GitHub’s AI-powered coding assistant, Copilot, is introducing significant changes to its pricing and access structure for advanced AI models. Starting in May 2025, users will encounter new limitations and costs when utilizing premium AI capabilities beyond the base model.
Key Updates to GitHub Copilot
- Premium Requests System: A new tiered system restricts access to advanced AI models like Anthropic’s 3.7 Sonnet. Users exceeding base model (GPT-4o) functionality for complex tasks—such as multi-file edits or “agentic” coding—will face rate limits.
- Monthly Allowances:
- Copilot Pro ($20/month): 300 premium requests
- Copilot Business: 300 premium requests
- Copilot Enterprise: 1,000 premium requests
- Additional Costs: Users can buy extra premium requests at $0.04 each or upgrade to Copilot Pro+ ($39/month), which includes 1,500 requests and exclusive access to top-tier models like GPT-4.5.
Why the Change?
The shift reflects rising operational costs for advanced AI models. Sophisticated systems like Anthropic’s 3.7 Sonnet require more computational power due to enhanced fact-checking and reliability features. This follows similar pricing adjustments across the AI industry, including recent changes by competitor Devin.
Copilot’s Growing Impact
Despite the new costs, Copilot remains a major revenue driver for GitHub. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella noted that the tool contributed over 40% of GitHub’s 2024 growth and now surpasses the entire platform’s value at the time of Microsoft’s acquisition.
Developers should evaluate their workflow needs against these changes, as complex coding tasks may require budget adjustments or plan upgrades starting May 5–19, 2025.
