GitHub Copilot Fusion vs Claude Code: which is cheaper per task? (Oct 2026)
On 28 October 2026 GitHub made Copilot Fusion generally available. Instead of choosing a model, you choose an effort level and Copilot decides which models handle each task. GitHub's announcement also quotes a benchmark that puts Fusion Max close to Claude Code at about half the cost per task. This guide separates what is official from what is one source's measurement, and lays out what each…
On 28 October 2026, GitHub introduced Copilot Fusion, a system that automatically selects the most appropriate model for a given task based on its complexity and the user's chosen effort level. Fusion Standard uses versatile models for everyday coding, Fusion High uses capable models for harder tasks, and Fusion Max uses the most capable models for demanding work.
While Fusion does not specify which models it uses for each task, the effort levels are clearly defined. Fusion is available in VS Code, the GitHub Copilot app, Copilot CLI, and JetBrains IDEs, and it is included in most paid plans, except for the free and student plans. According to GitHub's benchmark, Fusion Max achieves performance comparable to Claude Code with Opus 5.5 Max, at about half the average API cost per task, with fewer tokens used and less time taken. However, the exact dollar cost per task is not provided.
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