and GitHub Mobile. The homepage also lists Copilot Connectors, MCP servers, skills and plugins. For models, it says users can connect supported cloud providers with their own API key or run models locally with Ollama and Foundry Local. The page highlights the Copilot CLI, but does not describe a general-purpose SDK.
OpenCode offers a terminal UI, desktop app, phone access and an SDK for driving it from scripts, CI jobs and tools. The product page links to SDK documentation but does not name supported SDK languages. Its CLI installation options include a shell install script, npm, Bun, Homebrew and paru. OpenCode connects to 200+ model providers and supports MCP servers; listed service integrations include GitHub, Linear, Figma, Sentry, Notion, Slack, Supabase and Stripe. Both products offer ways to extend or connect agent workflows, but their integration centers differ: GitHub workflow context for Copilot, provider and tool choice for OpenCode.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
OpenCode calls itself open source and says it runs on your machine and can be self-hosted. Its homepage does not name the software licence, so check the repository licence before distributing or modifying it. Connecting to 200+ providers, including local models, gives teams options if they change model vendors; custom agents, plugins and MCP integrations may still need migration work.
GitHub does not state that Copilot is open source or self-hostable. Its product is built into GitHub’s workflow, connecting agent sessions to issues, pull requests and repository context. That can reduce context handoffs for GitHub-centered teams, but ties more of the workflow to GitHub’s surfaces. Neither product page documents a data export path. Before adopting either for long-running work, ask how to export session history, instructions and configuration, and verify what can be carried into another tool.
Questions people ask
Is OpenCode free to use?
OpenCode says free models are available without an account. It also sells Go for $10 per month and Go Plus for $40 per month, with estimated request limits for Kimi K3 and DeepSeek V4 Pro. Extra Usage credit top-ups are available, but their prices are not published.
Is GitHub Copilot better for GitHub repositories?
Copilot is built into GitHub’s workflow and can start sessions with issue, pull request and repository context connected. It also supports code review and follow-up work through its cloud agent. OpenCode connects to GitHub as a listed service, but its product centers on a local agent and broad model choice.
Can OpenCode use local models?
Yes. OpenCode says it connects to 200+ model providers, including local models. GitHub Copilot also lists local model options, specifically Ollama and Foundry Local, alongside supported cloud providers connected with your own API key.
How do Copilot and OpenCode usage limits compare?
Copilot Free includes 2,000 completions per month; paid plans use included AI credits and may add flex usage or purchased credits. OpenCode Go and Go Plus publish estimated model requests per five hours. Those measures differ, so compare them against your models and actual workflow rather than treating them as equivalent quotas.