GitHub will transition Copilot to a usage-based billing model starting June 1, 2026, replacing its current premium request system with a credit-based structure tied to token consumption.
“Starting June 1, your Copilot usage will consume GitHub AI Credits,” Chief Product Officer Mario Rodriguez said in a blog post.
Individual users on monthly plans will automatically transition to the new model on June 1. Annual subscribers will remain on the existing system until their plans expire, after which they will move to the new structure or switch to a monthly plan.
Under the new system, all Copilot plans will include a monthly allocation of AI Credits, with additional usage billed based on tokens used for input, output, and cached data. Pricing will follow published API rates for each model.
The company said the change is intended to align pricing with actual usage. “A quick chat question and a multi-hour autonomous coding session can cost the user the same amount,” Rodriguez said. “The current premium request model is no longer sustainable.”
Copilot’s base subscription prices will remain unchanged. Copilot Pro will continue at $10 per month and include $10 in AI Credits, while Pro+ will cost $39 per month with $39 in credits. Business and Enterprise plans will remain at $19 and $39 per user per month, respectively, with equivalent credit allocations.
“This change aligns Copilot pricing with actual usage and is an important step toward a sustainable, reliable Copilot business and experience,” Rodriguez added.
Code completions and Next Edit suggestions will remain included and will not consume credits. However, fallback access to lower-cost models upon reaching usage limits will be removed. Instead, usage will be governed by available credits and administrative budget controls.
Copilot code review will also consume GitHub Actions minutes in addition to AI Credits, billed at standard workflow rates.
To support the transition, GitHub will roll out a billing preview in early May, allowing users and administrators to view projected costs before the new system takes effect.
For enterprise customers, GitHub will introduce pooled usage, allowing credits to be shared across teams. Administrators will also be able to set spending limits at enterprise, cost centre, and user levels.
Promotional credits will be provided between June and August, with Business plans receiving $30 per month and Enterprise plans receiving $70 per month.
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