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GitHub Copilot

A Tier · 8.3/10

AI code assistant that lives in your editor -- autocomplete on steroids, now with the broadest model picker of any coding tool. **Claude Opus 5 landed 2026-07-24** (Pro+, Max, Business, Enterprise) and **Grok 4.5 on 2026-07-28** (all five paid SKUs, up to 500K context, text and image input, low/medium/high reasoning effort). Both bill usage-based at provider list price, and both are off by default for Business/Enterprise until an admin enables the policy -- though that posture flips on **2026-08-26**, when new GA models covered by GitHub's data-retention agreement start auto-enabling for orgs. **GitHub Models (the separate free playground) was fully retired 2026-07-30.** Usage-based billing went live 2026-06-01 with AI Credits and token metering; code completions are still free; new signups for Student/Pro/Pro+/Max remain PAUSED

Last updated: 2026-08-06Free tier availablePowered by Multi-model picker: Kimi K3 (Pro/Pro+/Max/Business/Enterprise, added 2026-08-06, GitHub-hosted on Fireworks AI), Claude Opus 5 (Pro+/Max/Business/Enterprise, added 2026-07-24), Grok 4.5 (all paid SKUs, added 2026-07-28), Kimi K2.7-Code, Microsoft MAI-Code-1-Flash, plus the GPT-5.x line

Score Breakdown

9.0
Ease of Use
8.0
Output Quality
8.0
Value
8.0
Features
Visit GitHub Copilot

The Good and the Bad

What we like

  • +Inline code completions feel magical -- it predicts what you're about to type with scary accuracy
  • +Works directly in VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim -- no context switching
  • +Copilot Chat is great for explaining code, writing tests, and debugging
  • +Free tier is functional enough for personal projects

What could be better

  • −Suggestions can be confidently wrong -- it'll autocomplete plausible-looking code that has subtle bugs
  • −Sometimes suggests code that's clearly copied from public repos, raising licensing questions
  • −Context window for chat is smaller than standalone tools like Claude
  • −Multi-file refactoring understanding is limited compared to Cursor

Pricing

Free

$0
  • ✓2,000 completions/mo
  • ✓50 chat messages/mo
  • ✓VS Code + JetBrains
  • ✓Still open to new signups (2026-04-20)

Pro

$10/month
  • ✓NEW SIGNUPS PAUSED 2026-04-20
  • ✓Claude Opus REMOVED (Opus 4.7 now Pro+ only)
  • ✓Effective 2026-06-01: $10 in monthly AI Credits replaces premium-request quota

Pro+

$39/month
  • ✓NEW SIGNUPS PAUSED 2026-04-20
  • ✓Claude Opus access (Pro+ only)
  • ✓Full frontier-model picker
  • ✓Live 2026-06-01: $39 in monthly AI Credits

Copilot Max (NEW 2026-06-01)

Upgrade tier
  • ✓Upgrade for existing Student/Pro/Pro+ subscribers
  • ✓Higher included usage + higher spending limits
  • ✓NEW SIGNUPS PAUSED (reopen in coming weeks)
  • ✓Usage-based AI Credits + token metering

Business

$19/user/month
  • ✓Organization management
  • ✓Policy controls
  • ✓Audit logs
  • ✓Effective 2026-06-01: $19 in monthly AI Credits per user

Enterprise

$39/user/month
  • ✓Org-wide governance + SSO
  • ✓Effective 2026-06-01: $39 in monthly AI Credits per user
  • ✓Standard token metering above the allotment

Known Issues

  • KIMI K3 IS GA IN COPILOT -- AND IT LANDS ON EVERY PAID SKU INCLUDING BASE PRO (2026-08-06, vendor changelog): GitHub made **Kimi K3**, Moonshot's 2.8T-parameter open-weight model, generally available in the Copilot picker. GitHub's framing, verbatim: the model '**shows frontier-level abilities on agentic coding with highly cost-effective pricing**'. **HOSTING MATTERS HERE: Kimi K3 is hosted by GitHub on Fireworks AI**, not called out to Moonshot's own API -- so your prompts go to a US inference provider under GitHub's arrangement rather than to Moonshot. Billing is **provider list pricing under usage-based billing**, the same posture as the Opus 5 and Grok 4.5 adds. **AVAILABILITY IS BROADER THAN THE RECENT FRONTIER ADDS:** K3 is rolling out to **Pro, Pro+, Max, Business and Enterprise** -- note that includes **base Pro**, where Claude Opus 5 (added 7/24) was Pro+/Max/Business/Enterprise only. Surfaces: VS Code, Visual Studio, Copilot CLI, Copilot cloud agent, the GitHub Copilot app, github.com, GitHub Mobile on iOS and Android, JetBrains, Xcode and Eclipse. Rollout is gradual, so absence from your picker is not a fault. **ORG ADMINS -- THIS ONE DOES NOT AUTO-ENABLE: K3 is off by default for Copilot Business and Copilot Enterprise**, and 'plan administrators must enable the Kimi K3 policy in Copilot settings before anyone in their organization can select it.' That is consistent with, not an exception to, the 2026-08-26 default-model-enablement change described below -- **open-weight models are explicitly excluded from auto-enablement**, so K3 will still need a manual switch after 8/26. GitHub adds an unusually direct caution: 'we recommend administrators review open-weight models against their own security, compliance, and data-governance requirements before enabling them.' Read: the picker now carries two Moonshot generations (K2.7-Code and K3), and the cheapest credible frontier-class coding option in Copilot is an open-weight Chinese model -- which is exactly the decision GitHub is pushing onto compliance teamsSource: GitHub changelog (github.blog/changelog/2026-08-06-kimi-k3-is-now-available-in-github-copilot/, fetched 2026-08-06) · 2026-08-06
  • GITHUB SPARK IS BEING RETIRED -- CLOSED TO NEW USERS 2026-08-04, EXPORT BY 2026-08-31 (vendor changelog): GitHub is winding down **Spark**, its natural-language app-builder on github.com. Verbatim: 'Beginning August 4, 2026, GitHub Spark no longer accepts new users or allows the creation of new apps.' **Existing apps you already deployed keep working after shutdown** -- but if you want to keep *editing* an app you must **export the code before 2026-08-31** (open the Spark workbench, select '...', then 'Create repository'). The sting for anyone who built on it: Spark's AI features ran on **GitHub Models, which was retired 2026-07-30**, so any app calling the `llm()` function **already stopped working on 7/30** -- to restore AI behaviour you must swap in your own inference provider, supply your own API key, and take on the billing yourself. Read this as the second half of one decision, not two: GitHub retired the free inference service and then closed the product that depended on it, both inside five days. If you are evaluating Copilot, note that Spark was a separate product -- **this does not affect Copilot subscriptions or the model picker**Source: GitHub changelog (github.blog/changelog/2026-08-04-upcoming-deprecation-of-github-spark-on-github-com/) · 2026-08-04
  • COPILOT CLOUD AGENT GETS A REASONING-LEVEL CONTROL (2026-08-03, vendor changelog): when you delegate a task to Copilot cloud agent you can now **pick a reasoning level alongside the model**, controlling 'how much the model reasons before it responds,' and the agent uses that level for the whole run. It applies only to 'models that support it' -- GitHub did not publish which models, which named levels, or the default. **Billing matters here:** GitHub's own wording is that a higher level 'can improve answers to complex problems, but it consumes more tokens, and therefore more credits' -- so this is a knob that can quietly raise your premium-request burn on a metered plan. Availability: **all paid plans that include Copilot cloud agent -- Pro, Pro+, Business, Enterprise, and Max** (not the free tier). Same-week companion change: the **Copilot billing preview app was retired 2026-08-04**Source: GitHub changelog (github.blog/changelog/2026-08-03-customize-the-reasoning-level-for-copilot-cloud-agent/, github.blog/changelog/2026-08-04-retiring-the-copilot-billing-preview-app/) · 2026-08-03
  • GITHUB MODELS IS GONE -- RETIREMENT EXECUTED 2026-07-30 (vendor-confirmed, runtime-confirmed): the free model playground and catalog are dead, with **no grandfathering and no read-only window**. GitHub's changelog, verbatim: 'As of July 30, 2026, GitHub Models is now retired. The playground, model catalog, inference API, and bring your own key (BYOK) are no longer available to any customer, including existing customers with active usage.' The `models.github.ai` catalog endpoint now returns **HTTP 410 Gone**. IMPORTANT: **the free playground inference was not migrated anywhere -- it simply ended.** GitHub points users to Microsoft/Azure AI Foundry (the changelog says 'Microsoft Foundry', the docs say 'Azure AI Foundry' -- same product, inconsistent naming) or to Copilot itself; **both are paid**. Also note GitHub's own docs stress that 'GitHub Models was a separate service from GitHub Copilot and is unrelated to GitHub Copilot services' -- so this does not affect your Copilot subscription or model pickerSource: GitHub changelog (github.blog/changelog/2026-07-30-github-models-is-now-retired/), GitHub docs (docs.github.com/en/github-models), live probe of models.github.ai returning 410 · 2026-07-30
  • MODEL DEPRECATIONS RESOLVED + A NEW SEPT 1 SLATE (2026-07-31, vendor changelog -- this supersedes the earlier 'removal date not yet specified' note): (1) **Gemini 2.5 Pro and Gemini 3 Flash were actually deprecated on 2026-07-31**, verbatim 'As of today, July 31, 2026, we have deprecated the following models across all GitHub Copilot experiences.' Replacements: **Gemini 2.5 Pro -> Gemini 3.1 Pro (Preview)** and **Gemini 3 Flash -> Gemini 3.6 Flash**. (2) Announced the same day, a further slate deprecates on **2026-09-01**: **Gemini 3.1 Pro -> Gemini 3.6 Flash** (note the awkward consequence -- 3.1 Pro is the *replacement* for 2.5 Pro on 7/31 and is itself deprecated a month later, so migrating 2.5 Pro users to 3.1 Pro buys you about four weeks); **Claude Opus 4.5 and Opus 4.6 -> 'Claude Opus 4.7, Claude Opus 4.8, or Claude Opus 5'**; **Claude Sonnet 4.5 -> Sonnet 5**; **Claude Sonnet 4.6 -> Sonnet 5**, with the carve-out that 'Claude Sonnet 4.6 will remain available to individual GitHub Copilot subscribers on annual plans so they retain a Sonnet offering'; and **Raptor Mini -> MAI-Code-1-Flash**. GitHub's instruction: 'update your workflows and integrations to use the supported model before these dates'Source: GitHub changelog (github.blog/changelog/2026-07-31-gemini-2-5-pro-and-gemini-3-flash-deprecated/ and /2026-07-31-upcoming-august-2026-model-deprecations-in-github-copilot/, both fetched 2026-08-03) · 2026-07-31
  • ORG MODEL DEFAULTS FLIP ON 2026-08-26 -- ACT BEFORE THEN IF YOU WANT THE OLD BEHAVIOUR (announced 2026-07-29, vendor changelog): GitHub is reversing the admin-opt-in posture for new models. Under the new **default model enablement** policy, newly released Copilot models that are generally available **and covered by GitHub's data retention agreement become available to Business and Enterprise users automatically**, instead of requiring an admin to switch each one on. **Excluded from auto-enablement: open-weight models (GitHub names DeepSeek and Kimi K2.7) and models not covered by GitHub's data retention agreement (GitHub names Fable 5)** -- those still require explicit enablement. Timing matters: **the policy is configurable now but has no effect until 2026-08-26**, and organisations that want to keep manual control must **disable the policy before that date**. This directly changes the 'models are off by default for orgs' guidance that applied to the Opus 5 and Grok 4.5 adds belowSource: GitHub changelog (github.blog/changelog/2026-07-29-default-model-enablement-for-copilot-business-and-enterprise/, fetched 2026-08-03) · 2026-07-29
  • COPILOT BILLING PREVIEW APP RETIRED TODAY, 2026-08-03 (vendor-confirmed): the standalone app 'built to help you understand your bill as Copilot moved to usage-based billing' is gone. Its replacement is built into GitHub: the **AI usage page in billing settings**, which GitHub says now covers things the app never could, including 'user-level budgets, cost centers, and how usage pools are allocated.' If you had the app installed for spend tracking, that workflow moves to billing settingsSource: GitHub changelog (github.blog/changelog/2026-07-07-copilot-billing-preview-app-will-be-retired-on-august-3/, fetched 2026-08-03) · 2026-08-03
  • MODEL ADD -- GROK 4.5 (2026-07-28): GitHub added xAI's Grok 4.5 to Copilot for **'Copilot Pro, Pro+, Max, Business, and Enterprise SKUs'** -- a wider plan list than Opus 5 got four days earlier, since it includes base Pro. Specs from the changelog: **up to 500,000 tokens of context**, text and image input, and selectable **low / medium / high reasoning effort**, positioned for fast agentic coding and complex multi-step workflows. Billing is usage-based at provider list pricing. **Business and Enterprise administrators must enable the Grok 4.5 policy in Copilot settings -- it is disabled by default**, so it will not simply appear for org usersSource: GitHub changelog (github.blog/changelog/2026-07-28-grok-4-5-is-now-available-in-github-copilot/, fetched 2026-07-29) · 2026-07-28
  • MODEL ADD -- CLAUDE OPUS 5 (2026-07-24): Copilot picked up Anthropic's new flagship **the same day Anthropic launched it**. Availability is **'Copilot Pro+, Max, Business, and Enterprise users'** -- note this **excludes base Copilot Pro**, unlike the Grok 4.5 add four days later. Billed usage-based at provider API list rates (GitHub published no multiplier and no context figure in the changelog), and **Enterprise/Business admins must enable the Claude Opus 5 policy** before their developers see it. Rollout was gradual. Practical read: the strongest Anthropic model is now a Copilot option, which narrows the model-access gap that pushed heavy users toward Cursor and Claude CodeSource: GitHub changelog (github.blog/changelog/2026-07-24-claude-opus-5-is-now-available-in-github-copilot/, fetched 2026-07-29) · 2026-07-24
  • JULY WEEK-2 CLUSTER (2026-07-01 → 2026-07-09, all vendor changelog): (1) **GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra, and Luna landed in Copilot 7/9** -- day-one availability with OpenAI's GA; the picker now spans GPT-5.6 (three tiers), Sonnet 5, Fable 5, and Kimi K2.7. (2) **Deprecation notice 7/2: Gemini 2.5 Pro and Gemini 3 Flash are being removed from Copilot** -- RESOLVED, the removal landed 2026-07-31; see the deprecation entry above for the replacements and the follow-on Sept 1 slate. (3) 7/7: **Kimi K2.7 extended to Business/Enterprise**, **Codex now works as an agent provider inside JetBrains IDEs**, the **GitHub Copilot app is available to all**, and the Copilot Billing Preview app retires 8/3 (DONE -- see the 2026-08-03 entry above). (4) 7/1: **Copilot vision GA** (images/PDFs in chat) + CLI auto model selection. Net: Copilot's picker is now the fastest-moving multi-vendor surface in the market -- three frontier vendors shipped into it inside 10 daysSource: GitHub Changelog (github.blog/changelog/label/copilot -- 2026-07-01 through 2026-07-09 entries) · 2026-07-09
  • LATE-JUNE/JULY CLUSTER (2026-06-30 → 2026-07-02, vendor changelog): (1) **Claude Sonnet 5 is GA in GitHub Copilot** (6/30) -- day-one availability alongside Anthropic's launch; the new 'most agentic Sonnet' model joins the picker. (2) **Browser tools for Copilot agents are GA in VS Code** (7/1) -- agents can drive a browser to test/verify their own web changes. (3) **GitHub Models is being fully retired on 2026-07-30** (7/1 announcement) -- the model-catalog/playground product winds down; migrate off before the date. (4) **Kimi K2.7 Code is GA in Copilot** (7/1) -- the first open-weight Chinese model in the picker; a lower-cost option that meters against the 6/1 credit system. Sonnet 5 note: available to Pro/Pro+/Max/Business/Enterprise, billed at provider list pricing under usage-based billing (no special multiplier), Zero Data Retention, rolling out across VS Code / Visual Studio / CLI / JetBrains / Xcode / Eclipse / mobile.Source: GitHub Changelog (github.blog/changelog/2026-06-30-claude-sonnet-5-is-generally-available-for-github-copilot/, .../2026-07-01-browser-tools-for-github-copilot-in-vs-code-are-generally-available/, .../2026-07-01-github-models-is-being-fully-retired-on-july-30-2026/, Kimi K2.7 Code GA entry 2026-07-01) · 2026-07-01
  • MODEL ADD (2026-06-09, vendor-primary github.blog/changelog): **Claude Fable 5 is generally available in GitHub Copilot** on launch day -- Anthropic's first public Mythos-class model lands in the Copilot model picker the same day it ships, ahead of Cursor (which still lacks it as of 6/10). For Copilot users this is currently the strongest available model on agentic coding benchmarks (vendor: SWE-Bench Pro 80.3%). Usage meters against the 6/1 credit system like other premium modelsSource: GitHub blog (github.blog/changelog/2026-06-09-claude-fable-5-is-generally-available-for-github-copilot/) · 2026-06-09
  • BILLING CUTOVER WENT LIVE (2026-06-01, vendor-primary github.blog/changelog): usage-based billing is now live for all GitHub Copilot users. Each plan ships with monthly included usage; beyond it, requests meter against GitHub AI Credits / token rates. Code completions and Next Edit suggestions stay free. **New Copilot Max tier introduced the same day** -- an upgrade for existing Student/Pro/Pro+ subscribers with higher included usage + higher spending limits. **New signups remain PAUSED for Student, Pro, Pro+, AND the new Max plan** ('we'll reopen sign-ups in the coming weeks'). Copilot code review now also consumes GitHub Actions minutes as of 6/1. Net: the 4/27-announced transition is no longer 'upcoming' -- it is the current state.Source: GitHub Changelog (github.blog/changelog/2026-06-01-updates-to-github-copilot-billing-and-plans/), GitHub Blog: moving to usage-based billing · 2026-06-01
  • MICROSOFT BUILD (2026-06-02): Microsoft's own **MAI-Code-1-Flash** -- a lightweight in-house coding model -- is rolling out to GitHub Copilot individual users in VS Code, in the model picker and under the default auto-picker. Vendor benchmarks vs Claude Haiku 4.5: SWE-Bench Pro 51.2% vs 35.2% (a 16-point lead), solves SWE-Bench Verified problems with up to 60% fewer tokens, and +28.9 on IF Bench (instruction-following). Microsoft frames it as 'better price-to-performance across coding benchmarks.' Significant because it is the first time a first-party Microsoft model is the cost-efficient default inside Copilot rather than an OpenAI or Anthropic model -- part of the broader 'seven new MAI models' Build wave that also includes MAI-Thinking-1 (reasoning), MAI-Image-2.5, MAI-Transcribe-1.5, and MAI-Voice-2.Source: Microsoft AI (microsoft.ai/news/introducingmai-code-1-flash/), Microsoft Build 2026 newsroom (news.microsoft.com/build-2026/) · 2026-06-02
  • PRODUCT + MODEL CLUSTER (2026-05-14 → 2026-05-21, 6 vendor changelog entries in 8 days -- highest cadence of the year): (1) **2026-05-14 GitHub Copilot app in technical preview** -- standalone Copilot app outside the editor, paralleling the OpenAI Codex mobile / Cursor / Anthropic 'agent goes where you go' pattern. (2) **2026-05-19 Gemini 3.5 Flash GA inside Copilot** -- same day as Google's I/O 2026 reveal (no aggregator delay; vendor-to-vendor handoff). Added to the Pro+/Business/Enterprise model picker. (3) **2026-05-20 Auto model selection routes by task in VS Code** -- Copilot auto-picks among the lineup based on task type rather than user-pinned default. (4) **2026-05-20 Semantic issue search in Copilot Chat** -- chat queries the issues backlog with semantic understanding (find related, dedupe, surface stale). (5) **2026-05-20 Updates to available models in Copilot on web** -- model-picker parity refresh across surfaces. (6) **2026-05-21 Issue fields public preview** -- organization-wide rollout of issue-field customization. Net effect: 6 customer-facing changelogs in the 8-day window ahead of the 6/1 billing cliff.Source: GitHub Changelog (github.blog/changelog -- 5/14 copilot-app-tech-preview, 5/19 gemini-3-5-flash-ga, 5/20 auto-model-selection-vscode, 5/20 semantic-issue-search-copilot-chat, 5/20 updates-to-available-models-on-web, 5/21 issue-fields-public-preview) · 2026-05-21
  • MODEL LINEUP REFRESH (2026-05-17 + 2026-05-18): (1) **GPT-5.3-Codex is now the base model for Copilot Business and Enterprise** (vendor-primary github.blog 2026-05-17), replacing GPT-4.1 ahead of its 6/1 retirement. 1x multiplier, included in standard premium-request quotas; meaningfully faster base-tier completions + chat. (2) **Copilot Cloud Agent added two low-multiplier models 2026-05-18**: Claude Haiku 4.5 and GPT-5.4-mini, both at 0.33x multiplier -- positioned as the 'fast, cost-efficient' default for simple cloud agent tasks. Default cloud-agent runs now route to these tiers; users can still override to Sonnet 4.6 / Opus 4.7 / GPT-5.5 for complex work, but the new default cuts per-task spend ~3x. Material change for any team using Copilot agent mode on PR cleanup / test scaffolding -- audit your spend dashboard after 5/18Source: GitHub Changelog (github.blog/changelog/2026-05-17-gpt-5-3-codex-is-now-the-base-model-for-copilot-business-and-enterprise, github.blog/changelog/2026-05-18-copilot-cloud-agent-fast-cost-efficient-models-for-simple-tasks) · 2026-05-18
  • MODEL RETIREMENT WENT LIVE 2026-05-15: **Grok Code Fast 1 fully removed** from Copilot Chat, inline edits, ask + agent modes, and code completions (the 5/8-announced T-7 cliff landed on schedule, accelerated by xAI's own deprecation that day -- see grok.ts 8-model retirement). Anyone with grok-code-fast-1 pinned in a team config saw failures starting 5/15; replacements are GPT-5 mini or Claude Haiku 4.5. **GPT-4.1 retirement 2026-06-01 still on schedule** (T-13 from today). Joins the GPT-5.2 + GPT-5.2-Codex 6/1 batch already documented, making 6/1 a triple-deprecation cliffSource: GitHub Changelog (github.blog/changelog/2026-05-08-upcoming-deprecation-of-grok-code-fast-1, github.blog/changelog/2026-05-08-upcoming-deprecation-of-gpt-4-1), xAI 5/15 retirement docs · 2026-05-15
  • TWO MODEL DEPRECATIONS ANNOUNCED 2026-05-08 (Grok Code Fast 1 was T-7, now PAST-TENSE per 5/15 entry above): (1) **Grok Code Fast 1 retired 2026-05-15** -- accelerated 'due to the model provider deprecation' on xAI's side. Affected Copilot Chat, inline edits, ask + agent modes, code completions. Replacement: GPT-5 mini or Claude Haiku 4.5. (2) **GPT-4.1 retires 2026-06-01** -- joins the GPT-5.2 + GPT-5.2-Codex 6/1 batch. Replacement: GPT-5.5. Adds to the broader 6/1 usage-based-billing transition cliff: by June 1, model lineup loses GPT-5.2, GPT-5.2-Codex, GPT-4.1, AND moves to AI Credits metering simultaneouslySource: GitHub Changelog (github.blog/changelog/2026-05-08-upcoming-deprecation-of-grok-code-fast-1, github.blog/changelog/2026-05-08-upcoming-deprecation-of-gpt-4-1) · 2026-05-08
  • ORIGINAL 5/8 ANNOUNCEMENT (now past-tense, see 5/15 + 5/08 entries above): (1) Grok Code Fast 1 retires 2026-05-15 -- only T-7 from announcement, accelerated 'due to the model provider deprecation' on xAI's side. Affects Copilot Chat, inline edits, ask + agent modes, code completions. Replacement: GPT-5 mini or Claude Haiku 4.5. If you have Grok Code Fast 1 pinned in any team config, it stops working in a week. (2) **GPT-4.1 retires 2026-06-01** -- joins the GPT-5.2 + GPT-5.2-Codex 6/1 batch already documented. Replacement: GPT-5.5. Adds to the broader 6/1 usage-based-billing transition cliff: by June 1, model lineup loses GPT-5.2, GPT-5.2-Codex, GPT-4.1, AND moves to AI Credits metering simultaneouslySource: GitHub Changelog (github.blog/changelog/2026-05-08-upcoming-deprecation-of-grok-code-fast-1, github.blog/changelog/2026-05-08-upcoming-deprecation-of-gpt-4-1) · 2026-05-08
  • MODEL LINEUP SHRINK (2026-05-07): GitHub Copilot retires Claude Sonnet 4 from its model lineup, mirroring the upstream Anthropic API retirement that took effect 2026-06-15 (now confirmed retired on Anthropic's deprecations page). If your Copilot org/team had pinned Sonnet 4, it is now unselectable -- migrate to Sonnet 4.6 (1x multiplier, same as Sonnet 4) or Opus 4.7 (15x multiplier, dramatically higher cost). Adds to the 2026-06-01 GPT-5.2 + GPT-5.2-Codex deprecation already documentedSource: GitHub Changelog (github.blog/changelog), Anthropic deprecations page · 2026-05-07
  • MULTI-CHANGE BATCH heading into 2026-06-01 billing cutover (vendor-primary verified 2026-05-04): (1) GPT-5.2 + GPT-5.2-Codex DEPRECATION announced 2026-05-01 -- both retired across all Copilot experiences (Chat, inline edits, ask + agent modes, code completions) on 2026-06-01, except GPT-5.2-Codex remains in Copilot Code Review temporarily. Migrate to GPT-5.5 (7.5x multiplier) or GPT-5.4 (1x). (2) Business self-serve signup PAUSED 2026-04-22 -- joining Pro/Pro+/Student paused since 4/20. New Business orgs get Free or Team only; existing Business customers unaffected. (3) Copilot Code Review begins consuming GitHub Actions minutes on 2026-06-01 alongside the existing premium-request charge -- code reviews now bill TWICE (review request + Actions runtime). Budget impact for teams running review on every PR. (4) Verified multiplier table (paid plans, docs.github.com/en/copilot/concepts/billing/copilot-requests as of 2026-05-04): Claude Opus 4.7 = 15x; Claude Opus 4.6 = 3x (fast-mode preview = 30x); Sonnet 4/4.5/4.6 = 1x; Haiku 4.5 = 0.33x; Gemini 3.1 Pro = 1x; Gemini 3 Flash = 0.33x; GPT-5.5 = 7.5x; GPT-5.4 = 1x; GPT-5.4 mini = 0.33x; GPT-5.4 nano = 0.25x; GPT-5.3-Codex = 1x. Aggregator-circulated 'Opus 4.7 = 27x' and 'Gemini 3.1 Pro = 6x' figures are WRONG vs vendor primarySource: GitHub Blog (github.blog/changelog/2026-05-01-upcoming-deprecation-of-gpt-5-2-and-gpt-5-2-codex), (github.blog/changelog/2026-04-22-pausing-new-self-serve-signups-for-github-copilot-business), (github.blog/changelog/2026-04-27-github-copilot-code-review-will-start-consuming-github-actions-minutes-on-june-1-2026), docs.github.com Copilot multiplier table · 2026-05-04
  • PRICING REFORM ANNOUNCED 2026-04-27 (effective 2026-06-01): All Copilot paid plans transition off the 'premium requests' metering system to a usage-based AI Credits model. Each tier's monthly price now ALSO becomes its monthly credit allotment ($10 Pro = $10 in credits; $39 Pro+ = $39 in credits; $19 Business = $19/user; $39 Enterprise = $39/user). Above the allotment, requests pay-as-you-go at standard token API rates (input + output + cached). Code completions and Next Edit suggestions remain free across all plans and DO NOT consume credits. Annual subscribers stay on the existing premium-request model until their current plan expires, then drop to Free with a one-time prorated credit transfer covering remaining value. This is a direct response to agent-workload economics that VP Joe Binder cited as the reason for the 4/20 signup pauseSource: GitHub Blog: 'GitHub Copilot is moving to usage-based billing' (github.blog/news-insights/company-news/github-copilot-is-moving-to-usage-based-billing/) · 2026-04-27
  • CRITICAL (2026-04-20): GitHub paused NEW signups for Copilot Pro, Pro+, and Student plans. Copilot Free remains open. Existing subscribers keep access but face tightened usage caps -- VP Joe Binder cited agent workloads consuming more compute than subscription economics support. Refund window for dissatisfied subscribers: 2026-04-20 through 2026-05-20 via GitHub Support. If you were planning to buy Pro or Pro+, you currently cannot. Cursor, Claude Code, and Windsurf are the obvious alternatives during the pauseSource: GitHub Changelog (github.blog/changelog/2026-04-20), The Register, AfterDawn · 2026-04
  • Claude Opus models were pulled from the Pro tier on 2026-04-20. Opus 4.7 remains on Pro+ only; Opus 4.5 and 4.6 are being removed from Pro+ as well. If you specifically subscribed to Pro for Opus access, your tier has materially changed -- the $10 Pro plan now routes to GPT-5.4 + Gemini 3.1 + smaller open models by defaultSource: GitHub Changelog 2026-04-20, AfterDawn · 2026-04
  • EFFECTIVE 2026-04-24 (yesterday): GitHub now trains its AI models on Copilot Free/Pro/Pro+ interaction data by default -- inputs, outputs, code snippets, file names, navigation patterns, and chat comments. Business + Enterprise plans remain excluded. To opt out: settings > Copilot > Features > 'Allow GitHub to use my data for AI model training' (toggle off). Users who previously opted out of product-improvement data collection have that preference preserved. Big differentiator vs. Cursor and Claude Code, both of which do NOT train on user code by defaultSource: GitHub blog (github.blog/news-insights/company-news/updates-to-github-copilot-interaction-data-usage-policy/), The Register · 2026-04-24
  • New 'premium requests' currency system rolled out in early 2026 -- Pro plan now gets 300 premium requests/mo, Business 1,500, Enterprise 1,000. Beyond those quotas, requests pay-as-you-go. Check the new plan details page before assuming legacy 'unlimited chat' behavior still appliesSource: GitHub Copilot plans page · 2026-03
  • Agent mode reached GA on VS Code and JetBrains in March 2026 -- Copilot can now run multi-step agentic workflows rather than just reply to chat messages. Still behind Cursor Composer 2 and Claude Code on autonomous multi-file work but closes the gap meaningfullySource: GitHub Copilot blog · 2026-03
  • Copilot chat occasionally loses context mid-conversation in larger projects, giving irrelevant suggestionsSource: GitHub Community Discussions · 2026-03

Best for

Existing Copilot subscribers on Business/Enterprise or grandfathered Pro/Pro+ seats. Also new Free-tier users -- the entry point is still open and inline completions are still best-in-class.

Not for

Anyone trying to sign up for Pro, Pro+, or Student right now -- signups are paused (2026-04-20 onward). Also not for developers who specifically wanted Claude Opus on the $10 Pro plan; Opus was just pulled to Pro+ only. Cursor or Claude Code are the obvious alternatives during the pause.

Our Verdict

GitHub Copilot hit a wall on 2026-04-20: new Pro/Pro+/Student signups paused, Claude Opus pulled from Pro, and usage caps tightened across the board. Microsoft is openly admitting that agent workloads consume more compute than the current subscription tiers can sustain, and the product is being retuned in real time. For existing subscribers the inline completions remain best-in-class, but the value proposition has gotten worse overnight. If you're shopping for an AI code assistant in the next 30 days, Cursor (Pro+ $60) and Claude Code are the practical choices until Microsoft either reopens signups or reprices. Watch the refund window (through 2026-05-20) if you're on the fence about staying.

Sources

  • GitHub changelog: Kimi K3 is now available in GitHub Copilot (2026-08-06) (accessed 2026-08-06)
  • GitHub changelog: Upcoming deprecation of GitHub Spark on github.com (2026-08-04) (accessed 2026-08-04)
  • GitHub changelog: Customize the reasoning level for Copilot cloud agent (2026-08-03) (accessed 2026-08-04)
  • GitHub changelog: Retiring the Copilot billing preview app (2026-08-04) (accessed 2026-08-04)
  • GitHub changelog: Grok 4.5 is now available in GitHub Copilot (2026-07-28) (accessed 2026-07-29)
  • GitHub changelog: Claude Opus 5 is now available in GitHub Copilot (2026-07-24) (accessed 2026-07-29)
  • GitHub Changelog: Claude Sonnet 5 GA for GitHub Copilot (2026-06-30) (accessed 2026-07-04)
  • GitHub Changelog: GitHub Models fully retired 2026-07-30 (announced 2026-07-01) (accessed 2026-07-04)
  • GitHub Changelog: Updates to GitHub Copilot billing and plans -- usage-based billing live (2026-06-01) (accessed 2026-06-02)
  • Microsoft AI: Introducing MAI-Code-1-Flash (2026-06-02) (accessed 2026-06-02)
  • GitHub Changelog: GPT-5.2 + GPT-5.2-Codex deprecation (2026-05-01, retiring 2026-06-01) (accessed 2026-05-04)
  • GitHub Changelog: Business self-serve signup pause (2026-04-22) (accessed 2026-05-04)
  • GitHub Changelog: Code Review Actions minutes billing (2026-04-27, effective 2026-06-01) (accessed 2026-05-04)
  • GitHub docs: Copilot requests + multiplier table (accessed 2026-05-04)
  • GitHub Blog: Copilot moving to usage-based billing (2026-04-27, effective 2026-06-01) (accessed 2026-04-30)
  • GitHub Changelog 2026-04-20: Copilot plan changes for individuals (accessed 2026-04-21)
  • The Register: GitHub grounds Copilot account creation (accessed 2026-04-21)
  • AfterDawn: Usage limits + Opus removal (accessed 2026-04-21)
  • GitHub Copilot plans (accessed 2026-04-21)
  • GitHub blog: Copilot interaction data usage policy update (effective 2026-04-24) (accessed 2026-04-25)
  • GitHub: Copilot Pro/Business training policy (accessed 2026-04-21)

Explore more GitHub Copilot rankings

Deeper leaderboards, benchmarks, task-specific tier lists, and status/pricing pages for GitHub Copilot.

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