News · Enterprise Software & IT

GitHub switches Copilot to usage-based pricing

What they do

GitHub is a platform for hosting and collaborating on code

It moved Copilot from flat subscription to a usage-based model starting June 1, 2026

Indian startups like Vobiz and Zostel are cutting back or seeking cheaper alternatives

GitHub announced on April 27, 2026 that it would move Copilot from a flat subscription to a usage-based model.
The change took effect on June 1, 2026.
Copilot was launched in 2022 as a flat-fee service.
The change was announced on April 27, 2026, and took effect earlier this week.
Users can purchase additional credits if they exceed plan limits.
GitHub provides spending limits, usage dashboards, and model-selection controls.
The new plans are: Copilot Pro ($10/month, 1,500 credits), Copilot Pro+ ($39/month, 7,000 credits), and Copilot Max ($100/month, 20,000 credits).

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GitHub is a platform for hosting, sharing, and collaborating on software code.
It offers version control using Git and supports open-source and private projects.
Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool that suggests code snippets and functions.
GitHub has over 27 million developers in India.
Nearly 80% of new Indian developers use Copilot within their first week on the platform.
The company makes money through subscription plans for individuals and teams, and now through usage-based billing for Copilot.

Vobiz is evaluating lower-cost alternatives like Google Gemini and Alibaba-backed Qwen.
Zostel is pulling back on Copilot for heavy planning and extended review loops.
Zostel is breaking products into modular chunks to reduce Copilot token usage.
Hexaware has enabled GitHub budget controls and usage dashboards to manage costs.