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Cover image for Why Developers Are Quietly Choosing Codeium Over GitHub Copilot in 2025
Abdul Rehman Khan
Abdul Rehman Khan

Posted on • Originally published at devtechinsights.com

Why Developers Are Quietly Choosing Codeium Over GitHub Copilot in 2025

πŸš€ Why Developers Are Quietly Choosing Codeium Over GitHub Copilot in 2025

GitHub Copilot has been a dominant player in AI-powered coding since its launch. But in 2025, many developers are switching gears β€” opting instead for Codeium.

Is it just about saving money? Or is something deeper at play?

Let’s dig into why this shift is happening, and what Codeium offers that has developers making the switch.


πŸ’Έ Codeium vs Copilot: Price vs Value

While GitHub Copilot offers a powerful experience, it's not free. Codeium, on the other hand, provides its core features at no cost for individuals β€” a huge draw for freelancers, students, and indie developers.

Feature GitHub Copilot Codeium
Monthly Cost $10 (individuals) / $19 (business) Free (individuals)
IDE Support Primarily VS Code, JetBrains 40+ IDEs including Vim, Jupyter
Data Privacy Cloud-based Local inference options available
Offline Use ❌ βœ… (with enterprise setup)

πŸ“Š Community Sentiment Snapshot

Anecdotally and statistically, Codeium is trending. Here's a look at recent discussions and sentiment:

Sentiment Chart


βš™οΈ Devs Want Speed, Privacy, and Flexibility

Here’s why developers are opting for Codeium:

  • ⚑ Faster Suggestions: Especially in JetBrains and terminal-based editors
  • πŸ”’ No Code Storage: Unlike Copilot, Codeium doesn't store your snippets in the cloud
  • πŸ”§ More IDEs Supported: JetBrains, Vim, VS Code, Jupyter, Emacs, and more
  • 🧠 Multi-language Support: 70+ languages supported β€” even niche ones

πŸ§ͺ Personal Experience: Why I Made the Switch

As a full-stack dev, I initially used Copilot out of curiosity β€” and it helped, no doubt. But over time, I found it was too VS Code-focused for my workflow, especially since I often use JetBrains IDEs.

Codeium felt like a natural fit. It worked out of the box, respected my privacy, and didn’t make me jump through paywall hoops.


πŸ”— Related Resource

Want to compare Copilot and Codeium in depth with tables and visuals?

πŸ‘‰ Read the Full Comparison on DevTechInsights


πŸ“š Useful Links


πŸ™‹ FAQ

Q: Is Codeium really free forever?

Yes, Codeium is free for individual use. Enterprise plans are available for teams.

Q: Can I use it with Neovim or Emacs?

Absolutely. It supports most major IDEs β€” even terminal-based ones.

Q: Does it require an internet connection?

Only for initial install and cloud inference. You can opt for a local model with the enterprise tier.


If you're a developer exploring smarter, cost-effective tools, Codeium is worth checking out in 2025. It may not have the same branding muscle as Copilot, but in many cases, it delivers more of what matters.

Happy coding! ✨

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