Comparing GitHub Copilot with Dyad

GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot, as you would expect from the makers of VS Code, provides strong IDE integration, particularly in VS Code.

GitHub Copilot's original feature - autocomplete - still exists and has become more powerful, with next edit prediction. You can chat or edit files and also make inline edits using AI.

Dyad

Dyad focuses on being your AI coding mentor, helping you level up your coding skills through meaningful interactions rather than just generating code. It combines pair programming with practical advice.

Dyad emphasizes learning and skill development through features like personalized tips, expert code reviews, and video tutorials. It's designed to help you understand the "why" behind coding decisions, not just the "what."

GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is a VS Code extension. If you're already a VS Code user, it's easy to get started.

If you're not using VS Code, you can use one of their extensions for other IDEs like IntelliJ but it doesn't provide the same set of features.

Dyad

Dyad is an AI coding mentor and does not replace your IDE. Instead, it's a standalone app that has a dedicated chat interface.

This means if you're using an existing IDE, e.g. VS Code, Vim, IntelliJ, you can keep on using it. It does mean that you'll have another tool to switch to, but if you're already switching to ChatGPT or Claude in your browser, then Dyad will give you the best of both worlds - a delightful chat UI with the context of your codebase.

GitHub Copilot

Because GitHub Copilot is built into the IDE, it's convenient for editing files and making quick changes using AI.

However, the AI chat user interface is not as intuitive to use as a chat-first UI (e.g. switching to previous conversations, opening a full-sized chat window).

Dyad

Dyad's chat-first interface—similar to ChatGPT—is built for rich conversations with AI making it a natural fit for in-depth coding discussions.

Reading chat messages and interacting with the LLM is more enjoyable because the UI is designed first and foremost for conversations.

GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot allows you to customize the AI with custom instructions, however it's not intuitive to setup (there's no UI and you need to manually add a file).

Outside of customizing prompts, GitHub Copilot has extensions, many of which are developed by third-parties. However, because GitHub Copilot is not open-source, you are restricted to its extension API.

However, GitHub Copilot only allows you to use their preset list of models.

Dyad

Dyad allows you to customize the AI with pads which are similar to GitHub Copilot's custom instructions , but have a first-class UI to create and manage them. You can also have custom rules to specify when a pad should be applied (e.g. glob or selection instruction).

In addition, you can also build custom agents using Dyad's extension system. Thanks to Dyad being open-source, you can look at how the built-in agents work and fork your own.

Dyad has a large list of preset list of models and also allows you to add any custom model (OpenAI API-compatible) with a few clicks.

GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot has a free tier that gives you a limited amount of usage and then has several paid tiers ranging from $10 to $39 per month.

Dyad

You can try Dyad for free by bringing your own API key. Thanks to Google's generous free-tier limits for Gemini API, you can use Dyad as a daily driver for free.

For a flat $30 monthly subscription, you get access to leading LLMs (e.g. Claude Sonnet 3.7, OpenAI o3-mini) with a fixed number of credits and premium learning content on AI coding.