GitHub Copilot and Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf) both bring AI into your coding. Copilot mostly adds it to an editor you already have. Devin Desktop is the editor. One note first: its docs and pricing now live on Devin's sites, so older tutorials may not match what you see.
The short version
| GitHub Copilot | Devin Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | AI assistant for editors such as VS Code and JetBrains | An AI code editor from Cognition |
| Approach | Add-on to your existing editor | Its own editor |
| Free plan | Yes: 2,000 completions a month, limited chat and agent use | Yes: unlimited Tab completions and inline edits, light agent quota |
| MCP support | Yes | Yes (stdio, Streamable HTTP and SSE) |
| Project instructions | Check GitHub's docs | Reads AGENTS.md and imports older .windsurf/rules files |
| Also offers | A coding agent and a command-line tool | Docs and pricing now live on Devin's sites |
Details come from each vendor's pages and may change. See GitHub's plans and Devin's pricing.
What they have in common
- Free plans with caps.
- Autocomplete plus chat and an agent for larger changes.
- MCP support, so servers you set up for one may be reusable in the other.
- Natural-language instructions.
Key differences
Editor choice. Copilot works in the editor you already use, though available features differ from one editor to another. Devin Desktop asks you to use its editor.
Free plan shape. Copilot's free plan counts completions. Devin Desktop's lists unlimited Tab completions and inline edits, with only a light quota for agents. If you mostly want autocomplete, that difference matters; check each vendor's current plan.
GitHub integration. Copilot ties in with GitHub issues and pull requests and has a coding agent. That's its home turf.
Naming and docs. The rename and reorganisation means docs have moved to Devin's sites. Devin's docs say the product keeps reading existing .windsurf/rules files, but expect some confusion in older guides.
Can you use both?
Technically yes, since they are separate products, but you'd be paying attention to two assistants. Most people choose one to start. See our GitHub Copilot and Devin Desktop pages.
Who should pick what
- You love your current editor (VS Code, JetBrains): GitHub Copilot.
- You're open to a new editor built around AI: Devin Desktop.
- Your workflow centres on GitHub issues and PRs: Copilot.
- You mostly want free autocomplete: Compare both free plans against your own usage.
Our verdict
The choice is mostly about the editor. Stay put and add AI with Copilot, or switch and go all-in with Devin Desktop. Spend an afternoon with each on a real project and keep the one you reach for.