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How one GitHub Copilot CLI user saved $468 by switching to Freebuff CLI

$39/mo GitHub Copilot Pro+ → $0 with Freebuff.

FT
The Freebuff TeamBuilding the free coding agent
··5 min read

TL;DR

  • GitHub Copilot Pro+ on GitHub Copilot CLI: about $39/month ($468/year).
  • Freebuff CLI: $0/month with models and subagents included.
  • Net savings: $468/year before API or credit overages.
  • Modeled example — your usage may differ.

Terminal agents are where subscription and token costs add up fastest. Here is the math for GitHub Copilot CLI vs Freebuff CLI — not a fabricated testimonial, but the switch we see often.

The bill on GitHub Copilot Pro+#

GitHub Copilot CLI is included on all Copilot plans. Copilot Pro is $10/mo; Copilot Pro+ is $39/mo with a larger AI Credits pool. As of June 2026, usage is metered in GitHub AI Credits (1 credit = $0.01) per token — heavy agent sessions can burn through included credits fast (per GitHub Copilot billing docs). For this example: $39/month or $468/year.

FeatureFreebuffGitHub Copilot Pro+
Monthly cost$0$39
Annual cost$0$468
Token / credit overagesNoneCommon on long agent sessions
Subagents9 includedVaries
Model bundleIncludedSubscription or BYOK

Three-step switch#

  1. 1Clone your repo locally (if not already), install Freebuff with npm i -g freebuff, run freebuff in the project root.
  2. 2Install Freebuff: npm i -g freebuff
  3. 3Cancel GitHub Copilot CLI billing once you have verified Freebuff on your repos.

Stop paying $39/mo

Install Freebuff CLI
Can I run both Copilot CLI and Freebuff?+
Yes. Many developers use Freebuff for heavy agent work and keep IDE completions elsewhere — or drop the paid tier entirely.
Do I need to change editors?+
No. Freebuff runs in whatever terminal you already use.

About the author

FT

The Freebuff Team· Building the free coding agent

We build Freebuff — the free CLI coding agent — and Freebuff Web, the free way to ship full-stack apps. No subscription, no setup, no lock-in.

Topics:github-copilot-cli savingsswitch from github-copilot-cli to freebuffgithub-copilot-cli pricinggithub-copilot-cli vs freebuff costfree github-copilot-cli alternativefree github copilot cligithub copilot cli alternativecopilot cli coding agentgithub copilot cli pricingcopilot cli vs freebufffree copilot cli alternativegithub copilot agent cli free

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