If you’re looking to move off GitHub Copilot, you have options. Real ones. Here are the 3 open-source, self-hostable alternatives I’ve tested, with honest notes on what each does well and where each falls short.
Why leave GitHub Copilot?
- $10-19/mo per user adds up for teams.
- Your code is sent to Microsoft servers on every keystroke.
- Trained on GPL code — legal ambiguity for commercial use.
The 3 best self-hosted alternatives to GitHub Copilot
Continue + Ollama
VS Code / JetBrains plugin. Point it at Ollama. 100% local coding assistant.
Visit Continue + Ollama website →Cody (Sourcegraph)
Better whole-codebase context than Copilot. Free tier available.
Visit Cody (Sourcegraph) website →Quick comparison
| Alternative | Difficulty | License |
|---|---|---|
| Continue + Ollama | Easy | Apache-2.0 |
| Cody (Sourcegraph) | Medium | Apache-2.0 |
| Tabby | Medium | Apache-2.0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to GitHub Copilot?
Yes. Every tool listed above is free and open source. Some, like Continue + Ollama, also have optional paid hosted tiers if you don’t want to run the server yourself. Everything else is genuinely free to self-host — you pay only for your own hardware and time.
Which one should I pick if I’ve never self-hosted anything before?
Start with Continue + Ollama. It’s the lowest-friction option here — realistic to have running in an afternoon on a small server or Raspberry Pi. If it doesn’t fit your workflow, Cody (Sourcegraph) is a good second try.
Can I run these on a Raspberry Pi?
Most of them, yes — the tools marked Easy here will comfortably run on a Pi 4 or Pi 5 with 4GB+ of RAM. The Medium tools may work but appreciate a mini PC or a spare desktop. Hard-tagged tools generally want real server hardware.
What about mobile apps?
It varies. Tools like Vaultwarden and Immich have native iOS/Android apps that connect to your server. Others rely on the web UI through your phone browser — fine for occasional use, not a full app experience.