GitHub Copilot X Review: The Programmer's AI Pair
Testing the latest version of GitHub's AI coding assistant that now supports chat and documentation lookup alongside its powerful code completion.
Overview
GitHub Copilot X represents the next evolution of AI-powered coding assistance, building upon the original Copilot with expanded capabilities that go beyond just code completion. Now featuring integrated chat, documentation lookup, and pull request assistance, Copilot X aims to be a comprehensive AI pair programmer rather than just an autocomplete tool.
Version Tested
Copilot X (May 2025)
Platform
VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim
AI Model
Custom GPT-4.5 variant
Free Tier
30-day trial
Note: Copilot X requires an active internet connection and sends code snippets to GitHub's servers for processing, which may be a concern for some organizations.
Key Features
Copilot X offers a comprehensive suite of AI-powered development tools:
Intelligent Code Completion
Context-aware suggestions for entire lines or blocks of code as you type, learning from your coding style.
Integrated Chat
Natural language interface for explaining code, generating implementations, or debugging issues.
Documentation Lookup
Instant API documentation and examples without leaving your IDE.
Code Explanation
Understand complex codebases with AI-generated explanations of selected code segments.
Pull Request Assistance
Generate PR descriptions, identify potential issues, and suggest improvements.
Test Generation
Automatically create unit tests for your functions and classes.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Dramatically reduces boilerplate coding time
- Excellent context awareness within projects
- Helpful for learning new languages/frameworks
- Now understands project-specific patterns
- Significantly improved code quality in v2
- Works across multiple IDEs and editors
Cons
- Occasionally suggests insecure or inefficient code
- Can be overly verbose in suggestions
- Requires careful review of generated code
- Privacy concerns for proprietary codebases
- Chat feature slower than dedicated coding assistants
- Limited customization of AI behavior
Pricing & Plans
GitHub Copilot offers straightforward pricing with discounts for certain groups:
Individual
- Full Copilot X feature set
- Personal use only
- All supported IDEs
- 30-day free trial
- Cancel anytime
Student
- All Individual features
- Verified students only
- GitHub Student Pack
- Renewable annually
- Academic email required
Business
- Organization-wide management
- Usage analytics
- Enhanced privacy controls
- Centralized billing
- Enterprise support
Note: All plans require a GitHub account. Business plans require a minimum of 25 seats. Educational institutions may qualify for special pricing.
How It Compares
GitHub Copilot X leads in several areas when compared to other AI coding assistants:
| Feature | Copilot X | Amazon CodeWhisperer | Tabnine Pro | Sourcegraph Cody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code Completion | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Chat Features | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Code Understanding | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
| IDE Support | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Privacy Controls | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Pricing | $$ | Free-$$ | $$$ | Free-$ |
Best Use Cases
GitHub Copilot X excels in several development scenarios:
Rapid Prototyping
Quickly scaffold new projects and experiment with different approaches using AI-generated boilerplate.
Learning New Technologies
Get context-aware examples and explanations when working with unfamiliar languages or frameworks.
API Documentation
Instantly access relevant documentation and usage examples without leaving your editor.
Debugging Assistance
Identify potential issues and get suggested fixes through the chat interface.
Test Writing
Generate comprehensive test cases that cover edge scenarios you might overlook.
Pull Request Preparation
Automate parts of the PR process with generated descriptions and change summaries.
Expert Tips
Maximize your Copilot X productivity with these professional techniques:
Descriptive Comments
Write clear function comments first to guide better AI suggestions.
Customize Settings
Adjust suggestion aggressiveness in preferences to match your workflow.
Partial Accepts
Accept only the useful parts of suggestions and edit as needed.
Project Context
Keep relevant files open to improve Copilot's understanding.
Precise Prompts
Be specific in chat queries ("Explain this regex...") for better answers.
Test Generation
Use "Generate tests for this function" for quick test coverage.
Alternatives to Consider
Depending on your needs, these Copilot alternatives might be worth exploring:
Cursor
Best for: AI-assisted coding, multi-language projects
Limitations: Limited free usage, internet required for AI features
Tabnine Pro
Best for: On-prem deployment, full codebase awareness
Limitations: More expensive, slower updates
Sourcegraph Cody
Best for: Large codebases, code navigation
Limitations: Weaker autocomplete
Frequently Asked Questions
Does GitHub Copilot X store or use my code to train its models?
+GitHub states that code snippets sent to Copilot are not used to train their general AI models. However, your prompts and suggestions may be stored temporarily to improve the service. Business plans offer more control over data retention policies.
How does Copilot X differ from ChatGPT for coding?
+Copilot X is specifically fine-tuned for coding tasks and integrates directly with your IDE, maintaining context of your entire project. It's generally more accurate for code completion but less versatile for general questions compared to ChatGPT.
Can I use Copilot X without an internet connection?
+No, Copilot X requires an active internet connection as processing happens on GitHub's servers. For offline alternatives, consider Tabnine with its local models or older versions of traditional code completion tools.
Is Copilot X worth it for beginner programmers?
+For students (who get it free), absolutely. For others, it can be helpful but requires discipline to not become over-reliant. Beginners should actively study and understand Copilot's suggestions rather than just accepting them.
How accurate are Copilot X's code suggestions?
+In our testing, about 70-80% of suggestions were functionally correct, but only 40-50% were optimal without modification. Always review and test generated code thoroughly before using in production.
Ready to Boost Your Coding Productivity?
GitHub Copilot X can save you hours per week on boilerplate code, debugging, and documentation lookup.
Start Free TrialLast Updated: May 28, 2025 | Suggest an Update