GitHub Copilot users are facing steep price increases after Microsoft switched the AI coding assistant from a flat subscription to usage-based billing. Some report their bills have jumped by up to 100 times. The change has sparked frustration across developer forums and social media.
New credit-based billing model explained
GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool integrated into editors like VS Code. Microsoft acquired GitHub in 2018 and has since expanded Copilot with multiple AI model options. The new pricing model applies to all paid tiers.
Under the new system, users buy credits that are consumed by AI requests. The Pro plan costs 10 USD (about $10.00) per month and includes 1,500 credits. The Pro+ plan costs 39 USD (about $39.00) and includes 7,000 credits. The Max plan costs 100 USD (about $100) and includes 20,000 credits.
User reactions and workarounds
Different AI models consume credits at different rates. Models like Claude Opus and GPT are more expensive per token, while Gemini Flash is cheaper. Some users are switching to token-efficient models like DeepSeek to reduce costs. AI agents can dramatically increase token usage if left unchecked.
According to an Ars Technica report, many users are reporting that their bills would increase by several orders of magnitude. Complaints have appeared on GitHub community forums and X. The shift has prompted some developers to reconsider their use of the tool.
The new pricing marks a significant departure from the previous flat-rate model. Users who relied on heavy AI assistance are most affected. Microsoft has not announced any adjustments in response to the backlash.
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