GitHub Copilot wins on general coding. Amazon Q wins for AWS-native teams and Java/.NET migration use cases.
The 30-second comparison
| Amazon Q | GitHub Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | AWS | GitHub / Microsoft |
| Pricing | $19-$20/seat | $10-$39/seat |
| Best for | AWS shops, Java/.NET migration | General engineering |
| IDE support | VS Code, JetBrains, CLI | All major IDEs |
| Data grounding | AWS native | GitHub native |
When Amazon Q wins
AWS-heavy stack. Q's CloudWatch, S3, Lambda integration is best-in-class for AWS workflows.
Java/.NET migrations. Q Developer Transformation is the strongest tool in 2026 for upgrading legacy Java versions or modernizing .NET.
Cost-conscious teams in AWS. Bundled with AWS pricing relationships — sometimes free for AWS Enterprise customers.
When GitHub Copilot wins
General coding. Broader language support, better completion quality, larger model ecosystem.
Non-AWS environments. If your stack is GCP, Azure, or hybrid, Copilot fits better.
Team scale. Copilot Business at $19/seat is competitive; Enterprise adds IP indemnity Q doesn't have.
The verdict
- AWS-native team → Amazon Q
- Java/.NET migration → Amazon Q Developer
- General coding → GitHub Copilot
- Non-AWS shop → GitHub Copilot
See Best coding agents in 2026 for the full landscape.