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JetBrains AI Assistant and GitHub Copilot overlap heavily, but they are not the same choice inside IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, and the rest of the JetBrains ecosystem. JetBrains AI Assistant is built around the IDE and can host several agents and providers. GitHub Copilot is primarily a GitHub service with a JetBrains plugin, plus a separate way to run Copilot as an agent inside AI Assistant.
That distinction matters. The full GitHub Copilot experience in a JetBrains IDE comes from the GitHub Copilot plugin. Selecting GitHub Copilot inside the AI Assistant agent picker currently gives you chat and agent capabilities, but not Copilot autocomplete, next-edit suggestions, inline chat, code review, or commit-message generation.
JetBrains AI Assistant vs. GitHub Copilot: the short answer
Choose JetBrains AI Assistant if you want an IDE-native assistant with multiple provider options, integrated agents such as Junie, and JetBrains-specific project controls such as .aiignore.
Choose the GitHub Copilot plugin if inline completion, GitHub integration, predictable autocomplete behavior, and Copilot’s broader coding workflow are your priorities. Copilot is also usually the simpler choice for a team already paying for GitHub Copilot.
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Use Copilot inside AI Assistant only when chat or agent work is what you need. It is not a substitute for installing the Copilot plugin.
The comparison depends on which Copilot you mean
There are three ways to use GitHub’s tools from a JetBrains IDE:
- GitHub Copilot plugin: the full JetBrains integration, including completions, next-edit suggestions, inline chat, code review, and commit-message generation.
- GitHub Copilot in AI Assistant: an agent selected from the top of the AI Assistant chat panel. This currently provides chat and agent functions only.
- GitHub Copilot CLI: a terminal-based interface that can be used from the IDE’s integrated terminal.
The meaningful feature comparison is therefore JetBrains AI Assistant versus the full GitHub Copilot plugin, not JetBrains AI Assistant versus Copilot-as-agent.
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Feature comparison
| Capability | JetBrains AI Assistant | GitHub Copilot plugin |
|---|---|---|
| Inline code completion | Yes; can generate lines, blocks, and functions | Yes |
| Next-edit suggestions | Available where supported through inline assistance | Yes |
| Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-file coding agents | Yes; including integrated agents such as Junie, Claude Agent, and Codex, depending on activation | Yes; multiple agent harnesses |
| Inline editor chat | AI Assistant supports in-editor assistance | Yes |
| Code review | Self-review features | Copilot code review |
| Commit-message generation | Yes | Yes |
| MCP | Yes | Yes |
| Bring your own key or provider account | Yes, depending on the feature or agent | Available for supported Copilot features |
Installation and sign-in
Install JetBrains AI Assistant
- Open Settings | Plugins | Marketplace.
- Search for AI Assistant.
- Click Install and restart the IDE if prompted.
- Activate JetBrains AI, an individual agent, or a supported provider/BYOK configuration.
The plugin is not bundled with JetBrains IDEs and is disabled by default for individual users. A user without a subscription may be offered a 30-day AI Pro trial, subject to current eligibility rules.
JetBrains presents activation choices such as Start with JetBrains AI, Activate an agent, and Bring Your Own Key. Activating one agent does not necessarily enable every AI Assistant feature. For example, an agent-only setup can leave ordinary AI Assistant functions unavailable.
Install the full GitHub Copilot plugin
- Open Settings | Plugins | Marketplace.
- Search for GitHub Copilot.
- Click Install and restart the IDE.
- Go to Tools | GitHub Copilot | Login to GitHub.
- Click Copy and Open, enter the device code in your browser, and approve Authorize GitHub Copilot Plugin.
Copilot supports IntelliJ IDEA Community, Ultimate, and Educational editions, along with JetBrains IDEs including Android Studio, CLion, DataGrip, GoLand, PhpStorm, PyCharm, Rider, RubyMine, RustRover, WebStorm, and others. The exact compatibility depends on the current plugin and IDE versions.
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Use Copilot as an AI Assistant agent
If your GitHub account has a valid Copilot subscription, open AI Assistant with Alt+A on Windows or Linux, or Command+Shift+A on macOS. Select GitHub Copilot from the agent picker at the top of the chat panel.
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Pricing and usage limits
JetBrains AI plans
| Plan | Price | Included allowance |
|---|---|---|
| AI Free | Free | 3 AI Credits per 30 days |
| AI Pro | $20/month | 20 AI Credits per 30 days |
| AI Ultimate | $60/month | 70 AI Credits per 30 days |
| AI Trial | Free | 20 AI Credits during the trial period |
| AI Enterprise | $60 per current documentation | Quota is not publicly disclosed and may be higher than AI Ultimate |
JetBrains credits are used by cloud-based AI features. Check the JetBrains AI widget for your remaining quota and reset date. Organizations using JetBrains Central may instead draw from a shared credit pool.
GitHub Copilot plans
| Plan | Price | Notable allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 2,000 completions and 50 chat requests per month |
| Pro | $10/month | Unlimited completion and next-edit suggestions; $15 monthly AI-credit allowance |
| Pro+ | $39/month | $70 monthly AI-credit allowance and premium-model access |
| Max | $100/month | $200 monthly AI-credit allowance and higher-volume agent use |
Copilot’s billing is easy to misunderstand. Code completions and next-edit suggestions do not consume AI credits. Chat, agent mode, code review, Copilot CLI, and related agent features do. GitHub values one AI credit at $0.01 and allows paid users to configure paid overage usage. Beginning June 1, 2026, GitHub says code-review workflows also consume GitHub Actions minutes.
Settings, control, and privacy
JetBrains AI Assistant controls
General settings are at Settings | Tools | AI Assistant. Inline completion and next-edit options are under Settings | General | Editor | Code Completion | Inline.
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One-click scans. No signup required.
For project-level controls, open Settings | Tools | AI Assistant | Project Settings. There you can:
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- 【Sturdy & Protective】 ：Made of sturdy metal, it can support up to 17.6 lbs (8kg) weight on top; With 2 rubber mats on the hook and anti-skid silicone pads on top & bottom, it can secure your laptop in place and maximum protect your device from scratches and sliding. Moreover, smooth edges will never hurt your hands.
- 【Heat Dissipation】 ：The top of the laptop stand is designed with multiple ventilation holes. The open design offers greater ventilation and more airflow to cool your laptop during operation other than it just lays flat on the table.
- 【Portable & Foldable】：The foldable design allows you to easily slip it in your backpack. Ideal for people who travel for business a lot.
- 【Broad Compatibility】：Our desktop book stand is compatible with all laptops from 10-15.6 inches, such as MacBook Air/ Pro, Google Pixelbook, Dell XPS, HP, ASUS, Lenovo ThinkPad, Acer, Chromebook and Microsoft Surface, etc.Be your ideal companion in Home, Office & Outdoor.
- Enable or disable AI Assistant for the project.
- Enable
.aiignore. - Create or open the project’s
.aiignorefile. - Set the path to rules used for AI Self-Review.
To see prompts and code fragments sent to the selected model provider, use Navigate | Search Everywhere, search for Open AI Assistant Requests Log in Editor, and open the resulting ai-assistant-requests.md. The log is retained for the current AI Assistant session.
JetBrains says its detailed code-related usage setting is disabled by default. You can find it at Settings | Appearance & Behavior | System Settings | Data Sharing under Send detailed code-related data.
GitHub Copilot controls
Use the Copilot status icon in the bottom-right status area to turn suggestions on or off. Disable Completions disables them globally; the same menu can disable completions only for the current language.
More settings are available at File | Settings | Languages & Frameworks | GitHub Copilot. On macOS, use the application menu instead of File. This area includes suggestion behavior, appearance, update checks, and language activation.
To change the inline-completion model, select the Copilot status icon, choose Edit Model for Completion, then use Languages & Frameworks | GitHub Copilot | Model for completions. The list can contain only one model when no alternative is available.
JetBrains AI Assistant sends prompts and relevant project context to the selected provider. GitHub’s current policy says that, for individual Free, Pro, Pro+, and Max users, prompts, suggestions, snippets, and related context may be used to train and improve models unless the user opts out in GitHub settings. Business and Enterprise handling is different. Do not assume that a content-exclusion policy covers every Copilot feature in every JetBrains IDE; verify the supported-feature matrix for your version.
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Which tool is better for common tasks?
| Situation | Better starting point | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| You mainly want autocomplete while typing | GitHub Copilot plugin | Its completion and next-edit workflow is a central feature, and Pro includes unlimited use of both |
| You work almost exclusively in JetBrains IDEs | JetBrains AI Assistant | It provides deeper IDE-native project settings and access to JetBrains-integrated agents |
| Your team already manages GitHub Copilot | GitHub Copilot plugin | Sign-in, licensing, and organizational administration stay in the GitHub system |
| You need multiple providers or BYOK | JetBrains AI Assistant | It supports several activation and provider-account paths, depending on the feature |
| You need an autonomous multi-file agent | Either, after testing | Both support agents, but model, harness, permissions, and billing behavior differ |
| You only need conversational help | Either | Both provide chat; compare the subscription you already have |
Common mistakes when choosing or configuring them
Installing the chat window instead of AI Assistant
Seeing an AI Chat tool window does not prove that the AI Assistant plugin is installed or activated. The tool window and AI widget cannot access project code as AI Assistant features until the plugin and an applicable activation method are configured.
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Assuming an agent activation enables everything
Activating Junie, Claude Agent, Codex, or another agent can be narrower than activating JetBrains AI itself. Check whether completion, chat, self-review, and other ordinary AI Assistant features are available after setup.
Expecting Copilot autocomplete from the AI Assistant integration
The Copilot entry in AI Assistant is currently chat/agent-only. Install the GitHub Copilot plugin for completions, next-edit suggestions, inline chat, Copilot code review, and Copilot commit messages.
Forgetting that settings can be language-specific
Copilot can be active globally but disabled for the language currently open. Check the bottom-right status icon before troubleshooting authentication or model availability.
Changing authorization in an old chat
After revoking an agent’s authorization and selecting a different authentication method, create a new chat. Existing chats retain their previous authentication method.
Treating .aiignore as a universal privacy switch
.aiignore controls AI Assistant access after you enable it in project settings. It does not automatically govern unrelated AI plugins, including the GitHub Copilot plugin.
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- 【Adjustable & Ergonomic】：This laptop stand can be adjusted to a comfortable height and angle according to your actual needs, letting you fix posture and reduce your neck fatigue, back pain and eye strain. Very comfortable for working in home, office and outdoor.
- 【Sturdy & Protective】 ：Made of sturdy metal, it can support up to 17.6 lbs (8kg) weight on top; With 2 rubber mats on the hook and anti-skid silicone pads on top & bottom, it can secure your laptop in place and maximum protect your device from scratches and sliding. Moreover, smooth edges will never hurt your hands.
- 【Heat Dissipation】 ：The top of the laptop stand is designed with multiple ventilation holes. The open design offers greater ventilation and more airflow to cool your laptop during operation other than it just lays flat on the table.
- 【Portable & Foldable】：The foldable design allows you to easily slip it in your backpack. Ideal for people who travel for business a lot.
- 【Broad Compatibility】：Our printer stand is compatible with all laptops from 10-15.6 inches, such as MacBook Air/ Pro, Google Pixelbook, Dell XPS, HP, ASUS, Lenovo ThinkPad, Acer, Chromebook and Microsoft Surface, etc.Be your ideal companion in Home, Office & Outdoor.
Ignoring product-specific limitations
JetBrains states that AI Assistant does not share or access database data in DataGrip, although database-related MCP permissions are configured separately. AI service availability can also vary by territory because of model-provider restrictions.
A practical decision process
- List the feature you actually need. If the answer is autocomplete, compare the full plugins—not Copilot as an AI Assistant agent.
- Check existing licenses. A GitHub Copilot subscription may make the plugin the lower-friction option; a JetBrains subscription may provide the broadest AI Assistant coverage.
- Decide where code context should be controlled. JetBrains offers project-level
.aiignorecontrols for AI Assistant. Copilot policies depend more heavily on GitHub’s account, organization, client, and feature support. - Test an ordinary project. Try completion, a multi-file change, code review, and commit-message generation separately. Do not infer plugin behavior from the agent picker.
- Check usage before committing. JetBrains uses AI Credits for cloud features; Copilot separates non-metered completion from credit-consuming chat and agent operations.
Can you install both?
Yes, but two assistants can produce competing inline suggestions, duplicate chat entry points, and confusing usage charges. If both are installed, disable one completion provider while evaluating the other. In Copilot, use the status icon and choose Disable Completions; in JetBrains, review the inline completion settings under Settings | General | Editor | Code Completion | Inline.
Running both can still make sense when you deliberately use one for completion and the other for a particular agent or provider. Document that arrangement for a team, especially when project files may be sent to different model services.
FAQ
Is JetBrains AI Assistant better than GitHub Copilot?
Neither is universally better. JetBrains AI Assistant is the stronger fit for JetBrains-native controls, multiple providers, and integrated agents. The GitHub Copilot plugin is usually the better fit for inline completion, next-edit suggestions, and teams already using GitHub’s platform.
Does GitHub Copilot inside JetBrains AI Assistant provide autocomplete?
No. The current Copilot integration inside AI Assistant provides chat and agent capabilities. Install the separate GitHub Copilot plugin to get Copilot inline completion, next-edit suggestions, inline chat, code review, and commit-message generation.
Can I use JetBrains AI Assistant and GitHub Copilot together?
Yes. Both can be installed, although competing completion providers may be distracting. Disable one provider’s completions while testing, and remember that each service has its own authentication, data controls, and usage billing.
Is GitHub Copilot Free unlimited in JetBrains IDEs?
No. GitHub’s current Free plan includes 2,000 completions and 50 chat requests per month. Paid Copilot Pro includes unlimited code completion and next-edit suggestions, while chat and agent features use the plan’s AI-credit allowance.
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For most JetBrains developers, the decision is straightforward: install GitHub Copilot when fast autocomplete and GitHub-centered workflows matter most; choose JetBrains AI Assistant when IDE integration, provider flexibility, and JetBrains project controls matter more. Do not compare either product using only the Copilot agent shown inside AI Assistant—the full Copilot feature set requires the separate Copilot plugin.
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