GitHub Copilot Will Train on Your Code Starting April 24 — How to Opt Out and What to Use Instead
March 27, 2026 · 6 min read
GitHub reversed course. Starting April 24, 2026, all Copilot Free, Pro, and Pro+ users will have their interaction data (prompts, code, accepted suggestions) used to train GitHub's AI models — by default. Business and Enterprise users are exempt. Individuals must opt out manually before the deadline. Here's the exact setting to change, and the best privacy-first coding alternatives if you decide to leave.
GitHub.com → Settings → Copilot → Privacy → set "Allow GitHub to use my data for AI model training" to Disabled. If you previously opted out of product improvement data collection, your preference is preserved — no action needed.
What Changed — and Why Developers Are Angry
GitHub's previous policy was clear: no plan used interaction data to train AI models. That changed on March 25, 2026, when GitHub updated its Privacy Statement and Terms of Service. The new policy flips the default for individual users while keeping enterprises protected.
The Register described it bluntly: "GitHub: We going to train on your data after all." The story went viral in developer communities within hours, with developers pointing out the irony — enterprise customers who pay more get stronger protections, while individual developers on the free tier automatically become training data.
GitHub's announcement stated this follows "established industry practices" — US norms, not European GDPR norms where opt-in is required. That framing did not improve the reception.
What Data Is Collected
GitHub is explicit about scope. The training data includes: your prompts to Copilot, the code suggestions Copilot generates, which suggestions you accept or reject, code snippets and surrounding context during active sessions, file names, and navigation patterns. Your private repository source code at rest is not included — only what you actively use during Copilot interaction sessions.
In practice, this means every autocomplete you trigger, every chat message you send to Copilot, and every code block you accept becomes training material for GitHub's next model.
How to Opt Out in 3 Steps
Do this before April 24. If you previously opted out of data collection for product improvements, your existing preference is preserved — double-check to confirm.
GitHub Copilot vs Privacy-First Coding Alternatives (2026)
| Feature | GitHub Copilot | Cursor | Codeium | Happycapy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trains on interaction data | Yes (default from Apr 24) | No | No | No |
| Price (individual) | Free / $10 / $19/mo | Free / $20/mo | Free / $15/mo | $17/mo (Pro) |
| AI model | GitHub/OpenAI | GPT-4.1 / Claude | Codestral / custom | Claude Sonnet 4.6 |
| Persistent memory | No | No | No | Yes — MEMORY.md across sessions |
| IDE integration | VS Code, JetBrains, Vim | Cursor IDE only | VS Code, JetBrains | Claude Code (any terminal) |
| File system / desktop access | IDE workspace only | IDE workspace only | IDE workspace only | Mac Bridge — full local access |
| Non-coding skills | None | None | None | 150+ (research, email, images, video) |
| Business plan data protection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Agentic / multi-step tasks | Limited (Copilot Workspace) | Limited (Composer) | No | Yes — full agent teams |
| Opt-in default for training | No — default ON | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Why This Is Different From Other AI Data Policies
Most AI tools collect usage data, but there's a meaningful difference between anonymous telemetry and using your actual prompts and code to train the next model version. GitHub's change puts it in the same category as OpenAI's default training policy for personal ChatGPT accounts — something many users have already opted out of.
The double standard is the real problem. GitHub's own enterprise terms explicitly state: "Business and Enterprise customer data is not used for AI model training without authorization." Individual developers get no such guarantee by default. The people who can afford to pay $19+/seat/month are protected. Everyone else becomes the product.
What Happycapy Does Differently for Developers
Happycapy runs Claude Sonnet 4.6 via its Claude Code skills and does not train models on your interaction data. More importantly, it solves the gap Copilot leaves for individual developers: the lack of memory.
Every Copilot session starts cold. Happycapy builds a MEMORY.md over time — your stack, your coding style, your project conventions, your preferred patterns. The longer you use it, the more accurate it gets. No re-explaining your codebase every session.
Mac Bridge goes further: Happycapy can read files, run terminal commands, and automate workflows on your actual Mac — not just inside an IDE. It's the difference between a code autocomplete tool and a full development agent.
Try Happycapy Free — No Code Training, Full Agent MemoryFrequently Asked Questions
Does GitHub Copilot train on my private code?
Not your stored repository code — but starting April 24, 2026, your interaction data (prompts, accepted suggestions, code snippets you type during Copilot sessions) will be used to train GitHub's AI models by default for Free, Pro, and Pro+ users. Business and Enterprise plans are exempt.
How do I opt out of GitHub Copilot data training?
GitHub.com → Settings → Copilot → Privacy → set "Allow GitHub to use my data for AI model training" to Disabled. Do this before April 24, 2026.
Which AI coding tools do NOT train on your code?
Cursor, Codeium, and Happycapy (which runs Claude via Claude Code skills) do not train models on individual user interaction data. Happycapy additionally offers persistent memory across sessions, 150+ skills, and Mac Bridge for full file system access — making it a full development agent, not just an autocomplete tool.
Is Happycapy a good GitHub Copilot alternative?
Yes. Happycapy runs Claude Sonnet and does not train on your code. It adds features Copilot lacks: persistent memory that builds your coding profile over time, 150+ skills (image generation, web search, email automation), and Mac Bridge for full desktop access. Pro is $17/month — comparable to Copilot Pro at $19/month.