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IntelliCode vs Copilot (2026): What Still Works and What Replaced It
IntelliCode and GitHub Copilot (Agentdex profile) are both Microsoft-backed tools that suggest code as you type, but they are very different products, and in 2026 the comparison has changed. Microsoft deprecated the IntelliCode extensions for VS Code in December 2025 and now points VS Code users to Copilot. In Visual Studio, IntelliCode is still built in and free. This guide explains what each tool does today, how they compare on privacy, price and power, and which one to use. Facts were checked against Microsoft and GitHub documentation on October 24, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- In VS Code, IntelliCode is deprecated. On December 16, 2025, Microsoft deprecated IntelliCode, IntelliCode Completions, IntelliCode for C# Dev Kit and IntelliCode API Usage Examples, and removed starred completions and gray-text suggestions. Standard IntelliSense still works.
- In Visual Studio, IntelliCode is still included by default and free, with whole-line completions for C# and smart IntelliSense ranking.
- IntelliCode runs locally. Microsoft says its whole-line completions run on your machine and no user code is sent to Microsoft.
- Copilot is a full AI assistant with chat, agents and code review. It has a free plan, and paid plans start at $10/month.
- The practical answer: use Copilot (or another AI assistant) for AI help, and treat IntelliCode as a free, private extra if you work in Visual Studio.
IntelliCode vs Copilot at a glance
| IntelliCode | GitHub Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Ranks IntelliSense suggestions and completes the current line | Multi-line completions, next edit suggestions, chat, agents, code review |
| Where it runs | Visual Studio (VS Code extensions deprecated) | VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, github.com, CLI and more |
| Model location | Local model on your machine | Cloud models from several AI providers |
| Code sent to the cloud | No, according to Microsoft | Yes, to provide suggestions |
| Languages | C#, XAML, C++, JavaScript, TypeScript and Visual Basic, with whole-line completion for C# | Most popular languages |
| Price | Free with Visual Studio | Free plan; Pro $10/month, Pro+ $39/month, Max $100/month; Business $19 and Enterprise $39 per seat |
What IntelliCode is in 2026
IntelliCode started as an AI layer on top of IntelliSense. It learned common patterns from open-source code and moved the most likely completions to the top of the list, marked with a star. Later it added whole-line completions, shown as gray text you accept with Tab.
In VS Code, that's over. Microsoft announced on December 16, 2025 that the IntelliCode extensions for VS Code were deprecated, support ended, and starred completions and gray-text suggestions were removed. Microsoft recommends the GitHub Copilot Chat extension for AI-assisted development. Language-server IntelliSense, such as the C# tooling, still gives you normal completions.
In Visual Studio, IntelliCode is still part of the product. According to Microsoft's documentation, it's included by default and free for all Visual Studio users, works with C#, XAML, C++, JavaScript, TypeScript and Visual Basic, offers whole-line completions for C# in Visual Studio 2022 and later, completes method arguments and suggests repeated edits in C#. The older team-trained custom models were replaced by a local deep-learning model.
What Copilot is in 2026
GitHub Copilot is a much broader tool. It completes whole lines and blocks, predicts your next edit, answers questions in chat, edits multiple files in agent mode, works on GitHub issues as a cloud agent and reviews pull requests. It runs in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, on github.com and in the terminal through the Copilot CLI.
Copilot Free includes 2,000 code completions a month. Paid plans include unlimited completions and a monthly allowance of GitHub AI Credits for chat, agents and premium models: Pro is $10/month, Pro+ $39/month and Max $100/month. Verified students get Copilot Student free. For full details, see our Copilot pricing guide and Copilot Student guide.
Privacy: the one area where IntelliCode wins
IntelliCode's whole-line completions run on a local model, and Microsoft says no user code is sent to Microsoft. That makes it useful in locked-down environments where cloud AI is not allowed. Copilot sends code context to the cloud to generate suggestions. GitHub says data from Copilot Business and Enterprise is not used for model training, and admins can exclude files from Copilot. Individual plans can be used for training unless you opt out in your settings.
Can you use both?
Yes, in Visual Studio. IntelliCode keeps improving IntelliSense in the background, while Copilot adds gray-text suggestions, chat and agents. If both offer a completion, you can just pick the one you want. In VS Code, there's nothing to combine anymore: you use built-in IntelliSense plus Copilot or another assistant.
Alternatives if you don't want Copilot
If you were relying on IntelliCode in VS Code and don't want Copilot, there are good options. Cline (Agentdex profile) and Kilo Code are open-source agents that work with any model, including local models through Ollama for fully private use. Cursor (Agentdex profile) and Devin Desktop (Agentdex profile) are AI editors built on VS Code. Our roundups of AI code completion tools and Copilot alternatives compare them.
Which should you use?
- VS Code users: IntelliCode is no longer an option. Start with Copilot Free, or pick an alternative.
- Visual Studio users who can't use cloud AI: keep IntelliCode, which is free and local.
- Visual Studio users who want real AI help: add Copilot and keep IntelliCode on.
- Teams: Copilot Business or Enterprise for policy controls and training opt-out by default. See our Copilot Enterprise guide.
Whichever tool you choose, give it project rules so suggestions match your conventions. The free Vibe Coder Starter Kit includes a Copilot instructions template.
Verdict
This is no longer a close contest. IntelliCode was a smart upgrade to autocomplete, and it remains a free, private helper inside Visual Studio. Copilot is a full AI coding assistant, and Microsoft itself now recommends it in VS Code. For most developers the question isn't IntelliCode or Copilot, but Copilot or one of its competitors.
FAQ
Is IntelliCode discontinued?
In VS Code, yes. Microsoft deprecated the IntelliCode extensions for VS Code on December 16, 2025. In Visual Studio, IntelliCode is still included and free.
Is IntelliCode the same as GitHub Copilot?
No. IntelliCode improves IntelliSense with ranked suggestions and single-line completions from a local model. Copilot is a cloud-based AI assistant with multi-line completions, chat, agents and code review.
Is IntelliCode free?
Yes. IntelliCode is included free with Visual Studio. It doesn't need a separate subscription.
Does IntelliCode send my code to Microsoft?
Microsoft says IntelliCode's whole-line completions run locally and no user code is sent to Microsoft. Copilot does send code context to the cloud to generate suggestions.
What replaced IntelliCode in VS Code?
Microsoft recommends GitHub Copilot, which has a free plan. Built-in IntelliSense from language extensions still provides standard completions.
Can I use IntelliCode and Copilot together?
Yes, in Visual Studio. IntelliCode ranks IntelliSense suggestions while Copilot adds AI completions, chat and agents.
Written by Agentdex Editorial. Agentdex is an independent directory reviewing AI coding tools; we are not affiliated with the companies mentioned. Prices and features are as of October 24, 2026, from official sources linked above. Always confirm on the vendor's site.