But which one is better for your workflow? In this blog, we’ll compare GitHub Copilot vs Codeium across features, pricing, speed, accuracy, privacy, and usability to help you decide which AI coding assistant is right for you.
Overview of GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot, built by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI, was one of the first widely adopted AI pair programmers. It leverages OpenAI’s Codex model (the same engine behind ChatGPT) to provide real-time code suggestions, generate functions, and even write boilerplate based on natural language prompts.
Key Features:
- Context-aware autocomplete
- Natural language to code generation
- Works across multiple files
- Integrates with VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim
- Strong support for JavaScript, Python, TypeScript, Go, and more
Overview of Codeium
Codeium is a free AI code assistant gaining popularity for its speed, accuracy, and affordability. Unlike Copilot, Codeium is completely free for individual users and offers many premium features without any subscription.
Key Features:
- Lightning-fast inline suggestions
- Works in 70+ IDEs including VS Code, JetBrains, Jupyter
- Supports 40+ languages
- Includes an AI chat assistant (like ChatGPT inside your IDE)
- Local-first indexing of your code for better context
Pricing Comparison
Feature | GitHub Copilot | Codeium |
Free for students/OSS | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (free for all) |
Monthly plan | $10/mo | Free |
Team plan | $19/user/month | Free (for now) |
AI chat assistant | ❌ (requires ChatGPT) | ✅ Included |
Verdict: If you're looking for a completely free tool, Codeium wins hands down. Copilot is powerful but comes with a monthly cost unless you're a student or open-source contributor.
Speed & Accuracy
GitHub Copilot:
- High accuracy, especially in JS, Python, and TS
- Slower on larger codebases or unfamiliar libraries
- Best for full-stack and backend development
Codeium:
- Very fast suggestions and fewer lags
- Matches context better in real-time
- Slightly less accurate in niche or complex code scenarios
Verdict: Codeium is snappier and more responsive, especially in larger projects. Copilot is more polished when it comes to function suggestions, but performance may vary based on codebase size.
Privacy & Security
- Copilot suggestions are powered by cloud-based models and may be trained on public repositories, raising some privacy concerns.
- Codeium indexes your code locally for context, and doesn’t train on user code, giving it a stronger privacy stance.
Verdict: If your organization has strict compliance or IP concerns, Codeium’s privacy-first approach might be more suitable.
IDE & Language Support
Feature | GitHub Copilot | Codeium |
IDE Support | VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim | VS Code, JetBrains, Jupyter, Vim, Eclipse |
Languages Supported | 20+ | 40+ |
AI Chat Inside IDE | ❌ (external ChatGPT) | ✅ Built-in |
Verdict: Codeium supports more IDEs and offers an integrated AI chat assistant, making it more flexible for different development environments.
Testing Tip: Use Keploy for Test Automation
While both Copilot and Codeium are great at helping you write code, they don’t help you test it. That’s where Keploy comes in.
Keploy is an open-source tool that captures real API calls and turns them into test cases—automatically. It helps you achieve high test coverage without manually writing test scripts.
Keploy Highlights:
- Auto-generates tests from API traffic
- Supports Go, Python, Java
- Converts production data into repeatable test cases
- Open-source and free
???? Try it here: https://github.com/keploy/keploy
Bonus: Pairing Codeium or Copilot with Keploy gives you an end-to-end AI development workflow—from writing code to validating it.
Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
Criteria | Best Option |
Price | Codeium (Free) |
Accuracy | Copilot |
Speed | Codeium |
IDE Flexibility | Codeium |
Chat Integration | Codeium |
Ecosystem (GitHub) | Copilot |
Testing Support | Keploy (Bonus) |
Use GitHub Copilot if:
- You want deep context across multiple files
- You're already in the GitHub ecosystem
- You don’t mind paying a subscription
Use Codeium if:
- You want a fast, accurate, and free experience
- You prefer a lightweight AI assistant with chat
- You're a student, indie hacker, or privacy-conscious dev
Conclusion
Both GitHub Copilot and Codeium are excellent AI code assistants, but they serve slightly different needs. Copilot is powerful and polished, while Codeium offers flexibility, speed, and affordability.
Pair either one with Keploy for automated testing, and you’ve got a powerful, AI-driven development workflow—from writing code to shipping reliable software.
Ready to code smarter? Choose your AI copilot—and don’t forget to test with Keploy.
Read more https://keploy.io/blog/community/codium-vs-copilot-which-ai-coding-assistant-is-best-for-you