Double: A GitHub Copilot Alternative for VS Code with Multi-Model Support

Double is an AI coding assistant developed by Double (YC-backed) and distributed as a VS Code extension. It provides tab autocomplete, a multi-model sidebar chat, CodeSnap for one-click code generation and application, and inline editing — with support for GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, DeepSeek R1, and other state-of-the-art models. As a GitHub Copilot alternative, it is best suited for VS Code developers who want to bring their own model API keys and use the latest frontier models without platform lock-in.

Double vs. GitHub Copilot: Quick Comparison

Key Strengths

• Frontier Model Access on Day One: Double adds newly released models the same day they become available from their providers. This means developers can access the latest versions of Claude, GPT-4o, or DeepSeek R1 without waiting for the extension to catch up. This is a significant advantage over GitHub Copilot, which has historically been slower to adopt new model releases.
• CodeSnap — One-Click Code Application: CodeSnap is Double's standout feature: it lets developers generate, review, and apply code changes with a single click. Rather than copying from a chat sidebar and pasting manually, the change is proposed inline and applied with one action. This reduces friction in the generate-review-apply loop that can slow down AI-assisted coding.
• Bring Your Own API Keys: Double routes requests through your own model API keys, which means you retain control over billing and data handling at the model provider level. This appeals to developers who are already paying for Anthropic or OpenAI API access and want to reuse those credits in their IDE rather than paying a separate subscription.
• Keyboard-First Design: Double is engineered to minimize mouse usage, with configurable key bindings and a Quick Chat feature accessible by keyboard shortcut. Developers who live in their terminal or keyboard-driven environments will find the workflow more efficient compared to tools that require frequent context switches.
• Y Combinator Backing: Double is backed by Y Combinator, which signals product credibility and access to early-stage funding for continued development. The extension has an active changelog and new model support is added rapidly.

Known Limitations

• VS Code Only: Double currently only supports VS Code. There is a waitlist for JetBrains, Neovim, and other editors, but no confirmed release dates. Developers who use IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, or any non-VS Code environment cannot use Double at this time.
• Pricing Transparency: Double's public website does not display a standalone pricing page. The extension is described as free to try, but the exact cost structure beyond bring-your-own API keys is not clearly documented. This makes total-cost-of-ownership planning harder compared to GitHub Copilot's transparent $10/$19/$39/month tiers.
• Smaller Ecosystem: Double does not have the deeply integrated GitHub issue tracker, PR review, and CI/CD awareness that GitHub Copilot has developed over years of integration with Microsoft's toolchain. Teams using GitHub Actions, Dependabot, or GitHub Advanced Security will find Copilot more natively embedded in those workflows.
• No Local / Offline Mode: Double's support for local models or offline operation is not publicly documented. Developers who want to run Llama, Mistral, or other open-weights models locally for privacy or cost reasons will need to look at alternatives like Continue or Tabby.

Best For

Double is best suited for VS Code developers who want access to the absolute latest frontier AI models (Claude, GPT-4o, DeepSeek R1) with their own API keys, prefer a clean keyboard-first interface, and value the CodeSnap one-click code application feature. It is particularly appealing to developers already paying for Anthropic or OpenAI API access who want to use those models inside VS Code without a separate Copilot subscription. Teams that work across multiple IDEs beyond VS Code should wait for expanded editor support.

Pricing

• Free to try: The VS Code extension is available at no upfront cost via the VS Code marketplace. Usage costs are passed through to your own API keys at the model provider's rates.
• Paid plans: Not publicly documented on the official website as of this writing.

Prices are subject to change. Check the official site for current details.

Tech Details

• Type: IDE Extension
• IDEs: VS Code (other editors in waitlist)
• Key features: Tab autocomplete, CodeSnap (one-click code generation + application), multi-model sidebar chat, inline editing, inline chat, quick chat (keyboard shortcut), terminal chat, voice chat, commit message generation, custom instructions, key bindings, token usage insights
• Privacy / hosting: Cloud (requests routed through your own API keys to model providers)
• Models / context window: GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, DeepSeek R1, and other frontier models; new models added same day they are released; context window depends on the selected model

When to Choose This Over GitHub Copilot

• You want same-day access to newly released frontier models (Claude, GPT-4o, DeepSeek) without waiting for GitHub Copilot to update its model roster.
• You already have Anthropic or OpenAI API access and prefer to route usage through your own keys rather than paying a separate Copilot subscription.
• You value CodeSnap's one-click code generation and application, which reduces the manual copy-paste friction in typical AI-assisted workflows.
• You are a keyboard-driven developer and want a VS Code extension built specifically around minimal mouse usage and fast keyboard shortcuts.

When GitHub Copilot May Be a Better Fit

• You need support for JetBrains, Neovim, Visual Studio, or Xcode — editors that Double does not currently support.
• You rely on GitHub's native issue tracker, PR review features, GitHub Actions integration, or Copilot Workspace, which are deeply integrated into the GitHub platform.
• You want a predictable monthly subscription pricing structure rather than paying per-token through your own API keys.
• You need offline or local model support, which Double does not publicly document.

Conclusion

Double is a focused, well-crafted VS Code extension for developers who prioritize access to the latest AI models with their own API keys and value the CodeSnap one-click workflow. It is a compelling GitHub Copilot alternative for individual VS Code users who are already invested in frontier model APIs. Developers who need broad editor support, deep GitHub integration, or transparent subscription pricing should weigh those gaps before switching.

Sources

• Official Site
• Docs
• VS Code Marketplace

FAQ