Mastering GitHub Copilot Plans: A Guide to Flex Allotments, Pro, Pro+, and Max
Overview
GitHub Copilot has evolved from a simple code completion tool into a full-fledged AI assistant capable of handling complex, multi-step tasks. To keep up with this growth, GitHub is introducing a usage-based billing system with flexible allotments—called flex allotments—for its individual plans. Starting June 1st, 2025, Pro and Pro+ subscribers will receive more included usage at no extra cost, and a new Max plan will cater to power users who need sustained high-volume usage. This tutorial breaks down exactly what these changes mean, how flex allotments work, and how you can make the most of your Copilot subscription.
Prerequisites
- An active GitHub account (free or paid).
- Basic familiarity with GitHub Copilot (installed in your IDE, etc.).
- Understanding of subscription billing (optional but helpful).
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Understanding the New Plan Structure
As of June 1st, 2025, the individual Copilot lineup consists of four tiers: Free, Pro, Pro+, and Max. All paid plans now operate on a usage-based billing model with two components: base credits and a flex allotment.
Base credits are directly tied to your monthly subscription price—$10 for Pro, $39 for Pro+, and $100 for Max. These never change. The flex allotment is a variable bonus on top of that, designed to adapt as AI economics shift (e.g., model pricing changes, efficiency improvements). Together, they form your total included monthly usage.
| Plan | Price | Base | Flex | Total Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pro | $10 | $10 | $5 | $15 |
| Pro+ | $39 | $39 | $31 | $70 |
| Max | $100 | $100 | $100 | $200 |
2. How Credits Are Consumed
Credits are spent whenever you use Copilot features except code completions and next edit suggestions, which remain unlimited on all paid plans. Usage is billed at the same rates across your IDE, github.com, and CLI. The system automatically uses your base credits first; if you exceed them, the flex allotment kicks in seamlessly.
You don’t need to configure anything—your dashboard shows real-time usage and remaining credits. If you exhaust both base and flex, you can purchase additional credits and continue working without interruption.
3. Monitoring Your Usage
To keep track of your Copilot usage, visit your GitHub Settings > Billing & plans > Copilot. You’ll see a breakdown of base credits used, flex allotment remaining, and total spend. This is where you can also top up if needed.
Pro tip: Set a budget alert in your GitHub account to receive notifications when you’ve used 50%, 75%, or 100% of your included usage.
4. What to Do on June 1st
Nothing! If you’re already on a monthly Pro or Pro+ plan, the additional flex usage lands automatically when your account migrates to usage-based billing. The transition is transparent—you’ll just notice you have more room to experiment with longer agent runs, multi-step tasks, and more powerful models.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing base credits with flex allotment: Base credits are fixed and equal to your subscription price; flex allotment varies and is added on top.
- Thinking code completions consume credits: Completions and next edit suggestions are unlimited and free from credit usage.
- Assuming you must manually enable flex: It’s automatic—no actions required on your part.
- Ignoring the dashboard: Skipping usage monitoring can lead to surprise overage charges if you exceed your included total.
- Forgetting about the “purchase more” option: If you hit the cap, you can buy extra credits to keep going, not a hard stop.
Summary
GitHub’s new flexible allotments give Pro and Pro+ users more value—$5 extra for Pro, $31 extra for Pro+—and introduce a high-capacity Max plan for power users. Credits are consumed only by chat, agent, and multi-step tasks (not completions), and you can monitor usage via your billing dashboard. The transition is automatic, and you can top up if needed. These changes make Copilot more adaptable to varying workloads without requiring plan upgrades.