GitHub Copilot is moving to usage-based billing
github.blog
April 27, 2026
4 min read
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58/100
Summary
GitHub Copilot will transition to usage-based billing starting June 1, 2026. All plans will include a monthly allotment of GitHub AI Credits, with additional usage available for purchase, calculated based on token consumption.
Key Takeaways
- GitHub Copilot will transition to usage-based billing starting June 1, 2026, replacing premium request units with monthly GitHub AI Credits based on token consumption.
- Base plan pricing for Copilot remains unchanged, with Copilot Pro at $10/month, Pro+ at $39/month, Business at $19/user/month, and Enterprise at $39/user/month.
- Code completions and Next Edit suggestions will continue to be included in all plans without consuming AI Credits, while Copilot code review will also use GitHub Actions minutes.
- A preview billing experience will be launched in early May to help users estimate costs before the transition to usage-based billing.
Community Sentiment
Positives
- The Copilot CLI offers a new way to integrate AI coding assistance directly into terminal workflows, enhancing flexibility for developers.
- Users appreciate the transparency in usage-based billing, which provides clearer insights into costs compared to previous models.
- The Copilot SDK allows developers to build custom applications with agentic capabilities, expanding the potential use cases for AI in software development.
Concerns
- The transition to usage-based billing has led many users to feel that their subscriptions have lost value, with significant price multipliers for model usage.
- Concerns are rising that the new pricing structure may push users towards alternative AI tools, as Copilot's affordability diminishes.
- The removal of subscriber discounts has frustrated users, making the service feel less appealing compared to competitors offering more flexible pricing.
