local GitHub Copilot alternative
A GitHub Copilot alternative powered by your own hardware
OpenJet replaces subscription-governed model usage with a local terminal agent. It reads and edits repositories, runs approved commands, and resumes sessions using a model configured for your machine.
What GitHub Copilot already does well
GitHub Copilot combines editor assistance, chat, code review, and cloud agents across free and paid plans. Its cloud agent works in an ephemeral GitHub Actions environment and consumes plan allowances and AI credits.
Product capabilities change, so verify the current details in the GitHub Copilot plan documentation.
OpenJet vs GitHub Copilot
| Area | OpenJet | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Model location | Inference stays on your workstation or local GPU host. | Copilot features use GitHub and model-provider services. |
| Agent environment | Works directly in your checked-out repository under approval. | Cloud agent works in an ephemeral GitHub Actions environment; IDE modes follow the Copilot workflow. |
| Usage | No AI-credit or premium-request allowance. | Features and allowances vary by Copilot plan and may consume AI credits. |
| Offline use | Can operate without a hosted model after installation. | Model-backed Copilot features depend on GitHub's services. |
Which should you choose?
Choose OpenJet when you need
- Private repositories with strict data boundaries
- No recurring AI usage allowance
- Offline terminal workflows
- Self-hosted Qwen coding models
Choose GitHub Copilot when you need
- Inline completion across supported IDEs
- GitHub-native pull request automation
- Teams already standardized on GitHub Copilot
Try the local-first path
OpenJet setup detects the machine, selects a model profile that fits, downloads the model, and configures the runtime. Start it inside any repository.
pipx install open-jet
openjet setup
cd /path/to/your/repo
openjetGitHub Copilot alternative FAQ
- What is a local alternative to GitHub Copilot?
- OpenJet is a local coding agent that uses an open model on your own hardware and provides repository tools without requiring a Copilot subscription.
- Does OpenJet provide inline autocomplete?
- OpenJet focuses on agentic repository work in the terminal rather than inline editor completion.
- Can OpenJet work on repositories not hosted by GitHub?
- Yes. It works from a local directory and does not require the repository to be hosted on GitHub.
Compare more local coding-agent paths
Browse all OpenJet comparisons, run Qwen3.8-27B locally, or read the installation docs.