# GitHub Copilot CLI review

> GitHub Copilot CLI is a terminal tool that runs GitHub's Copilot coding agent locally to build, debug, and understand code through natural language.

Devtoolwatch Board, the week of Oct 25–31, 2026. Canonical page: https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/copilot-cli/

## TL;DR

GitHub Copilot CLI brings GitHub's Copilot coding agent to the command line on Linux, macOS, and Windows. GitHub Copilot CLI is for developers with an active Copilot subscription who want agentic help without leaving the terminal. GitHub Copilot CLI ships with GitHub's MCP server, works with your repositories, issues, and pull requests, and asks for approval before each action.

## GitHub Copilot CLI at a glance

- **Category:** [Coding agents](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/categories/coding-agents/)
- **Maintained by:** GitHub (organization, [@github](https://github.com/github) on GitHub)
- **Language:** Shell
- **Repository:** [github.com/github/copilot-cli](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli)
- **npm package:** [@github/copilot](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@github/copilot) 1.0.102
- **Latest release:** [v1.0.102](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/releases/tag/v1.0.102) on GitHub, Oct 21, 2026
- **First published:** Jan 6, 2023

## What GitHub Copilot CLI does

- GitHub Copilot CLI builds, edits, debugs, and refactors code with an agent that can plan and execute complex tasks.
- GitHub Copilot CLI accesses your GitHub repositories, issues, and pull requests through natural language, authenticated with your GitHub account.
- GitHub Copilot CLI ships with GitHub's MCP server by default and supports custom MCP servers.
- GitHub Copilot CLI shows every action for preview and runs nothing without your explicit approval.
- GitHub Copilot CLI uses separately installed Language Server Protocol servers for go-to-definition, hover information, and diagnostics.
- GitHub Copilot CLI lets you switch models with the /model command, including Claude Sonnet 4.5, Claude Sonnet 4, and GPT-5.
- GitHub Copilot CLI supports a prompt mode for -p and piped stdin runs.

### How it works

You launch copilot in a folder that contains your code and chat with the agent in the terminal. GitHub Copilot CLI uses the same agentic harness as GitHub's Copilot coding agent. It connects to GitHub through your account or a fine-grained PAT, to MCP servers, and to LSP servers configured in ~/.copilot/lsp-config.json or .github/lsp.json.

## How to install GitHub Copilot CLI

**With the install script (macOS and Linux)**

```
curl -fsSL https://gh.io/copilot-install | bash
```

**With Homebrew (macOS and Linux)**

```
brew install copilot-cli
```

**With npm (macOS, Linux, and Windows)**

```
npm install -g @github/copilot
```

### Requirements

- An active GitHub Copilot subscription
- PowerShell v6 or higher on Windows
- Linux, macOS, or Windows
- A GitHub login or a fine-grained PAT with the "Copilot Requests" permission, set in GH_TOKEN or GITHUB_TOKEN

### First steps

1. Run copilot in a folder that contains the code you want to work with.
2. If you are not logged in, enter the /login slash command and follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Optionally, run /model to choose a model other than the default Claude Sonnet 4.5.
4. Optionally, launch with copilot --experimental to try features in development, such as Autopilot mode.

## Who GitHub Copilot CLI is for

- Developers who want an AI coding agent in the terminal without switching context
- Teams whose work lives in GitHub repositories, issues, and pull requests
- Developers who want to approve each agent action before it runs
- Users who want to extend the agent with custom MCP servers

### Limitations

- GitHub Copilot CLI uses one premium request from your monthly quota each time you submit a prompt.
- GitHub Copilot CLI is unavailable if your organization or enterprise administrator has disabled it.
- GitHub Copilot CLI does not bundle LSP servers, so you must install and configure them separately.
- GitHub Copilot CLI is early and changes quickly, so the project asks users to keep the client updated.

## Usage data (the week of Oct 25–31, 2026)

- Board rank: #280 overall, #89 in Coding agents, momentum score 34
- Downloads that week: 1.9M (+7% vs 4-week average)
- New GitHub stars per week (last 12 weeks): Aug 9: 40; Aug 16: 29; Aug 23: 24; Aug 30: 26; Sep 6: 42; Sep 13: 34; Sep 20: 34; Sep 27: 34; Oct 4: 25; Oct 11: 37; Oct 18: 34; Oct 25: 34

## GitHub Copilot CLI alternatives

| Rank | Tool | Stars | Downloads/wk |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | [Cindy](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/makecindy-cindy/) | 8.8k | – |
| #2 | [OpenMausBot](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/milind-soni-openmausbot/) | 9.6k | – |
| #3 | [Orca](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/stablyai-orca/) | 111.7k | – |
| #4 | [OpenBot](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/copilotkit-openbot/) | 9.1k | – |
| #5 | [Agent Reach](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/panniantong-agent-reach/) | 107.2k | – |
| #6 | [Skill Recorder](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/microsoft-skill-recorder/) | 5.6k | – |

## GitHub Copilot CLI FAQ

### Is GitHub Copilot CLI free and open source?

GitHub Copilot CLI's code is on GitHub (github/copilot-cli), but the repository doesn't declare a standard open-source license. Check its license file before using it commercially.

### How do I install GitHub Copilot CLI?

Run `curl -fsSL https://gh.io/copilot-install | bash`. The install section above has the other options from the project's README.

### Is GitHub Copilot CLI still maintained?

Yes. The github/copilot-cli repository was last updated on Oct 21, 2026, and the latest release, v1.0.102 on GitHub, came out on Oct 21, 2026.

### How popular is GitHub Copilot CLI?

GitHub Copilot CLI has 11.3k GitHub stars as of Nov 1, 2026. It gained 34 new stars in the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, against a 12-week average of 33 a week. Its main package had about 1.9M downloads that week, +7% against its own 4-week average. That made it #89 among AI coding agents on the Devtoolwatch Board.

### GitHub Copilot CLI vs Claude Code: how do they compare?

GitHub Copilot CLI and Claude Code are both tracked by Devtoolwatch as AI coding agents. GitHub Copilot CLI has 11.3k GitHub stars and Claude Code has 154.1k. In the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, GitHub Copilot CLI's main package had 1.9M downloads and Claude Code's had 11.6M. Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic coding tool that reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands, and handles git workflows through natural language. [Claude Code review](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/claude-code/)

### GitHub Copilot CLI vs OpenCode: how do they compare?

GitHub Copilot CLI and OpenCode are both tracked by Devtoolwatch as AI coding agents. GitHub Copilot CLI has 11.3k GitHub stars and OpenCode has 223.6k. OpenCode is an open source AI coding agent that helps you write and run code in a terminal, desktop app, or IDE extension. [OpenCode review](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/opencode/)

### What are the best alternatives to GitHub Copilot CLI?

Other AI coding agents on the Devtoolwatch Board in the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, by momentum: Cindy (#1), OpenMausBot (#2), Orca (#3), OpenBot (#4), Agent Reach (#5). The alternatives table above has their numbers.

### Is GitHub Copilot CLI an agent?

Yes. GitHub Copilot CLI runs the same agentic harness as GitHub's Copilot coding agent. GitHub Copilot CLI can plan and execute complex tasks, such as building, editing, debugging, and refactoring code, and it asks for approval before each action.

### How do I use GitHub Copilot CLI in the terminal?

Launch copilot in a folder that contains your code, then describe what you want in natural language. If you are not logged in, run /login. Use /model to change models and /lsp to check language servers.

### How do I use GitHub Copilot CLI on Windows?

GitHub Copilot CLI supports Windows with PowerShell v6 or higher. Install it with winget install GitHub.Copilot or with npm, then run copilot.

### Which models does GitHub Copilot CLI use?

GitHub Copilot CLI uses Claude Sonnet 4.5 by default. Run the /model slash command to choose from other available models, including Claude Sonnet 4 and GPT-5.

### What is Autopilot mode in GitHub Copilot CLI?

Autopilot is an experimental mode that encourages the agent to keep working until a task is completed. Enable experimental mode with copilot --experimental or /experimental, then press Shift+Tab to cycle through modes.

### Can GitHub Copilot CLI run non-interactively?

Yes. GitHub Copilot CLI has a prompt mode for -p and piped stdin runs. The v1.0.102 release notes say this mode honors managed Auto model selection.

## Sources

1. [github/copilot-cli on GitHub](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli)
2. [GitHub Copilot CLI README](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md)
3. [@github/copilot on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@github/copilot)
4. [Release v1.0.102 (Oct 21, 2026)](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/releases/tag/v1.0.102)
5. [Release v1.0.102-1 (Oct 21, 2026)](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/releases/tag/v1.0.102-1)
6. [Release v1.0.102-0 (Oct 21, 2026)](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/releases/tag/v1.0.102-0)
7. [Hacker News: GitHub Copilot CLI: The Copilot coding agent in the terminal [public preview]](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45377734)
8. [Devtoolwatch Board, the week of Oct 25–31, 2026](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/)