GitHub Copilot: Pay-As-You-Go & AI Credits Explained

GitHub Copilot has launched a pay-as-you-go system. Once users deplete their included 'AI credits,' additional usage will incur extra charges. This change applies to all GitHub Copilot plans starting June 1, 2026. The new system uses GitHub AI credits as the unit of usage. Lighter AI processes consume fewer credits, while more complex tasks use more. All plans will include a standard monthly usage allowance. If you use more, you can set an additional spending limit and pay a usage-based fee. For individual plans, there might be limits on extra credits based on usage and account status. Code reviews using GitHub Copilot will also consume GitHub Actions execution time if using GitHub-hosted runners. However, using a self-hosted runner avoids this. Organizations and enterprises can set user-based budgets for AI credits. Administrators can receive email notifications when usage nears the budget and can adjust limits at any time. This new billing model impacts how developers and organizations manage their AI-assisted coding costs.