Last verified: August 26, 2026.
Catalog update: GitHub Copilot’s supported-model list now includes newer choices such as Gemini 3.7 Flash, Grok 4.6, Kimi K3, and MAI-Code-1.1-Flash, subject to plan, client, organization policy, and rollout. Several older models are scheduled to retire in September. These changes belong to the current catalog; they should not overwrite accurate dated descriptions of what GitHub announced in July.
First, separate the Copilot products
| Product surface | Primary role in this comparison | What not to transfer |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub Copilot | Developer assistant in supported editors, GitHub, CLI, and agent workflows; this is where the published multi-model catalog applies. | Its model picker and premium-request multipliers are not a universal Microsoft Copilot price list. |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot | Work assistant across eligible Microsoft 365 experiences and organizational data. | Do not assume every GitHub Copilot model is selectable or exposed here. |
| Consumer Microsoft Copilot | General Microsoft assistant experience. | Do not describe it from GitHub Copilot’s developer documentation. |
| MiniMax platform | Developer-facing model APIs for text and supported media-generation workflows. | It is not a bundled productivity suite or IDE subscription. |
MiniMax AI vs Microsoft Copilot: the short answer
Choose GitHub Copilot when the job is coding inside an existing developer workflow and you want access to a managed, changing catalog of models. Choose Microsoft 365 Copilot when the job is organizational work across eligible Microsoft 365 surfaces. Choose MiniMax when you are building your own application and need direct access to MiniMax text, speech, image, or video models. Do not advertise a new MiniMax hosted Music API path: MiniMax’s catalog says paid Music and Lyrics API access closed to new users on August 20, 2026.
| Question | MiniMax | Copilot route |
|---|---|---|
| Build a custom model-powered product | Direct model APIs and developer-controlled orchestration | GitHub Copilot extensions and coding workflows are narrower than a general media API platform |
| Code in an IDE or GitHub workflow | Possible through your own integration and tools | GitHub Copilot is purpose-built for this job |
| Work across Microsoft 365 | No equivalent bundled Microsoft 365 integration | Microsoft 365 Copilot is the relevant product |
| Choose among multiple model providers while coding | MiniMax model catalog | GitHub Copilot’s current supported-model catalog, with availability and multipliers varying |
| Generate speech, images, or video through APIs | Model-specific MiniMax endpoints | Not the primary role of GitHub Copilot |
| Start a new hosted music integration | Not generally available to new users after August 20; open weights are separate | Not a GitHub Copilot feature |
GitHub Copilot’s current model catalog has moved on
The official supported-model page is the governing source for the current catalog. It now lists newer models including Gemini 3.7 Flash, Grok 4.6, Kimi K3, and MAI-Code-1.1-Flash. Their presence in the catalog does not guarantee that every user sees every model: availability can depend on plan, client, geography, rollout stage, and administrator policy.
| Current change | Official date/source | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini 3.7 Flash added | GitHub changelog, August 13 | Available in GitHub Copilot subject to the supported-model matrix and account access. |
| Grok 4.6 added | GitHub changelog, August 14 | Current catalog option; do not leave Grok 4.5 as the newest Grok choice. |
| Kimi K3 and MAI-Code-1.1-Flash present | Current supported-model documentation and August weekly release record | Include as current choices, not as proof that one is the universal default. |
| Claude Opus 4.5/4.6, Claude Sonnet 4.5/4.6, Gemini 3.1 Pro, and Raptor mini retire | Scheduled September 1 | Label as upcoming retirement on this verification date. GitHub notes that the Sonnet 4.6 retirement does not apply to individual Copilot subscribers on annual plans. |
| MAI-Code-1-Flash retires in favor of 1.1 | Scheduled September 10 | Recommend migration testing before the retirement date. |
Model economics also vary. GitHub’s models and pricing reference assigns different premium-request multipliers to different models and modes. A model included in the picker is not necessarily included at the same request cost, and “Auto” selection is not evidence that a particular model handled a request.
Business and Enterprise access is policy-controlled
GitHub announced a default model-enablement policy for Copilot Business and Enterprise. From August 26, eligible generally available models that an organization has not explicitly configured may inherit GitHub’s global default. Explicit organization settings continue to control access. GitHub’s announcement also describes exclusions for categories such as pre-release models, open-weight models, and models with separate data-retention considerations.
This means “GitHub Copilot supports model X” and “every seat in this organization can select model X” are different claims. Administrators should review the model policy and retention implications, then verify the actual picker in a managed seat before documenting availability.
MiniMax is the broader creation API—but Music needs a date-specific qualifier
MiniMax remains the more direct choice here for building custom generation into a product: its platform catalog covers text and supported speech, image, and video routes. Hosted music is now an exception. MiniMax says that from August 20, paid Music and Lyrics API access is closed to new users, free Music model IDs are discontinued, and eligible existing paying users may continue. The open-weight Music 3.0 option is a separate deployment path, not a replacement hosted entitlement.
Therefore, replace broad claims such as “MiniMax offers music APIs to developers” with: “MiniMax documents music models, but new hosted paid Music/Lyrics API access closed on August 20; check existing-account eligibility or evaluate the separate open-weight route.”
Which product fits which job?
| Job | Recommended starting point | Verification gate |
|---|---|---|
| Repository-aware coding in supported tools | GitHub Copilot | Required model is enabled, not near retirement, and affordable under its multiplier. |
| Microsoft 365 organizational work | Microsoft 365 Copilot | Licensing, tenant policy, data permissions, and the actual Microsoft 365 surface are confirmed. |
| Custom text or media application | MiniMax platform | Exact endpoint, region, quota, retention, safety, and price pass review. |
| New music API integration | Do not select MiniMax hosted Music by assumption | Account eligibility is explicitly confirmed; otherwise test open weights or another provider. |
| Multi-model coding experiments | GitHub Copilot model picker | Run the same repository task and record the actual selected model, multiplier, edits, tests, and review time. |
Verdict
MiniMax and Copilot are not direct substitutes at every layer. GitHub Copilot is the stronger packaged coding workflow and now exposes a substantially newer model catalog than a July snapshot suggests. Microsoft 365 Copilot is a separate productivity product. MiniMax is the better fit for teams building their own model-powered creation service, with the important exception that new hosted Music/Lyrics access is closed. Compare a specific MiniMax endpoint with a specific Copilot surface and model; “Microsoft Copilot” is too broad to support one universal feature or pricing table.
Frequently asked questions
Are Microsoft Copilot and GitHub Copilot the same product?
No. GitHub Copilot is the developer product to which GitHub’s supported-model catalog and premium-request multipliers apply. Microsoft 365 Copilot and consumer Microsoft Copilot have different surfaces, entitlements, and documentation.
What are the newest GitHub Copilot model additions?
As verified August 26, the official catalog includes recent additions such as Gemini 3.7 Flash, Grok 4.6, Kimi K3, and MAI-Code-1.1-Flash. Availability varies, so the live supported-model matrix and the user’s model picker remain the final check.
Will older Copilot models continue working in September?
Not all of them. GitHub lists several retirements for September 1 and MAI-Code-1-Flash for September 10. GitHub’s current footnote exempts individual Copilot subscribers on annual plans from the Sonnet 4.6 retirement. Check the model-specific row and plan, then migrate prompts, agent settings, and evaluations rather than relying on an automatic substitution.
Can a new developer use MiniMax’s hosted Music API?
Not through the normal new paid access described in MiniMax’s current catalog. Paid Music and Lyrics API access closed to new users on August 20, 2026. Existing eligible paying users and the separate open-weight Music 3.0 route should be described separately.
Official sources
- GitHub Docs: supported AI models in GitHub Copilot
- GitHub Docs: Copilot models and premium-request multipliers
- GitHub changelog: Gemini 3.7 Flash in Copilot
- GitHub changelog: Grok 4.6 in Copilot
- GitHub Copilot weekly releases for August 10
- GitHub changelog: default model enablement for Copilot Business and Enterprise
- MiniMax model catalog and Music API availability notice
- MiniMax pay-as-you-go pricing