copilot.lua

copilot.lua is a pure Lua replacement plugin for GitHub Copilot in Neovim that provides code suggestions and an API.

This plugin is a pure lua replacement for github/copilot.vim designed to integrate easily with modern plugins and prevent performance issues in Neovim. It uses the native Copilot Language Server by default, downloading and caching binaries asynchronously. Users can configure settings, filetypes, panel previews, and log levels. It supports authentication via GitHub sign-in or custom tokens. The plugin is built for Neovim users who want GitHub Copilot integration without the drawbacks of older vim-based plugins.

copilot.lua at a glance

Best for: Software engineer
Runs on: Linux, macOS, Windows, NeoVim
Pricing: Free
Released: April 2022
Category: AI coding tool
Website: github.com/zbirenbaum/copilot.lua

Key features

Provide inline ghost text suggestions
Preview suggestions in a split window panel
Support custom filetypes for attaching
Log events and trace LSP messages
Authenticate with GitHub accounts
Configure custom server options and workspace folders

Use it for

Getting inline code suggestions while typing in Neovim
Previewing multiple code suggestions in a panel
Configuring custom server paths and workspace folders

Companions

Tools that articles about copilot.lua recommend using with it, each with its job.

GitHub Copilot — Built to work with GitHub Copilot.
GitHub MCP Server — Issues, pull requests and CI runs inside Copilot chat.
Context7 — Current, version-specific docs for accurate suggestions.
Playwright MCP — End-to-end testing from Copilot agent mode.
Firecrawl — Turns reference pages into clean Markdown for the agent.
MCP Toolbox for Databases — Connects Copilot to Postgres for schema and SQL work.

Alternatives to copilot.lua

CopilotChat.nvim — Integrates GitHub Copilot chat into Neovim with tool calling and custom providers.
GitHub Copilot CLI — Integrates directly into your terminal for local, natural language AI coding assistance.
sidekick.nvim — Integrates Copilot Next Edit Suggestions and AI command-line tools inside Neovim.
CopilotKit — Connects your application to AI agents with generative UI and human approvals.
Copilot for Xcode — Integrates directly into Xcode to provide intelligent completions, chat, and agent mode.
GitHub Copilot App Modernization — Automates code transformations, framework upgrades, and Azure migrations.
Copilot .NET Modernization — Generates dependency-aware upgrade plans and applies code changes automatically.
claudecode.nvim — Adds native AI coding assistant functionality to Neovim.
opencode.nvim — Keeps AI interactions within the existing Neovim environment and workflow.
OpenCode — Works with 75+ model providers, local models, and existing subscriptions
Squad — Coordinate parallel execution and repetitive coding tasks while keeping human oversight.
CodeCompanion — Provides native AI integration and agent support directly within Neovim.

All copilot.lua alternatives