GitHub confirms Copilot token-based billing — signups paused

Source: GitHub Blog Date: 2026-04-21 (announced April 20) URL: https://github.blog/news-insights/company-news/changes-to-github-copilot-individual-plans/

Summary

GitHub officially confirmed the shift to token-based billing for Copilot, same day as Ed Zitron’s exclusive. New signups paused for Pro ($10/mo), Pro+ ($39/mo), and Student plans. Opus models removed from Pro tier (Pro+ only). Opus 4.5/4.6 being discontinued from Pro+. Rate limits tightened on Business and Enterprise. Trials suspended. Cancel window: April 20–May 20.

Stated rationale: “Agentic workflows consume exponentially more resources than original plans anticipated.” Weekly cost has doubled since January. Opus 4.7 carries 7.5x request multiplier.

Implications

Most significant pricing signal since tracking began. First vendor to formally break the mutual silence on unsustainable AI pricing. Confirms the “subsidy era ending” thesis from the token economics thread. The structural pattern — enterprise protection, individual extraction — mirrors Anthropic’s tier split and Copilot’s own data training exemption for Business/Enterprise users. Three days before April 24 data training deadline. The billing shock will overshadow the data policy change.