🆕 GitHub Copilot Pro+ Review: Is the New $39/Month Tier Actually Worth It?

Using GitHub Copilot used to be like having a junior developer who could type fast but often hallucinated libraries that didn’t exist. In late 2025, it has evolved into something far more formidable—a multi-model ecosystem that lets you swap between OpenAI’s GPT-5.1, Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.5, and Google’s Gemini 3 Pro without leaving VS Code.

But with the rise of Cursor 2.0 and the terminal-based power of Claude Code, is the “OG” AI coding tool still the best? Or is it just the most convenient?

I spent the last 30 days coding exclusively with the new Copilot Pro+ tier ($39/mo). I built a React dashboard, refactored a legacy Python script, and generated an entire micro-app using the new “Spark” tool. Here is the honest, hype-free review of what GitHub Copilot can actually do in 2025.

⚡ The Bottom Line

What Changed: The new “Pro+” tier ($39/mo) unlocks “Model Choice” (Claude, Gemini, OpenAI) and increases premium requests from 300 to 1,500. “Copilot Workspace” now offers an agentic workflow (Plan → Implement) that rivals Cursor’s Composer.

Core Value: It is the most seamless AI experience for developers who refuse to leave the VS Code ecosystem. The ability to use Claude Opus 4.5 inside GitHub’s native extension is a massive selling point.

The Catch: The standard Pro plan ($10/mo) is now severely limited on “premium” model usage (only 300 requests/mo). To get the “smart” Copilot, you have to pay nearly 4x the price.

Best For: VS Code power users and enterprise teams needing IP protection.

Skip If: You prefer a truly AI-native editor like Cursor or work primarily in the CLI.

🤖 What GitHub Copilot Actually Does (2025 Update)

If you haven’t looked at Copilot since 2024, you’re looking at a different tool. It’s no longer just “ghost text” that completes your console.log. It is now three distinct tools rolled into one extension:

1. The Autocompleter: The classic “ghost text” that predicts your next 10 lines of code. It’s faster now, powered by smaller, latency-optimized models.
2. The Chat (Side Panel): A context-aware chatbot where you can ask, “Where is the authentication logic defined?” and it searches your workspace. This is where the new Model Picker lives.
3. Copilot Workspace (The Agent): A new “Plan-First” environment. Instead of jumping straight to code, you describe a task (“Refactor the user login to use OAuth”), and it generates a bulleted plan for you to approve before it touches a single file.

🔍 REALITY CHECK

Marketing Claims: “The AI Pair Programmer that knows your entire codebase.”

Actual Experience: It “knows” your open files very well. It “knows” your repo okay if you index it. But it often forgets context from that utility file you haven’t opened in 3 months.

Verdict: Context management is improved, but still not as “telepathic” as Cursor’s global codebase indexing.

⚡ Getting Started: Your First 5 Minutes

Installing Copilot in 2025 is still just adding an extension to VS Code, but the onboarding has changed. Here is what happened when I set up a fresh environment:

I opened a Python project that was missing a requirements.txt. Instead of creating the file manually, I opened the Copilot Edits panel (Ctrl+Shift+I) and typed:

“Scan this project, identify all imports, and generate a requirements.txt file with flexible versioning.”

The Result:

• It didn’t just dump text in the chat.
• It opened a “Proposed Edit” view.
• It showed me a diff of the new file.
• I clicked “Accept,” and the file was created.

🏗️ The “Workspace” Feature: Agentic Coding Tested

This is the feature GitHub hopes will kill Cursor. Copilot Workspace isn’t just a chat window; it’s a dedicated environment for “Task Execution.”

I tested it with a vague prompt: “Add a dark mode toggle to the settings page using Tailwind CSS.”

How Copilot Workspace handled it:

1. Brainstorming Phase: It didn’t write code yet. It listed 3 potential ways to implement dark mode (System preference, LocalStorage toggle, Database preference). I clicked “LocalStorage.”
2. Planning Phase: It generated a step-by-step plan:
   • Modify tailwind.config.js to enable darkMode: 'class'.
   • Create ThemeContext.tsx.
   • Update Settings.tsx UI.
3. Implementation Phase: Once I approved the plan, it generated code for all 3 files simultaneously.

🧠 Model Choice: Claude Opus 4.5 vs Gemini 3

The biggest update of late 2025 is the Model Picker. For the first time, you can choose the brain behind the ghost.

Model	Best For	My Experience
Claude Opus 4.5	Complex logic, Refactoring	The absolute winner. It caught a recursion bug in my React component that GPT-5.1 missed completely. Slower, but smarter.
GPT-5.1	Speed, Simple scripts	Blazing fast. Good for “write a regex for email” type tasks. Too simple for architecture work.
Gemini 3 Pro	Large Context, Docs	Surprising contender. I fed it a 100-page PDF of documentation (using Gemini CLI extensions style context) and it answered perfectly.

💡 Swipe left to see all models →

⚔️ Head-to-Head: Copilot vs Cursor vs Claude Code

I ran the same task on all three tools: “Refactor this 500-line monolithic Node.js file into a modular MVC structure.”

1. GitHub Copilot (Pro+)

Time: 8 minutes.
Result: It created the folder structure correctly but forgot to update the require paths in the main app.js. I had to manually debug the “module not found” errors.

2. Cursor (Composer Mode)

Time: 4 minutes.
Result: Flawless. It deleted the old code, created new files, AND updated the imports automatically. It “knew” the project structure better.

3. Claude Code (CLI)

Time: 6 minutes.
Result: It wrote the most elegant code (cleaner abstraction), but because it runs in the terminal, I had to copy-paste or accept diffs blindly. It’s powerful but feels disconnected from the editor.

Winner: Cursor still wins on pure speed and integration. Copilot is a close second, largely thanks to the new Claude Opus 4.5 integration.

💰 Pricing Breakdown: Pro vs Pro+ (The Hidden Costs)

This is where GitHub gets tricky. They now have two main tiers for individuals.

• Copilot Pro ($10/month): You get autocomplete and chat, BUT you are limited to 300 “fast” requests per month on top-tier models. After that, you’re throttled to slower/standard models.
• Copilot Pro+ ($39/month): This is the new power-user tier. You get 1,500 premium requests, priority access to Claude Opus 4.5, and full access to Copilot Workspace features.

✨ GitHub Spark: The No-Code Curveball

Included in the Pro+ plan is a weird little tool called GitHub Spark. It allows you to build “micro-apps” using natural language. I tried asking it to “Build a Spotify playlist organizer that connects to their API.”

It didn’t write a Python script. It built a fully functional web interface live. You can tweak the UI by dragging elements or just typing “Make the buttons round.”

It reminds me of Google Opal, but integrated into your GitHub repo. It’s not for “real” production code yet, but for internal tools or quick prototypes, it’s dangerously fast.

🔍 Reality Check: Marketing vs Truth

🔍 REALITY CHECK

Marketing Claims: “Seamlessly switch between models for any task.”

Actual Experience: Switching is easy, but context isn’t always preserved perfectly. If you start a chat with Gemini and switch to Claude halfway through, it sometimes “forgets” the previous instruction nuances.

Verdict: Great feature, but stick to one model per session for best results.

❓ FAQs: Your Questions Answered

Can I use Copilot with models other than GPT?

Yes! As of late 2025, Copilot supports Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.5, Google’s Gemini 3 Pro, and OpenAI’s GPT-5.1. You can switch between them in the Chat panel.

Is Copilot Pro+ worth the $39/month?

Only if you are a full-time developer. The jump from 300 to 1,500 premium requests is necessary if you rely on the “Agent” or “Workspace” features heavily. For casual coding, the $10 plan is fine.

Does Copilot read my private code?

GitHub states that for Business and Enterprise plans, your code is not used to train their models. For the individual Pro plans, you need to opt-out in your settings if you don’t want your snippets used for training.

How does it compare to Claude Code?

Claude Code is a CLI tool better suited for deep architectural changes and debugging. Copilot is better for the “flow” of writing code inside an editor.

Can I use Copilot in editors other than VS Code?

Yes, Copilot works in JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ, PyCharm), Visual Studio, Vim, and Xcode. However, the newest features like “Copilot Edits” and “Workspace” usually land in VS Code first.

What is the difference between Copilot and GitHub Spark?

Copilot helps you write code in your IDE. Spark builds entire micro-apps for you from a prompt, handling the hosting and UI automatically.

🏆 Final Verdict

In 2025, GitHub Copilot is no longer the “only” choice, but it might be the “safest” one. The introduction of Copilot Workspace and the ability to use Claude Opus 4.5 has largely neutralized the advantages held by competitors like Cursor.

Use GitHub Copilot Pro+ if:

• You want the best models (Claude/Gemini) without managing separate API keys.
• You work in a team that already pays for GitHub Enterprise.
• You want the stability of Microsoft’s ecosystem.

Stick with Cursor if:

• You want a tool that feels truly “AI-Native” rather than an extension.
• You work on massive, complex codebases where deep indexing is critical.

Ready to upgrade your workflow?
Try GitHub Copilot Pro here

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Related Reading

• Antigravity vs Cursor: The Battle for AI Editors
• Claude Code vs Gemini 3 CLI: Terminal AI Showdown
• Claude Opus 4.5 vs Gemini 3.0: Which Model Codes Better?
• Gemini 3 Review: Google’s Coding Powerhouse
• Cursor 2.0 Review: Is It Still the King?
• Google Opal Review: The No-Code AI Builder

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Last Updated: December 6, 2025 | Tool Version: GitHub Copilot Pro+ (Dec ’25 Update) | Next Review Update: January 2026