'Goodbye, Copilot': Microsoft faces backlash as Github Copilot ends flat-rate AI pricing from June 1

Starting June 1, GitHub Copilot is moving away from its traditional flat-rate subscription model to a new usage-based billing system, where costs will be determined by token consumption. This shift has ignited a wave of discontent among the developer community, particularly on social media platforms such as Reddit and X. Developers are voicing concerns that this new pricing structure will lead to a substantial increase in their monthly expenses for using the AI-powered coding assistant. Under the updated policy, Copilot Pro subscribers will receive $10 worth of monthly AI Credits, while Copilot Pro+ users will get $39 in monthly credits. Microsoft has stated that this change is intended to "better align pricing with actual usage" and is crucial for creating a “sustainable, reliable Copilot business and experience for all users.” However, many long-time users are finding the new credit-based system economically unviable compared to rivals like Cursor, Codex, and DeepSeek. Some developers have shared screenshots showing potential cost increases from around $29 to hundreds or even thousands of dollars per month, leading to threats of cancellation and migration to alternative tools. The sentiment online is largely negative, with many users bidding "Goodbye, Copilot" and lamenting the end of what they perceive as a "golden age" of subsidized AI coding tools. This backlash highlights the growing tension between rising AI compute costs and user expectations for affordable access to powerful development tools.