GitHub Copilot Pricing (2026): Plan Comparison, Subscription & How to Pay

If you are comparing GitHub Copilot plans, the hard part is rarely the sign-up button. It is working out which tier matches how you actually use the product, how the bill is calculated, and what to do when a payment fails. This guide walks through all of it in plain language, using general 2026 information and avoiding guesses about numbers that change often.

What is GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is an AI pair programmer that works inside VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Visual Studio, Xcode and on GitHub itself, with code completion, chat, an agent mode and code review. Copilot has a free plan, individual paid plans (Pro and Pro+), and Business and Enterprise plans. Modern plans include “premium requests” for the more powerful models and agent features.

GitHub Copilot plans and pricing at a glance

Prices below are reference list prices in US dollars that have been published recently. Taxes, currency conversion, regional pricing and promotions can change what you see at checkout, so always confirm on the official page (github.com/features/copilot) before you pay.

How GitHub Copilot billing works

• Premium requests are counted per model and can have different multipliers; heavier models consume more of your allowance.
• Extra premium requests can be bought at a per-request rate with a budget cap in billing settings.
• Verified students, teachers and maintainers of popular open source projects may get Copilot Pro at no cost.
• Billing goes through your GitHub account, using a card or PayPal, and appears in the same invoice as other GitHub charges.

None of this is complicated, but each point is something people commonly discover only after the first invoice.

Which GitHub Copilot plan should you choose?

• Beginners and hobbyists: Free or student access.
• Working developers: Pro.
• Heavy agent or premium-model users: Pro+ or a budget for extra premium requests.
• Companies: Business, with Enterprise only if you need the extra features.

A useful rule of thumb is to begin with the lowest plan that lets you do real work, track how often you hit its limit for two or three weeks, and only then move up. Most of the plans can be changed or cancelled later, so there is little reason to start on the most expensive tier “just in case”.

Payment methods you can usually use

Most users pay for GitHub Copilot with a card. Some regions add wallet options such as PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and subscribing inside an iOS or Android app routes the payment through the store account. What you can actually select depends on your billing country and device.

A few practical points about cards:

• Use a card that allows online and recurring (subscription) payments, and that is enabled for international merchants.
• Make sure the billing name and address match what your bank has on file; mismatches are a frequent reason for declines.
• If your bank uses 3-D Secure, approve the prompt in your banking app quickly; the session may time out.
• Virtual cards can work, but some issuers block subscription merchants or cap the first transaction. Test with the amount you actually need.

Step-by-step: how to pay for GitHub Copilot

1. Sign in to github.com and open github.com/settings/copilot.
2. Click “Start using Copilot” or choose a plan.
3. Select Pro or Pro+ and pick monthly or yearly billing.
4. Add a payment method under Billing and licensing (card or PayPal).
5. Install the Copilot extension in your editor and sign in with the same GitHub account.
6. Set a premium-request budget under Billing so overage cannot surprise you.

Ways to keep your GitHub Copilot spending under control

• Apply for the free student or maintainer benefit before paying.
• Use the base model for routine completions and save premium requests for hard tasks.
• Set the budget to zero if you never want overage charges.
• Check the usage report mid-month to see how fast you are consuming premium requests.

Common payment and access problems

• Copilot active on GitHub but not in the editor: Sign out of GitHub in the editor, sign in again and reload the window.
• Student benefit not applied: Make sure your GitHub Education verification is complete and wait for the approval email.
• Card declined: Try a second card, confirm online and international payments are enabled, and check there is no temporary hold from your bank. Waiting an hour and retrying often clears security checks.
• Charged but plan not active: Refresh the page, sign out and back in, and confirm you are on the same account that was used at checkout. If the plan still does not show, keep the receipt and contact the support team of the service you paid.
• Wrong country or currency shown: Pricing follows your billing country and sometimes your IP location. Do not try to bypass it; set the correct billing address in your account instead.
• Unexpected renewal: Subscriptions renew automatically. Check the next billing date in your account and cancel at least a day before it if you do not want another cycle.

How to cancel or change your GitHub Copilot plan

You cancel in the same place you subscribed: the website billing page for web purchases, the Apple subscriptions page for iPhone purchases, or Google Play subscriptions for Android purchases. Cancelling normally stops the next renewal but keeps access until the end of the period you already paid for. Downgrades usually take effect at the next renewal, while upgrades are normally effective immediately with a prorated charge. Keep your receipt emails; they are the quickest proof if you ever need help.

Monthly or yearly billing: how to decide

The annual option for GitHub Copilot can look attractive because the per-month figure is lower. The catch is commitment: if you stop using the service after three months you have still paid for twelve. Treat yearly billing as a reward for habits you have already proven, not as a way to start.

A short checklist before you subscribe

• Confirm the plan name and price on the official GitHub Copilot page the same day you buy, since promotions and limits change.
• Log in with the account you actually want to keep; changing the account tied to a subscription later can be awkward.
• Decide who pays: a personal card, a company card or a team plan with central billing.
• Note the renewal date and the cancellation route in your calendar.
• Save the receipt email in a folder; you will need it for expense claims or support requests.

Is GitHub Copilot worth paying for?

Instead of asking whether GitHub Copilot is “good”, ask whether you will use it often enough to benefit from the extra limits. Write down the tasks you want it for, try them on the free or entry plan, and upgrade only when a limit actually gets in your way. This keeps spending tied to real value.

Invoices, receipts and company cards

If you pay for GitHub Copilot as part of your work, look for the billing or invoices section in your account settings. There you can usually download receipts, update the company name and tax number for future invoices, and change the billing email. Use a dedicated company card where possible and a shared mailbox for receipts, so subscriptions do not disappear when a team member leaves. For teams with several users, a business or team plan with central billing is generally easier to audit than many individual subscriptions.

Mistakes to avoid

• Buying the most expensive plan before you know your real usage.
• Subscribing inside a mobile app and then looking for the cancel button on the website, or the reverse.
• Sharing your login with someone who offers to “activate” or “top up” the plan for you; use official checkout only.
• Forgetting a free trial and being charged on the first renewal date.
• Ignoring the usage or credit counter until it is empty in the middle of a deadline.

What if prices or limits change?

AI and software subscriptions move quickly. A plan that included a certain allowance last quarter may be reorganised, renamed or repriced this quarter, and a new tier can appear between the ones you know. When that happens, read the notice email from GitHub (Microsoft) instead of assuming nothing changed, compare the new allowance with what you actually used, and decide whether to stay, downgrade or switch to another tool. Existing subscribers are normally told about price changes ahead of renewal, which gives you time to cancel if the new terms no longer make sense.

Typical GitHub Copilot Users and What Works for Them

• Individuals: Microsoft Copilot has had a free version and paid options such as Copilot Pro, with features that depend on your Microsoft account and region. Check the plans page.
• Developers: GitHub Copilot has plans for individuals, businesses and enterprises, with a free option offered in some periods. Check GitHub’s pricing page.
• Organisations: Microsoft 365 Copilot is licensed for organisations and managed by admins. It requires an eligible Microsoft 365 plan.

GitHub Copilot at a Glance

• Typical use: code completion and chat-based coding in your editor.
• What you need: a GitHub account and an individual, team or enterprise plan.
• Common friction: organization seat management, policy settings, and student or maintainer eligibility checks.
• Security tools: GitHub two-factor authentication and access-token management.

GitHub Copilot Options Compared, With a Verdict

Verdict: Name confusion is the main trap. Decide which Copilot you mean, then read that product’s own pricing page. Do not assume a price or feature applies across products.

Choosing the right Copilot

1. Identify the product: App, GitHub or Microsoft 365.
2. Open the official page: For that product.
3. Read the plans: Note features and limits.
4. Check eligibility: Education or business conditions.
5. Try the free option: If offered.
6. Choose billing: Store, web or admin.
7. Review monthly: Cancel if unused.

GitHub Copilot Troubleshooting Table

Understanding the names

Microsoft and GitHub use the Copilot name for several products. The consumer Copilot app, GitHub Copilot in editors and Microsoft 365 Copilot in Office apps are billed and managed separately.

GitHub Copilot tiers

GitHub has offered individual, business and enterprise plans, with different features such as chat, agents and policy controls. Check the official pricing page for the current list.

Microsoft 365 requirements

Microsoft 365 Copilot is typically added to eligible business or enterprise plans by an admin. Individuals should check the official page for what is available to them.

Free and trial options

Free tiers or trials have been offered in some periods or for students and open source maintainers. Check eligibility on the official pages.

Data and privacy

Admins can set policies for data handling. Read the documentation for how prompts and code are treated in your plan.

Usage limits

Premium requests or limits may apply to some features and models. Check how your plan counts them.

Admin tasks

Admins assign licences, set policies and view usage. Individuals should not share logins.

Choosing for a team

Run a small pilot with a few people, collect their feedback and measure the time saved before buying for everyone.

Hedging on specifics

Plans and names change. Use the official pages only.

GitHub Copilot in the editor

GitHub Copilot works inside editors such as Visual Studio Code, offering completions, chat and in some plans agent-style tasks. Check which editors your plan supports, how many premium requests it includes and whether organisation policies disable some features. Admins can control these settings for all members.

The consumer Copilot app

The Copilot app and website are aimed at everyday help such as questions, writing and images. Some features may require a Microsoft account, and a paid plan may raise limits or add integration with Office apps. Check the sign-in and the plans page inside the app to see exactly what applies to you.

Microsoft 365 Copilot in Office

Inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, Microsoft 365 Copilot can summarise, draft and analyse content from your files and emails, according to permissions. Admins manage licences and data access, so ask yours what is enabled before you plan any workflow around it.

Evaluating value fairly

Measure time saved on actual tasks for two weeks, such as drafting emails, summarising meetings or writing tests. Subtract the time spent checking and correcting the output. If the net saving is small, a free option or a different product may fit better. Share the numbers with whoever approves the purchase.

Checking data boundaries

Copilot products can see content you give them and, for work versions, content you have permission to access. Ask what is logged, who can see it and how long it is kept. Written answers from an admin or the official documentation are better than assumptions.

GitHub Copilot Checklist

1. Product identified
2. Plans read
3. Eligibility checked
4. Trial tested
5. Admin steps known
6. Review set

GitHub Copilot FAQ

Is GitHub Copilot free?

There is a limited free plan, and free Pro access for verified students, teachers and some maintainers.

What is a premium request?

A request to a more powerful model or agent feature that counts against a monthly allowance.

Copilot Pro or Pro+?

Pro covers most developers; Pro+ is for heavy premium-model use.

Can my company pay for me?

Yes. Business and Enterprise seats are assigned by an organisation owner.

Is it safe to pay for GitHub Copilot through third parties?

The only fully safe route is paying GitHub (Microsoft) directly on its official site or in its official app. Be cautious with anyone who asks for your login details, or sells “cheap” access without a clear, verifiable receipt.

Do GitHub Copilot prices differ by country?

Yes. Prices, taxes and available payment methods vary by country and platform. The checkout page always shows the final amount.

Is GitHub Copilot the same as Microsoft Copilot?

No. They are separate products.

Who assigns licences?

Admins of your organisation.

Can students get free access?

Offers have existed. Check eligibility.

How do I cancel?

In the billing settings of that product.

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