Top AI coding copilots: Why Codeium is the best choice?

If you are new to coding and are looking for ways to be more productive, you may have come across artificial intelligence (AI) coding tools. The coding copilots of 2025 are better than ever before, with capabilities like intelligent code completion and personalized optimization. While these technologies have the potential to significantly make your coding process smoother and faster, it's still difficult to decide where to start. Choosing a tool and then investing the time to master its application in your daily work is never easy. In this blog, I’ll discuss exactly how to get started and unlock the full power of the Codeium AI coding copilot.

What is an AI coding copilot?#

A coding copilot is an intelligent software assistant designed to work throughout the software development life cycle (SDLC), providing simultaneous coding completions and error detection. These tools use machine learning and natural language processing to analyse the code we write, interpret it, and then provide smart suggestions to improve code quality, speed up development, and reduce human errors.

How AI coding copilots work#

Why do developers need an AI coding copilot in 2025?#

In 2025, developers can use an AI coding copilot to quickly spot small syntax errors or even suggest entire code blocks, allowing them to focus on the main logic of their projects. AI coding copilots streamline development and reduce cognitive load by automating repetitive tasks and providing real-time recommendations. Let’s discuss why adding such tools to developers’ coding workflows is becoming essential in today's rapid software development environment.

• Speed up coding tasks such as:

  • Code suggestion: Provide context-aware code completions and recommendations, which speed up the writing process and reduce errors.

  • Fix bugs: Automatically identify and suggest fixes for common coding mistakes to streamline the debugging process and reduce debugging time.

  • Multi-language support: Allow developers to work across many tech stacks as they assist with multiple programming languages.

• Refactoring: Provide better or more effective code structure techniques to enhance performance and readability while reducing technical debt.

• Scan code vulnerability: This helps developers build more secure applications by identifying potential security issues or weak spots in the code.

• Especially helpful for beginners, AI coding copilots offer guidance and ensure that code is correct, boosting confidence and helping developers write better code faster.

• Convert high-level requirements and natural language text into executable code to bridge the gap between planning and implementation.

• Integrate directly with popular IDEs like VS Code or IntelliJ allows developers to use them easily without disrupting their workflow.

Top AI coding copilots in 2025#

There are many AI coding copilots in the IT market, and each tool offers different strengths. Therefore, selecting one that aligns with your development environment and needs is key to maximizing productivity. When choosing an AI coding copilot, consider factors like:

• Programming language support

• IDE integration

• Customization options

• Real-time feedback

• Pricing

• Ease of use

In the following section, I’ll discuss the features and pricing of widely used coding copilots that I found during my research. This will help developers make an informed decision about which copilot is the best fit for their workflow.

1. GitHub Copilot#

Key features of GitHub Copilot#

Some of the top features of GitHub Copilot are:

• AI-based code suggestions in real-time

• Context-based code review and completion

• Provides a vulnerability prevention system to improve the code security

• Bug identification

• Provides instant feedback

• Copilot pull request summaries

• Chat assistance about the codebase

• Converts natural language prompts into code suggestions

• Fine-tune a model for code suggestions tailored to your project

• Supports multiple languages and IDEs including CLI

If you're looking for an AI tool that supports multiple languages and integrates seamlessly into your workflow, GitHub Copilot is a great choice. It offers versatile code suggestions across various environments.

2. Tabnine#

Choose Tabnine if speed and efficiency in code completion are key priorities, especially in a team setting.

3. Codeium#

Codeium is ideal for those who prefer open-source tools but need real-time, accurate code completions for their projects.

4. Replit#

Key features of Replit#

Some of the top features of Replit are:

• Automates the repetitive parts of the code

• Inline code suggestions

• Personalized assistance based on project's codebase

• Identifies bugs and helps in fixing them

• Quick feedback on code changes

• Provides Collaborative AI Chat to build software with teammates

• Supports multiple languages

If you’re working on a project that benefits from cloud-based coding and collaboration, Replit is a great option.

5. Cursor#

If your work involves navigating large or intricate codebases, Cursor can provide significant assistance in code completion and understanding.

6. Amazon CodeWhisperer#

If you’re an AWS developer, CodeWhisperer is a natural choice due to its deep integration with AWS services.

Pricing of AI coding copilots#

After exploring the features and pricing of various AI coding tools, it's important to choose one that best fits the needs and the development environment. The right choice depends on our preferred programming languages, the IDEs we want to use, and, most important is budget.

Setting up your AI coding copilot#

I chose Codeium for its broad language support, IDE compatibility, generous free tier, and strong ratings on the VS Code extension page. This combination of versatility, accessibility, and positive feedback makes it a top choice for both beginners and experienced developers looking to enhance their coding workflow.

Step-by-step guide to installing Codeium#

Getting started with Codeium is fairly simple. First, sign into your Codeium account and visit the download linkhttps://codeium.com/download to access the Codeium extensions for different IDEs. Choose the VS Code extension of Codeium; the total installation time is only 2 minutes!

Setting up Codeium in VS code:

Examples of using different Codeium features#

In this section, we will see how Codeium features actually work and help us with our daily coding tasks. Let's get started.

1. Codeium real time code completion #

Let's start with the real-time code completion. In the following code snippet, I typed only function name which is def prime(n): and Codeium instantly suggested complete implementation of the code. Type "tab" to accept the suggestion.

2. Codeium Chat#

We can see that the code suggested above prints no statement. Here we can quickly query Codeium using its chat feature on the left. In the code snippet below, we post a query and Codeium Chat instantly suggests the required code based on our given code in the IDE without having to go out and search on the internet.

3. Translate comments to code#

Codeium is smart enough to interpret comments and allow us to generate code directly from a simple description of the functionality we need. Here is the example where we're creating code from a simple comment:

4. Multi-language support#

The above examples are in Python; I've tried the same comment feature in C++ as well. Here is the example where we're creating an upper triangle * pattern from a simple comment using Codeium:

We tried the same code in our platform, and it's works perfectly. Hit the "Run" button to see the results:

Now, let’s compare Codeium and ChatGPT to understand how a coding assistant like Codeium outperforms a general-purpose LLM in real-world development.

Why choose Codeium over ChatGPT?#

You’re probably thinking, “Can’t tools like ChatGPT or other LLMs handle these tasks too?” Well, yes, they can, but the experience is a little different. Imagine you’ve just joined a new office at an e-commerce company, and your manager gives you thousands of files to go through and understand. You might think, “I’ll just use ChatGPT to help me understand the code,” but then realize that uploading individual files or copying and pasting code can be time-consuming and inefficient. This is where Codeium shines:

• Codeium responds instantly, directly within your IDE. You don’t have to leave your editor or switch between tools—everything you need is right there.

• Maintaining context is crucial when dealing with a large project. Unlike ChatGPT, which requires you to upload individual files, Codeium allows you to pin contexts and use advanced search to tailor responses to specific files or directories. This is especially useful for understanding and navigating complex codebases.

• With Codeium, you can refactor code instantly with just a click—no more manually reworking code. It’s quick and easy.

• With Codeium, you can add code directly where it belongs. No more copying and pasting large blocks of code. Simply click the "Insert" button, and the code is inserted at the cursor position in the editor.

• Instead of copying and pasting your code into ChatGPT for an explanation, just click “Explain,” and you’ll get a clear explanation instantly.

Having worked with both, I can say that each tool is great in its own way, but they shine in different contexts. While ChatGPT can certainly assist with coding, Codeium excels by providing real-time, in-IDE coding support, streamlining your workflow and boosting productivity.

Tips to maximize Copilot productivity#

Here are some helpful tips that can maximize Copilot productivity:

1. Keep functions and variables with meaningful names. Copilot can provide better code if your naming convention gives clear context.

2. Write comments to explain your expected output, not just how to do it.

3. Copilot is better at handling smaller chunks of code. Break down big problems into smaller ones.

4. In comments, explicitly mention error handling or edge cases to produce more robust code.

Conclusion#

As these tools evolve, the line separating human creativity from AI efficiency will blur, shaping a faster, smarter, and more collaborative future for software development. By exploring AI coding copilots, their basic roles, and the factors to consider when choosing one, we can easily integrate them into our lives. Codeium stands out as the best choice for its intuitive interface, fast learning curve, and powerful AI capabilities that seamlessly increase productivity.