14 Free GitHub Copilot Alternatives for VS Code in 2025

Copilot may have popularized AI coding, but its cost and limitations leave gaps for many developers. The good news? A new wave of free tools now matches, and in some cases beats, Copilot inside VS Code.

The timing couldn’t be better. Stack Overflow’s 2023 Developer Survey pointed out that nearly 70% of developers already use or are planning to use AI coding assistants in their workflow. Yet Copilot, while popular, isn’t always the right fit. Its pricing, limited free options, and cloud-based approach have left room for a growing ecosystem of free and open-source alternatives.

This guide explores 14 free GitHub Copilot alternatives for VS Code in 2025. We’ll cover what makes each tool unique, what kinds of developers they’re best for, and where they may fall short. By the end, you’ll know exactly which AI assistant to test in your next project.

Why Are Free Copilot Alternatives Needed in 2025?

AI assistants are no longer a novelty. They’ve become part of the developer’s daily workflow, suggesting completions, writing boilerplate, and explaining unfamiliar code snippets. Yet GitHub Copilot’s cost structure and design philosophy aren’t for everyone.

Developers today face several challenges:

• Budget limits: $10–$19 per user monthly adds up fast for indie devs, students, or startups.
• Privacy concerns: Some teams don’t want their code sent to cloud servers for analysis.
• Ecosystem diversity: Not all developers rely on GitHub’s ecosystem. Others prefer open-source or cloud-agnostic tools.
• Specialization needs: Some AI tools are better for massive repositories, while others shine in speed, creativity, or local-first workflows.

Free alternatives meet these needs by offering different philosophies of AI assistance: open-source flexibility, strong free tiers, or local-first design. In 2025, developers aren’t just asking “Is AI helpful?” They’re asking, “Which AI tool best aligns with my workflow, budget, and values?”

What to Look Out for in a Good Alternative?

Before we go into the list, let’s frame the selection criteria. Choosing an AI assistant isn’t just about whether it generates code; it’s about how well it integrates into your work.

1. Accuracy and reliability: A good assistant doesn’t just autocomplete. It understands context and reduces errors.
2. Breadth of language support: If you’re switching between Python, JavaScript, and Rust, you need a tool that covers them all.
3. Integration with VS Code: Smooth, native integration saves you from constant context-switching.
4. Data privacy: Sensitive projects require local-first or transparent data practices.
5. Community and updates: A vibrant community means better long-term support and innovation.

Keeping these benchmarks in mind helps you evaluate whether each free alternative is simply “interesting” or genuinely production-ready.

14 Free GitHub Copilot Alternatives for VS Code in 2025

Now let’s explore the best contenders, each designed to give developers Copilot-like power without the Copilot price.

1. Codeium (Now Windsurf)

Codeium has quickly risen as one of the most popular free alternatives to Copilot, offering unlimited completions across 70+ programming languages. Its integration into VS Code is seamless, and its free plan covers most use cases that individual developers need.

What makes Codeium stand out is its combination of speed, accuracy, and breadth. Unlike some free tools that feel like scaled-down experiments, Codeium offers robust autocomplete and in-editor chat functions that rival Copilot’s polish. In 2025, the tool is evolving into Windsurf, a more advanced IDE that builds on the same foundation, which signals strong long-term development.

For developers looking for a plug-and-play Copilot VS Code, Codeium remains one of the best free options.

2. Tabnine

Tabnine is one of the earliest players in AI code completion, and it continues to provide a free tier that covers essential autocomplete functions. Where Tabnine differentiates itself is its local-first philosophy. Unlike purely cloud-based tools, Tabnine can run its models directly on your machine, protecting proprietary code from being shared externally.

This makes it especially attractive for enterprise teams, privacy-conscious developers, and startups handling sensitive IP. The trade-off is that the free tier is more limited than its paid counterpart, but for everyday coding assistance in VS Code, it’s a solid choice.

3. Amazon CodeWhisperer

Amazon’s CodeWhisperer offers a free tier for individual developers, giving them access to real-time code suggestions inside VS Code. It shines when working in cloud-native development, particularly for developers already embedded in the AWS ecosystem.

CodeWhisperer also integrates security scanning, flagging potentially risky code snippets, a useful feature for enterprise teams and contractors. However, its real strength shows up when building within AWS. If you’re not working with Amazon’s stack, it may feel less compelling than more general-purpose tools like Codeium or Tabnine.

4. Continue.dev

Continue is an open-source extension designed to make AI-powered coding highly customizable. It lets developers connect VS Code to different large language models, including free and community-hosted ones on Hugging Face, giving flexibility to experiment and adapt.

Unlike Copilot, Continue is model-agnostic. This means you’re not tied to one provider; you can choose whichever free or paid LLM you prefer. It’s particularly appealing for developers who like tinkering, self-hosting, or having control over their AI stack.

5. Cody by Sourcegraph

For developers dealing with huge codebases, Cody by Sourcegraph is a lifesaver. It integrates with Sourcegraph’s code search engine, giving AI visibility across your entire repository. Instead of generating isolated snippets, Cody can analyze large projects, answer contextual questions, and even explain complex interactions.

This makes it a strong choice for enterprise dev teams and open-source maintainers. The trade-off is that Cody requires a heavier setup and works best when combined with Sourcegraph’s ecosystem. For smaller projects, it might feel like overkill.

6. FauxPilot

If you like the idea of Copilot but not the cloud-based delivery, FauxPilot is an open-source project that lets you run a Copilot-like model on your own hardware. It’s essentially a self-hosted clone of Copilot’s API, giving you the same feel without the subscription.

The benefit is complete privacy, your code never leaves your machine. The drawback is that you’ll need a reasonably powerful setup and technical skill to get it running. For advanced developers and teams handling sensitive or regulated projects, FauxPilot is one of the best free options available.

7. CodeGeeX

CodeGeeX, developed in Asia, has gained popularity for its multilingual support. It works with over 20 programming languages and can even translate code from one language to another.

This makes it useful for developers working in polyglot environments or migrating projects between languages. While its community is smaller than Copilot’s, its free availability and growing adoption make it a compelling choice in 2025.

8. AskCodi

AskCodi is designed to help with more than just code completion. It offers snippet generation, documentation help, and even testing assistance. Its free plan makes it accessible to beginners and learners who want AI-powered coding support without overhead.

For seasoned developers, the limitations of the free plan may feel restrictive. But for students or self-learners, AskCodi is a great introduction to AI-assisted coding.

9. Captain Stack

Rather than generating new code, Captain Stack searches Stack Overflow and GitHub Gist for existing solutions and inserts them into VS Code. Think of it as “Google for code,” right inside your editor.

This approach ensures you’re getting real-world snippets, but it also means quality depends on the sources it pulls from. For developers who prefer trusted community-driven solutions over generative outputs, Captain Stack is refreshingly practical.

10. IntelliCode (Microsoft)

IntelliCode comes prebuilt into VS Code, offering machine learning–powered suggestions. It doesn’t try to be a flashy AI assistant, but it does enhance standard autocomplete with context awareness.

Because it’s native, lightweight, and free forever, IntelliCode is often the first step into AI coding assistance for many developers. While it’s less advanced than Copilot, its stability and integration make it worth keeping enabled.

11. Sixth AI

A newer entrant, Sixth AI focuses on helping developers navigate large codebases using embeddings. It’s built to understand your project’s local context deeply, making it helpful for enterprise teams with massive repositories.

Though still in its early stages, Sixth shows how AI assistants are evolving beyond autocomplete into project-aware collaborators. For teams tired of assistants that only “guess” at code, Sixth provides a refreshing alternative.

12. Tabby

Tabby is an open-source alternative with a focus on community-driven development. It provides function and multi-line completions and can be extended or retrained on your own datasets.

For developers who like owning their tools and avoiding vendor lock-in, Tabby is an attractive free choice. It requires more setup and technical knowledge, but it rewards you with freedom and customization.

13. Bito

Bito goes beyond autocomplete by combining AI code completions with inline code reviews. Instead of just finishing your code, it helps you improve it, spotting inefficiencies or suggesting better practices.

This makes Bito appealing to developers who want AI as a reviewer or mentor rather than just a generator. Its free tier is limited in volume, but even small teams can benefit from its value-added approach.

14. Gemini Code Assist (Free Tier)

Google’s Gemini Code Assist (formerly Duet AI) entered the competition in late 2024 with a free plan for individuals. It supports multiple languages, integrates into VS Code, and is powered by Google’s Gemini model family, which is also behind its search and productivity tools.

While its enterprise features are paywalled, the free tier is generous enough for individuals and small projects. For developers who want a Google-backed AI assistant, it’s a solid option to test in 2025.

How to Pick the Best Free Copilot Alternative: Key Factors to Consider

With so many AI coding assistants competing for attention in 2025, choosing the right one for your workflow isn’t just about grabbing the most popular option. Each tool is built with different priorities, and understanding those differences will save you hours of trial and error. Here are the key factors to weigh before committing:

1. Accuracy and Reliability: Some tools excel at boilerplate code, while others handle complex logic with context-aware suggestions. If you’re working on critical systems, accuracy should outweigh “flashy” features.

2. Programming Language Coverage: Do you switch between Python, JavaScript, Go, or Rust? Look for assistants that support a wide range of languages so you’re not constantly juggling multiple tools.

3. Privacy and Data Handling: For enterprise teams or startups working on sensitive IP, local-first or self-hosted options like Tabnine or FauxPilot may be safer than cloud-only assistants.

4. Integration with VS Code: A good assistant should feel invisible. Tools with native, seamless integration save time by reducing context switching and awkward setups.

5. Ecosystem and Community Support: Strong community adoption means better support, plugins, and regular updates. Open-source projects like Tabby thrive because of community-driven contributions.

6. Cost Beyond “Free”: Even free tools sometimes limit features, completions, or usage volume. Consider whether the free tier will cover your actual day-to-day needs or just serve as a demo.

Choosing the best tool is not just finding the “perfect” assistant, it’s majorly aligning the strengths of the AI with your workflow, priorities, and values. Many developers even mix and match two tools to balance privacy, speed, and flexibility. The right choice is the one that quietly helps you code more, stress less, and ship faster.

Conclusion

GitHub Copilot is a strong AI coding assistant, but in 2025, developers have plenty of free alternatives that match or even exceed its value in certain scenarios. Tools like Codeium and CodeWhisperer rival its completeness, while FauxPilot and Tabby offer full control and privacy. For specialized needs, Cody and Sixth prove that AI assistants can scale with your codebase.

Ultimately, the right choice comes down to how you work. If you’re optimizing for speed and breadth, a cloud-backed assistant may fit best. If you value independence and security, local-first or open-source options will give you more peace of mind. And if you’re experimenting, model-agnostic tools like Continue.dev open the door to endless customization. In many cases, combining two assistants covers gaps and helps you strike the balance between convenience and control.

That said, picking tools is only one part of the journey. To fully unlock their potential, many teams choose to hire AI developers who can integrate these assistants into custom workflows, set up secure local deployments, or fine-tune models for domain-specific needs.