Getting started with GitHub Copilot
Last checked 2026-10-16
Based on GitHub help docs, checked 2026-10-16. Written in our own words; follow the official articles for the latest details.
- In VS Code or Visual Studio, click the Copilot icon and choose “Sign up for Copilot Free” (or start from github.com).
- Sign in to GitHub, or create an account if you don't have one.
- Start with chat: ask Copilot to explain a file or suggest a fix.
- Accept inline suggestions only after reading them, and test the code.
- Review github.com/settings/copilot/features to choose whether your data is used for training.
Official help articles
- docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/manage-your-account/get-started-with-a-copilot-plan
- github.com/features/copilot/plans
Free or paid?
Free plan: yes. 2,000 completions and 50 chat requests a month; agent mode and CLI. Paid: the lowest price we could verify on the official pricing page is $10/month (other plans may exist).
Privacy setting to check
github.com/settings/copilot/features → turn off use of your data for model training.