Starting December 1, 2026, Microsoft will introduce a consumption-based billing model for its Microsoft 365 Copilot service. The company will charge for advanced AI features, including Copilot Cowork, Code, and Autopilot, using a new unit called Copilot Credits.
Each Copilot Credit is priced at $0.01. While basic AI tasks remain covered by existing fixed per-seat fees—which currently range from $18 to $32 per user per month—heavier workloads will now require these additional credits.
New subscriptions will include a default spending limit of 4,000 credits per user per month, equating to approximately $40 in potential extra monthly costs. Customers can choose to increase this limit if needed.
Microsoft will also launch stand-alone Copilot offerings on December 1, 2026, with CSP sandbox testing environments opening on November 2, 2026. The company reported that the number of customers using Copilot Credits grew by over 75% quarter-over-quarter.
