GitHub Copilot will switch to usage-based billing and AI credit system starting June 2026

GitHub Copilot will shift all plans to usage-based billing starting June 1, 2026. At that time, all premium request units will be replaced by GitHub AI credits. Each plan will offer a monthly allotment of these credits, and paid users can purchase more as needed.

The new system calculates usage based on token consumption, covering input, output, and cached tokens according to the API rates for each Copilot model. While this change aims to align costs more closely with actual usage, Copilot’s base plan prices will not change as a result of the transition.

To support the move, GitHub will release a preview bill experience in early May. This tool gives administrators and users advance visibility into their projected usage and associated costs ahead of the official switch. Following these updates, code completions and next edit suggestions will remain available in all plans without consuming AI credits. However, Copilot code review will now require both GitHub Actions minutes and AI credits.

GitHub says this transition is necessary because the previous model was unsustainable and did not capture the true computational cost of different use patterns. The company also expects usage-based billing to preserve service reliability while reducing the need to restrict high-activity users.