Is OpenCode Better Than VS Code for GitHub Copilot?

Mar 15, 2026

I kept running into frustrating issues with VS Code’s GitHub Copilot extension. The suggestions felt inconsistent, and when something went wrong, I couldn’t figure out why. I’d stare at the output, try to iterate, and end up more confused than before. That’s when I started hearing about OpenCode CLI—a terminal-based alternative that uses the same GitHub Copilot API but promises a different experience.

After switching to OpenCode as my daily driver, I noticed something surprising: the output quality seemed better, and fixing issues became significantly easier. But was this just placebo effect, or is there a real difference? Let me break down what I found.

What is OpenCode CLI?

OpenCode CLI is a terminal-based AI coding assistant that connects to GitHub Copilot’s API. Instead of inline suggestions within VS Code, you work through a command-line interface that gives you more visibility into what the AI is doing.

The core idea is simple: same underlying GitHub Copilot API limits, but with additional open-source tooling layered on top. This means planning features, execution capabilities, and a choice between terminal, web, or desktop interfaces.

Getting started requires installing the CLI and configuring your GitHub Copilot credentials. The setup process takes longer than installing a VS Code extension, but the payoff comes in how you interact with the AI.

npm install -g @opencode-ai/cli

opencode config set github-token YOUR_TOKEN

Output Quality Comparison

Here’s where things get interesting. Both OpenCode CLI and the VS Code extension use the same GitHub Copilot API, so theoretically, they should produce identical output quality. But that’s not what users report.

User Reports on Quality

On Reddit, users consistently mention that OpenCode makes issues easier to identify and fix:

"I regularly find issues with opencode easier to fix than with the vscode plugin"
— r/opencodeCLI user (Score: 3)

"Recommended. Same limits. Better additional (opensource) tooling available
(planning, execution). Better UI with Web or Desktop."
— r/opencodeCLI user (Score: 20)

Why would the output feel different when the underlying model is the same?

The answer lies in transparency. When you work in a CLI environment, you see every step the AI takes. You can inspect the full conversation, understand what context was used, and identify exactly where reasoning went wrong. VS Code’s extension abstracts this away, making it harder to debug poor suggestions.

The “Easier to Fix” Phenomenon

When VS Code’s Copilot gives a bad suggestion, my workflow usually looks like this:

See the suggestion
Accept it (or reject it)
If it breaks, try to guess what went wrong
Type a comment or modify code to guide the next suggestion
Repeat until it works or I give up

With OpenCode CLI, the workflow changes:

Ask the AI for a solution
See the full reasoning chain
Identify the exact step where logic failed
Correct that specific assumption in the next prompt
Get a corrected solution

The difference is visibility. In the terminal, I can see the AI’s thought process laid bare. This makes iteration faster and more precise.

Feature Comparison Table

Feature	OpenCode CLI	VS Code Extension
GitHub Copilot API	Yes	Yes
API Limits	Same	Same
Open-source Tooling	Yes (planning, execution)	Limited
UI Options	Web, Desktop, Terminal	VS Code only
Security Hardening	Yes	Standard
Customization	High	Medium
Learning Curve	Steeper	Easier

Additional Tooling Advantage

The real differentiator isn’t the core AI—it’s everything built around it.

Planning Features

OpenCode includes built-in planning tools that help structure complex coding tasks. When I’m working on a feature that spans multiple files or requires architectural decisions, the planning module breaks down the work into manageable steps.

This differs from VS Code’s approach, where Copilot acts more reactively—suggesting code based on what you’re typing rather than helping you think through the overall structure first.

Execution Capabilities

OpenCode’s execution tools go beyond code suggestions. They can:

Run commands and verify results
Execute test suites and analyze failures
Apply multi-file changes in sequence

For my daily workflow, this means I can describe a task like “refactor this API endpoint to use the new authentication system” and watch OpenCode plan the changes, execute them across multiple files, and verify nothing broke—all from the terminal.

VS Code’s extension can suggest individual code changes, but orchestrating multi-step operations requires more manual work.

UI/UX Considerations

Let’s be honest: working in a terminal isn’t for everyone.

Terminal-Based Workflow

Pros:

Full visibility into AI operations
Faster iteration on complex tasks
Easy to script and automate
Works over SSH on remote servers

Cons:

Steeper learning curve
No inline code suggestions while typing
Requires comfort with command-line interfaces

Web and Desktop Options

OpenCode offers both web and desktop UIs if the terminal feels too bare. These provide more visual interfaces while maintaining the same planning and execution features.

Best for terminal UI:

Experienced CLI users
Developers working on remote servers
Teams that value automation and scripting

Best for web/desktop UI:

Developers transitioning from VS Code
Teams that prefer visual interfaces
Users who want the best of both worlds

Security Hardening

OpenCode includes security hardening that goes beyond what VS Code’s extension offers out of the box. This matters for enterprise teams or anyone working with sensitive codebases.

The hardening includes:

Configurable data handling policies
Local processing options for sensitive operations
Audit logs of AI interactions
Custom endpoint configuration for air-gapped environments

VS Code’s extension relies on Microsoft’s security model, which is robust but less configurable. If your team needs specific security controls, OpenCode provides more knobs to turn.

Who Should Use OpenCode?

Best for:

Developers comfortable with CLI — If you already live in the terminal, OpenCode fits naturally into your workflow
Teams needing open-source tooling — The planning and execution features aren’t locked behind a paywall
Users wanting more control — You get visibility into every step of the AI’s reasoning
Those who value transparency — See exactly what context the AI uses and how it reaches conclusions

May not be best for:

VS Code power users — If your workflow depends heavily on VS Code’s ecosystem, the switch requires adjustment
Developers new to AI assistants — The learning curve adds complexity when you’re still learning the basics
Teams requiring Microsoft-specific integrations — VS Code’s extension has deeper integration with Microsoft tools

Key Takeaways

Same API, Different Experience: Both use GitHub Copilot’s API with identical limits, but the interface changes how you interact with the AI
Transparency Advantage: OpenCode makes AI reasoning visible, making debugging and iteration easier
Open-source Tooling: Additional planning and execution tools come standard with OpenCode
Flexibility: Multiple UI options (terminal, web, desktop) suit different workflows
Community Endorsement: Active Reddit community reports positive experiences, particularly around issue resolution

Final Words + More Resources

My intention with this article was to help others share my knowledge and experience. If you want to contact me, you can contact by email: Email me

Here are also the most important links from this article along with some further resources that will help you in this scope:

Oh, and if you found these resources useful, don’t forget to support me by starring the repo on GitHub!