AI coding tools are everywhere now.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned developer, chances are you’ve tried GitHub Copilot—or at least thought about it. It’s fast and helpful, sure, but not everyone wants to pay a monthly fee or hand over their code to a closed platform.
The good news? In 2025, we finally have real options.
Several open source, free Copilot alternatives have emerged. Some run entirely on your local machine. Others offer powerful suggestions without needing an internet connection. And most of them support your favorite editors out of the box.
In this post, we’ll take a look at 5 of the best free Copilot replacements available today.
If you’re looking for speed, privacy, and full control—without spending a dime—this guide is for you.
Table of Contents
Why Even Look for a Copilot Alternative?
GitHub Copilot is great—but it’s not perfect for everyone. Some developers just want something that’s free. Others are concerned about privacy or want to run everything locally. And for teams or open source contributors, flexibility really matters.
Here are a few common reasons people are searching for alternatives:
- Cost: Copilot isn’t cheap, especially if you’re a student, hobbyist, or managing a team.
- Privacy: Your code gets sent to external servers. For some, that’s a dealbreaker.
- Limited control: You can’t fine-tune or run your own models.
- Open source preference: Some devs just prefer tools they can inspect and improve themselves.
Whatever your reason is, the good news is this: you have choices now.
And some of them are surprisingly good—maybe even better for your workflow than the original.
1. Codeium – Fast, Free, and Surprisingly Powerful
If you’re looking for a Copilot alternative that “just works” right out of the box, Codeium is one of the best places to start. It’s completely free for individual developers and integrates smoothly with popular editors like VS Code, JetBrains, Jupyter, and more.
What really sets Codeium apart is its speed. Code completions show up almost instantly, and the model behind it supports over 70 programming languages—including Python, C++, Rust, and even niche ones like Julia.
Key Features:
- ⚡ Lightning-fast autocomplete
- 🧠 AI trained on massive open source data
- 🧩 Easy integration with major IDEs
- 🔒 No login required for personal use
- 🌐 Cloud-based (no local model yet)
Whether you’re writing simple scripts or working on large codebases, Codeium feels responsive and lightweight—without sacrificing quality. If you want a plug-and-play Copilot alternative that doesn’t get in your way, this is it.
2. Tabby – Self-Hosted, Private, and Developer-Centric
Want something you can run completely on your own machine or server? Tabby is the go-to choice for developers who care about privacy, customization, and control.
Tabby is an open source AI code assistant that you can fully self-host. That means no code ever leaves your computer unless you want it to. It’s designed to feel like GitHub Copilot but gives you the flexibility to bring your own large language model—like StarCoder or Code Llama.
Key Features:
- 🏠 100% self-hosted and offline-capable
- 🔁 Works with multiple LLM backends
- 🔧 Easy to fine-tune on your own code
- 🧩 Integrates with VS Code, JetBrains, and more
- 👥 Great for teams that want total control
If you’re working in a company, handling sensitive code, or just don’t want to rely on cloud-based tools, Tabby is a powerful Copilot replacement that puts you in charge.
Setup might take a little more effort than Codeium—but the flexibility is worth it.
3. Continue – Copilot-Style Coding with Your Own AI Model
If you’ve ever wished you could plug your own LLM into Copilot-style autocomplete, Continue is exactly what you’re looking for.
Continue is a free, open source extension for VS Code that connects to your own AI model—whether it’s GPT-NeoX, Mistral, or anything compatible with the OpenAI API. It offers real-time code suggestions, in-line edits, and chat-like prompts—all locally, or with the model of your choice.
Key Features:
- 🧠 Bring your own model (local or remote)
- 🛠️ Runs fully offline with compatible LLMs
- 🧩 Deep integration with VS Code
- 💬 Supports chat-based and autocomplete prompts
- 🔓 Fully open source and private by default
It’s perfect for developers who want to customize their development environment without sending code to the cloud. Continue gives you the freedom to choose your own backend, which makes it one of the most flexible options out there.
4. Cursor – The AI-Powered Code Editor Built on VS Code
Unlike the other tools on this list, Cursor isn’t just a plugin—it’s an entire code editor built around AI.
Based on VS Code, Cursor takes everything you love about that environment and adds smart AI features at its core: autocomplete, refactoring, chat, doc generation, and even test writing.
The standout feature? You can highlight any part of your code and ask Cursor to explain, refactor, or improve it—just like talking to a coding assistant sitting next to you. It feels seamless and remarkably natural.
Key Features:
- 🧠 AI chat with full context awareness
- 🧩 Autocomplete + code edit + inline chat
- 🏗️ Built on top of VS Code (familiar UX)
- ⚙️ Supports OpenAI, Claude, and others (bring your key)
- 🔐 No code leaves your machine if you use local models
Cursor is technically free if you bring your own API key, and the core app is still accessible without a subscription. For many, it’s a smarter way to code without losing the power of a full IDE.
5. Kite (Legacy) – A Classic Assistant That Still Works for Python
Kite was one of the first AI code assistants to gain widespread popularity. While the company officially shut down its operations in 2022, many developers still use Kite’s local engine for offline Python development.
It’s lightweight, easy to install, and doesn’t require any cloud connection. Though it doesn’t match the raw power of today’s LLMs, Kite still works well for basic code completions and helps beginners stay productive—especially in Python-heavy workflows.
Key Features:
- 🐍 Python-focused completions
- ⚡ Fast, lightweight, and runs locally
- 💻 Still usable through community builds and forks
- ❌ No longer actively maintained or updated
If you’re working on small Python projects or teaching coding in a classroom setting, Kite might still be a useful tool—especially if you prefer no sign-up, no cloud, no hassle.
🔗 Community resources available on GitHub
🧩 Feature Comparison Table
| Tool | Self-Hosted | Model Customization | Language Support | IDE Integration | Actively Maintained | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Codeium | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ (70+ languages) | ✅ VS Code, JetBrains, more | ✅ Yes | ✅ Free |
| Tabby | ✅ Yes | ✅ Fine-tuning ready | ✅ | ✅ VS Code, JetBrains | ✅ Yes | ✅ Free |
| Continue | ✅ Yes | ✅ Bring your own | Depends on model | ✅ VS Code | ✅ Yes | ✅ Free |
| Cursor | ❌ (Partial) | ❌ (API key needed) | ✅ | ⚠️ Custom VS Code fork | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Free tier |
| Kite | ✅ (Legacy) | ❌ | ❌ Python only | ✅ VS Code, Atom, others | ❌ No (Legacy only) | ✅ Free |
How to Choose the Right One?
So you’ve seen the options—but which one is actually right for you?
That depends on how you work, what you prioritize, and what kind of projects you’re building. Here are a few quick questions to help guide your decision:
🛡️ Do you care about privacy?
Choose Tabby or Continue. Both let you run everything locally, with no code leaving your machine. Perfect for companies or security-sensitive projects.
💸 Want something completely free with zero setup?
Go with Codeium. It’s plug-and-play, fast, and supports tons of languages. Ideal for solo devs, students, or those who just want things to work.
🧠 Need flexibility or want to bring your own model?
Continue is built for that. It connects to whatever backend you prefer—Open Source LLMs, cloud APIs, or your own fine-tuned model.
👨💻 Prefer everything inside one clean editor?
Try Cursor. It wraps everything Copilot does into a dedicated AI-enhanced IDE. Just bring your API key and you’re good to go.
🐍 Still writing lots of Python scripts?
If you don’t need modern AI features, Kite might still serve your needs. Just keep in mind it’s no longer actively maintained.
Whatever your priority—speed, privacy, offline use, or cost—there’s a great option out there for you in 2025.
Conclusion
GitHub Copilot may have led the way, but it’s no longer the only option.
In 2025, developers have more freedom and control than ever before when it comes to AI coding assistants. Whether you’re focused on privacy, need something self-hosted, or just want a tool that’s free and fast, there’s a Copilot alternative that fits your workflow.
To recap:
- Codeium is perfect if you want something fast and free that just works.
- Tabby gives you total control with a self-hosted setup.
- Continue is ideal for those who want to bring their own models.
- Cursor offers an all-in-one AI coding IDE experience.
- Kite, while outdated, still works well for simple Python projects.
The best part?
You don’t have to compromise. These tools prove that powerful doesn’t have to mean expensive, and that open source can lead the way in developer productivity.
Whichever one you choose, one thing is clear—the age of AI-assisted coding is here to stay, and now it’s on your terms.
🧠 FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the best free Copilot alternatives in 2025?
Top alternatives include Codeium, Tabby, Continue, Cursor, and Kite. - Is GitHub Copilot free?
No, GitHub Copilot requires a paid subscription after a trial period. - Which Copilot alternative is best for privacy?
Tabby and Continue allow full local use, making them ideal for privacy-conscious developers. - Can I use Copilot alternatives offline?
Yes, Tabby and Continue support offline or self-hosted environments. - What is the easiest free Copilot alternative to set up?
Codeium is the most plug-and-play solution with no login or setup required. - Are there open source Copilot alternatives?
Yes! Tabby, Continue, and parts of Cursor are open source. - Does Tabby support model fine-tuning?
Yes, Tabby allows you to bring your own model and supports custom training. - Which alternative supports the most programming languages?
Codeium supports over 70 languages, making it the most versatile. - Is Cursor completely free?
Cursor is free to use with your own API key but offers premium features via subscription. - Can I use these tools in JetBrains IDEs?
Codeium and Tabby support JetBrains IDEs like IntelliJ, PyCharm, and WebStorm. - Are these tools suitable for enterprise teams?
Yes, especially Tabby and Continue, which offer private, scalable options. - Do these tools collect my code data?
Cloud-based tools like Codeium may process data, but self-hosted ones like Tabby do not. - Is Kite still usable in 2025?
While no longer updated, legacy versions of Kite are still functional for Python use. - Can I use my own AI model with Copilot alternatives?
Yes, Continue and Tabby both support user-supplied LLMs. - Do Copilot alternatives support real-time code suggestions?
Absolutely—Codeium, Cursor, and others offer real-time autocomplete. - Which is best for beginners?
Codeium is ideal for beginners due to its simplicity and zero setup. - Do these alternatives work with macOS, Windows, and Linux?
Yes, most support cross-platform usage through VS Code or JetBrains. - Can I use more than one Copilot alternative at the same time?
Technically yes, but it’s best to avoid conflicts by disabling overlapping extensions. - Are these tools safe to use for sensitive codebases?
For sensitive projects, use Tabby or Continue in local-only mode. - Where can I download or access these tools?