GitHub Copilot Workspace
GitHub Copilot Workspace is a versatile plugin developed by GitHub, compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports advanced language models such as GPT-5 and Claude Sonnet, offering a wide context window of 200k tokens. Designed for seamless integration, it allows users to perform agentic editing across multiple files, though it lacks terminal access. Predictive edits enhance the coding experience by suggesting potential code completions and improvements. The workspace adheres to a standard privacy policy and holds SOC2 Type II certification for enterprise-level security. Despite the absence of a free tier, its pricing ranges from $0 to $20 per month, making it accessible for individuals and businesses alike. Migration is seamless, with configurations managed through the .copilotrc file.
Pros
- ✓ Supports GPT-5 and Claude Sonnet
- ✓ Multi-file agentic editing
- ✓ Predictive edits available
- ✓ Seamless migration process
- ✓ SOC2 Type II certification
Cons
- ✕ No terminal access
- ✕ No free tier available
SWE-agent
SWE-agent is a cloud-based tool developed by SWE, supporting Ubuntu 24.04 and 24.10 operating systems. It provides extensive support for a variety of language models, including Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Claude 4, GPT-4o, GPT-5, and Gemini 1.0, with a generous context window of 200k tokens. Its full terminal access distinguishes it from many competitors, although it does not offer predictive edits. The tool’s privacy and security are reinforced by a standard privacy policy and SOC2 Type II certification. Unlike GitHub Copilot Workspace, SWE-agent requires setup for migration and pricing information is available upon contacting sales. Configuration is handled via the .sweagentrc file, ensuring users can tailor the tool to their specific needs.
Pros
- ✓ Supports a wide range of LLMs
- ✓ Full terminal access
- ✓ SOC2 Type II certification
- ✓ Cloud-based architecture
Cons
- ✕ Requires setup for migration
- ✕ No predictive edits
- ✕ Contact sales for pricing
Comparison Table
| Feature | GitHub Copilot Workspace | SWE-agent |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | plugin | cloud |
| Supported Os | Windows, macOS, Linux | Ubuntu 24.04, Ubuntu 24.10 |
| Developer | GitHub | SWE |
| Supported Llms | GPT-5, Claude Sonnet | Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Claude 4, GPT-4o, GPT-5, Gemini 1.0 |
| Context Window | 200k tokens | 200k tokens |
| Agentic Editing | Yes, multi-file | Yes, multi-file |
| Terminal Access | No | Full |
| Privacy Mode | Standard Privacy Policy | Standard Privacy Policy |
| Certifications | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) |
| About Price | $0 – $20/mo | Contact Sales |
| Config File | .copilotrc | .sweagentrc |
| Migration | Seamless | Requires setup |
Conclusion
Both GitHub Copilot Workspace and SWE-agent offer robust features for developers, each with its own strengths. While the former excels in predictive edits and ease of migration, the latter provides extensive model support and terminal access. Choosing between them depends on specific needs and workflow preferences.