10 Best Copilot Alternatives in 2025 (Free, Open Source & Paid Options)

The adoption of AI coding assistants is no longer a question of if, but when. With over 90% of engineering teams now using AI tools, the impact on developer workflows is undeniable. GitHub Copilot has led this charge, but a growing number of developers are seeking copilot alternatives that better align with their specific needs regarding cost, privacy, or feature sets.  This article provides a guide to the best options available today, and pairs well with our overview of AI coding assistant tools and AI-assisted programming.

Copilot Alternatives: TL;DR

The best Copilot alternatives in 2025 are Dualite Alpha (customizable), Tabnine (team-based), Codeium/Windsurf (free), Amazon Q Developer (AWS-focused), Replit Ghostwriter (browser-based), TabbyML and FauxPilot (open-source & privacy-first), CodeGeeX (multi-language), Cody by Sourcegraph (large codebases), and AskCodi (beginner-friendly).

What to Look for in a Copilot Alternative

Choosing the right AI assistant requires looking beyond simple code completion. You need a tool that seamlessly integrates into your workflow and actively enhances your capabilities.

Key Features to Consider:

• Code Completion and Context Awareness: The tool must understand the context of your existing codebase to provide relevant, accurate suggestions. If code quality is top of mind, check our code integrity guide.

• Machine Learning Capabilities: Advanced models generate better code, reducing time spent on boilerplate. If you care about running models locally, see our guide to local LLM tools.

• IDE Integration: The assistant should feel like a native part of your preferred Integrated Development Environment (IDE), not a clunky add-on.

• Language Support: Ensure the tool supports the programming languages and frameworks your team uses daily.

• Productivity Tools: Look for features like code explanation, automated test generation, and debugging assistance.

Top 10 Copilot Alternatives in 2025

While many tools exist, these ten represent the best options for engineering teams, frontend developers, and tech leads in 2025.

1. Dualite Alpha

Dualite Alpha emerges as the standout choice for developers seeking a powerful and highly customizable AI assistant. It is designed to be more than just a code completer; it's a true development partner.

Its core strength lies in its advanced context awareness. The machine learning models are fine-tuned to understand your codebase architecture, delivering precise and production-ready suggestions. Dualite Alpha integrates effortlessly with a wide array of IDEs, including VS Code, JetBrains, and Sublime Text.

Pros:

• Highly customizable and precise code suggestions.

• Strong support for a vast range of programming languages.

• Intuitive user interface that boosts productivity.

Cons:

• As a newer tool, community support is still growing.

2. Tabnine

Tabnine is a well-established player known for its speed and reliability. It excels at real-time autocompletion, learning from your team's coding patterns to provide personalized suggestions.

This makes it an excellent tool for collaborative development environments. Tabnine ensures that code remains consistent with your team's style guides. It supports over 30 languages and integrates with all major IDEs.

Pros:

• Real-time autocompletion with deep context-awareness.

• Ideal for collaborative development teams, offering private cloud deployment options.

• Offers both cloud and local (privacy-focused) processing.

Cons:

• Paid plans can be expensive for individual developers.

3. Codeium (now Windsurf)

Codeium (now windsurf) delivers on the promise of speed. It is engineered for low-latency code suggestions, ensuring the AI keeps up with the fastest developers.

This tool integrates smoothly with popular editors like VS Code and the IntelliJ suite. For teams that value control, Codeium also offers an open-source option for self-hosting and customization, making it one of the most flexible copilot alternatives.

Pros:

• Low-latency, real-time code suggestions.

• Free tier is remarkably generous and powerful.

• Open-source option for maximum control.

Cons:

• Customization options are more limited than some competitors.

4. Amazon Q Developer

Amazon Q Developer is the definitive choice for teams deeply integrated with the AWS ecosystem. Its suggestions are optimized for AWS services like Lambda, S3, and EC2.

According to the Jellyfish 2025 State of Engineering Management report, Amazon Q developer (along with Gemini Code & Cursor) is leading the way among engineering teams. This reflects its strong position in cloud-based development.

Pros:

• Optimized for cloud and serverless applications on AWS.

• Includes a reference tracker to help cite the source of suggested code.

• A generous free tier is available for individuals.

Cons:

• Less feature-rich for general-purpose, non-cloud development.

5. Replit Ghostwriter

Replit Ghostwriter is a cloud-native AI assistant designed for seamless, real-time collaboration. It operates within the Replit online IDE, allowing teams to code together from anywhere.

Ghostwriter's features include code completion, code explanation, and a conversational "Copilot Chat" to help you work through complex problems. It's a fantastic tool for remote teams and educational settings.

Pros:

• Excellent for collaborative projects in a cloud-based environment.

• Easy-to-use interface that requires no local setup.

• Includes features like "Complete Code" and "Explain Code."

Cons:

• Limited to the Replit environment.

• Language support is less extensive than other tools.

6. TabbyML

TabbyML is an open-source AI coding assistant that prioritizes flexibility. As a self-hosted solution, it gives you complete control over your data and the models used for suggestions.

This makes Tabby an ideal choice for organizations with strict privacy requirements or those wanting to fine-tune a model on their private codebase. It is one of the leading open-source copilot alternatives.

Pros:

• Open-source, offering full flexibility and customization.

• Completely free and privacy-focused.

• Allows you to use your own models.

Cons:

• Requires significant setup and maintenance compared to commercial solutions.

7. FauxPilot

FauxPilot was created with privacy as its primary focus. It provides a way to run a local Copilot-like service, using NVIDIA's Triton inference server to power code suggestions.

By self-hosting the service, you ensure that your code never leaves your local machine or private network. This is a critical feature for developers working on proprietary or sensitive projects.

Pros:

• Open-source with a strong focus on privacy.

• Strong integration with VS Code.

• Gives developers complete control over their data.

Cons:

• Suggestions may be less advanced without access to large cloud models.

• Requires a compatible NVIDIA GPU for effective performance.

8. CodeGeeX

CodeGeeX is a powerful, multi-language AI coding assistant built for deep learning code generation. It supports over 20 programming languages and excels at both code generation and translation.

The tool provides strong contextual understanding and high-quality completions. It's a versatile assistant that can handle a wide variety of development tasks, making it a strong contender among copilot alternatives.

Pros:

• Supports a diverse range of languages and frameworks.

• Offers high-quality code completions and translation features.

• Free to use and integrates with major IDEs.

Cons:

• It is still under active development, so some features may change.

9. Cody (by Sourcegraph)

Cody by Sourcegraph is an AI assistant that understands your entire codebase. It uses a combination of code search and language models to provide answers and generate code with deep context.

With Cody, you can chat with your codebase, make inline edits, get code suggestions, and enjoy features like auto-completion, all tailored to help you code faster and more effectively. Also, it integrates with GitHub and GitLab to enhance its suggestions.

Pros:

• Excellent for working with large, existing code repositories.

• Offers powerful code searching and contextual suggestions.

• Understands your team's code styles and best practices.

Cons:

• May be less effective in non-Git-based or smaller project environments.

10. AskCodi

AskCodi is a versatile and user-friendly AI coding assistant. It focuses on simplifying the developer's workload with a suite of tools for code generation, explanation, testing, and documentation.

It supports numerous languages and integrates with multiple IDEs, including VS Code and JetBrains. AskCodi is designed for speed and precision, helping developers save time on common tasks. Finding the right copilot alternatives like AskCodi can significantly streamline your workflow.

Pros:

• Simple to use with fast code completions.

• Supports a wide range of IDEs and languages.

• Offers a suite of tools beyond just code generation.

Cons:

• The feature set is more limited compared to premium options.

Best Free Copilot Alternatives

Not every developer needs an enterprise-grade solution — many free Copilot alternatives deliver excellent performance without cost. Here are the top options in 2025:

• Dualite: Boasting the most generous free tier, Dualite is ideal for solo developers and small teams. It functions beyond a simple code completer, acting as a genuine development partner.
  
  
  

• TabbyML: A fully open-source, self-hosted assistant that is 100% free. It provides flexibility for privacy-conscious teams who want to fine-tune their own models.
  
  
  

• FauxPilot: Another open-source Copilot alternative that runs locally, ensuring your code never leaves your machine. Great for developers working on sensitive or proprietary projects.
  
  
  

• CodeGeeX: A free, multi-language assistant that supports more than 20 programming languages and excels at code translation and generation.

These tools allow developers to avoid subscription fees while still benefiting from advanced AI-powered coding support.

Best Open-Source Copilot Alternatives

For developers and teams who prioritize privacy, control, and flexibility, open-source Copilot alternatives are the best fit. These tools let you self-host, customize, and even train your own models.

• TabbyML – A powerful, open-source AI coding assistant designed for organizations with strict data policies. It allows teams to self-host and fully control the model, ensuring code never leaves their environment.
  
  
  

• FauxPilot – A local Copilot-like service that runs on NVIDIA GPUs. Ideal for developers who need complete data privacy while still benefiting from AI-powered code suggestions.
  
  
  

• CodeGeeX – An open-source, multi-language assistant capable of generating and translating code across 20+ languages. Its flexibility makes it popular among researchers and cross-language developers.

These open-source Copilot alternatives are particularly suited for enterprises with compliance needs or individuals who want maximum control over their workflows.

Best Copilot Alternatives for VS Code

Since Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is the most widely used IDE, many developers specifically look for Copilot alternatives that integrate seamlessly with it. The top picks include:

• Tabnine – Known for deep integration with VS Code, Tabnine provides team-based learning and personalized code suggestions that adapt to your project’s style.
  
  
  

• Codeium (Windsurf) – A lightweight, speed-focused assistant that plugs directly into VS Code. Its generous free tier makes it a strong Copilot alternative for individual developers.
  
  
  

• Cody by Sourcegraph – Ideal for large codebases, Cody pairs with VS Code to give developers full codebase awareness and advanced contextual suggestions.
  
  
  

• FauxPilot – For developers who value privacy, FauxPilot integrates directly with VS Code while running entirely on local hardware.

Whether you’re looking for speed, collaboration, or privacy, these tools make VS Code a highly capable AI-powered IDE — even without GitHub Copilot.

Comparing Top 10 Copilot Alternatives

To help you decide, here is a side-by-side comparison of these powerful tools. This table provides a quick overview of how each option stacks up against the others.

Conclusion

Choosing the right assistant depends on your stack, workflow, and constraints. Recent data confirms the value of these tools. The Thoughtworks Report found that coding assistants can increase productivity by 15% to 30%. However, the LeadDev Engineering Leadership Report notes that true gains come from choosing the right tool and integrating it properly.

For a practical rollout, see our software development workflow and AI-assisted software development.

• For all-around performance and customization: Dualite Alpha.

• For teams: Tabnine with strong collaboration features.

• For privacy and control: open-source options like Tabby and FauxPilot, plus software compliance guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the best alternative to Copilot?

The best Copilot alternative depends on your needs: Dualite Alpha for customization, Tabnine for team collaboration, and Codeium/Windsurf for a powerful free option.

2. Which AI is better than Copilot?

Dualite Alpha is more customizable than Copilot, Amazon Q Developer is better for AWS users, and Replit Ghostwriter is better for real-time browser-based collaboration.

3. Does Google have a Copilot alternative?

Yes. Google Gemini Code Assist is Google’s Copilot alternative, integrated into Google Cloud and developer tools.

4. What’s the Apple equivalent of Copilot?

Apple integrates AI code assistance directly into Xcode, with predictive code completion and intelligent suggestions for iOS and macOS developers.