github-copilot developer-tools ai-billing code-generation

GitHub Copilot is moving to usage-based billing

github.blog

April 27, 2026

4 min read

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72/100

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.

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Coverage & discussions

Hacker News · github.blog

GitHub Copilot is moving to usage-based billing ↗

Community discussions

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Analysis ready

Community Sentiment

Negative

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.