GitHub Copilot to adopt token-based pricing on June 1

GitHub Copilot implemented a change to its billing structure effective June 1, moving from a request-based model to one based on tokens consumed by the underlying AI models. Under the new system, each credit equals $0.01 of AI usage. Subscribers receive a fixed monthly allotment of base credits plus variable bonus credits tied to their plan tier.

GitHub had warned in April that the previous premium request model was no longer sustainable because agentic AI workflows were driving sharply higher inference costs. " A company spokesperson directed inquiries to an FAQ and changelog that detail how token consumption varies by model and task.

Some users posted screenshots showing their internal cost estimators projecting higher bills than prior months. One subscriber who had paid $39 per month calculated a projected June bill of $847. Another user reported their estimated cost rising from $44.68 to $754.29 for the same level of activity.

Several posts indicated that more than 40 percent of monthly credits had already been used within the first two days.

The company has stated that the pricing shift ends subsidies for high-intensity usage so that heavy consumers pay closer to the compute costs their workflows impose. Arun Chandrasekaran of Gartner said the move may be an early signal of broader industry changes as advanced reasoning models increase compute demands.

He added that companies will need to balance internal cost recovery with customer expectations for predictable pricing.