Brandwave

Cursor vs GitHub Copilot:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Cursor and GitHub Copilot were level in searches among AI coding assistants worldwide, with an estimated 616K versus 583K branded searches, at 8.6% and 8.2% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI coding assistants, both Cursor and GitHub Copilot appeared in all five answers. Cursor was mentioned before GitHub Copilot in every answer.

Among AI coding assistants worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Cursor, about 6% more searches than GitHub Copilot

Cursor 616K searchesGitHub Copilot 583K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Cursor in 5 of 5GitHub Copilot in 5 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Cursor, named ahead of GitHub Copilot in every answer

Cursor first in 5GitHub Copilot never first

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Top AI coding assistants in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Cursor and GitHub Copilot showed up in all five answers. Cursor was listed before GitHub Copilot in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Cursor1st
  2. Claude Code2nd
  3. GitHub Copilot3rd
  4. OpenAI Codex4th
  5. Replit5th
  6. Windsurf6th
  7. Lovable7th
  8. Bolt8th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Claude Code5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Cursor5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • GitHub Copilot5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • OpenAI Codex3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Windsurf2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Replit1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Bolt1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Lovable1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about AI coding assistants

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Cursor or GitHub Copilot more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Cursor and GitHub Copilot by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight AI coding assistants we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Cursor and GitHub Copilot among AI coding assistants worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Cursor, GitHub Copilot. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthClaude CodeReplitOpenAI CodexCursorGitHub CopilotBoltLovableWindsurf
Oct 202524.9%25.2%7.9%17.7%17.1%2.3%1.9%3.1%
Nov 202528%22.9%6.5%19.5%15.6%2%2%3.4%
Dec 202531.4%26.8%5.3%15.6%14.7%1.6%2%2.7%
Jan 202650.9%19.9%4.1%11.7%9.3%0.97%1.4%1.6%
Feb 202650.2%16.2%11.5%9.6%9.1%0.79%1.2%1.5%
Mar 202656.8%14.8%7%8.7%10%0.59%0.88%1.3%
Apr 202655%14.3%8%8.1%11.6%0.57%1.3%1.2%
May 202648.7%15.6%14.5%7.6%10.2%0.76%1.4%1.2%
Jun 202649.2%15.7%11%10.9%9.1%1.1%1.4%1.6%
Jul 202646.2%18.3%14.6%9%7.1%1.6%2%1.3%
Aug 202643.2%20.9%13.1%10.1%7.9%1.8%1.8%1.1%
Sep 202643.7%21.4%13.9%8.6%8.2%1.5%1.5%1.2%

How has the Cursor and GitHub Copilot comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: GitHub Copilot took it in March 2026, Cursor took it in June 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cursor’s share of searches among AI coding assistants worldwide moved from 17.7% to 8.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 864K to 616K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GitHub Copilot’s share of searches among AI coding assistants worldwide moved from 17.1% to 8.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 832K to 583K.

How did search popularity change for AI coding assistants worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Cursor lost share of searches among AI coding assistants worldwide, from 10.1% to 8.6%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for GitHub Copilot worldwide fell 29.9% over 12 measured months, from 832K to 583K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

40 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Cursor’s and GitHub Copilot’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Cursor

21 branded search terms

  • anysphere cursor
  • cursor agent
  • cursor agents
  • cursor ai
  • cursor ai agent
  • cursor ai app
  • cursor ai coding
  • cursor ai editor
  • cursor ai ide
  • cursor ai pro
  • cursor app
  • cursor bugbot
  • cursor cli
  • cursor code
  • cursor coding
  • cursor composer
  • cursor ide
  • cursor pro
  • cursor sh
  • cursor vscode
  • cursor.sh

GitHub Copilot

19 branded search terms

  • copilot github
  • copilot vscode
  • git copilot
  • GitHub Copilot
  • github copilot agent
  • github copilot ai
  • github copilot app
  • github copilot business
  • github copilot certification
  • github copilot cli
  • github copilot enterprise
  • github copilot extension
  • github copilot intellij
  • github copilot pro
  • github copilot vscode
  • github copilots
  • microsoft github copilot
  • vscode copilot
  • vscode github copilot

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among AI coding assistants

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