GitHub Copilot CLI

Getting Started, Pricing & Access

Who can access GitHub Copilot CLI?

Copilot CLI is available to all developers with an active GitHub Copilot paid subscription (Individual, Business, or Enterprise plans). No separate billing or API keys required.

How much does it cost to use Copilot CLI?

Copilot CLI access is included as part of your Copilot paid subscription. Each interaction with the agent draws on your respective plan’s premium request allowance. For additional information on billing, please refer to our documentation.

How do I install and set up Copilot CLI?

Install via npm with npm install -g @github/copilot, then authenticate using your existing GitHub credentials. The CLI automatically inherits your organization's Copilot policies and governance settings.

I am under a Copilot Business / Enterprise plan. Will I have access to the CLI?

Yes. Copilot CLI works with your existing Copilot Business or Enterprise subscription — no additional billing or setup required. However, since this is currently in public preview, your organization admin needs to enable preview features for your account. Contact your GitHub admin to request access to Copilot CLI preview features. Once approved, install via instructions above.

What operating systems are supported?

Copilot CLI supports macOS, Linux, and Windows (via WSL).

Capabilities & Functionality

Can I use Copilot CLI with any code editor?

Copilot CLI operates independently in your terminal and can modify files that any editor can then display, making it useful regardless of your editor choice — especially for editors that don't have official Copilot extensions.

Can I extend Copilot CLI with custom tools?

Yes, Copilot CLI supports Model Context Protocol (MCP) server integrations, allowing you to add custom capabilities and contextual richness tailored to your unique development environment.

What types of development tasks work best with Copilot CLI?

Copilot CLI excels at legacy codebase navigation, cross-platform development setup, and multi-step implementations, and any scenario requiring autonomous task execution with terminal-native workflows.

Does Copilot CLI support subagents or multi-agent workflows?

Subagents are not available in the current Public Preview release, but they are part of our planned roadmap for future releases.

How does chat history and session persistence work?

Copilot CLI maintains session persistence within and across sessions, allowing you to build on previous conversations and maintain context throughout your development workflow.

Will Copilot CLI integrate directly into VS Code?

Direct integration into VS Code is not available in the current Public Preview release, but it is being considered in our roadmap for future releases.

Security & Governance

How does Copilot CLI handle security and compliance?

Copilot CLI automatically inherits your organization's existing Copilot governance policies. It's built on GitHub's trusted platform infrastructure with the same security standards and compliance that protect millions of developers.

How does file modification and command execution work?

Every file change and command execution requires your explicit approval before being applied. You maintain complete visibility and control over all autonomous actions.