Microsoft CoPilot Billing Notice

This popped up in Visual Studio yesterday:

Copilot is moving to usage-based billing on June 1. For the best experience and latest updates, install Visual Studio 2026 — or at minimum, update to the latest version. Get VS 2026 Update VS 2022 Learn more

GitHub Copilot is moving to usage-based billing - The GitHub Blog

For me, what was conspicuously missing from the blog was how this would affect me, someone who had the free version. I now have the feeling that I'm going to be repeatedly asked to subscribe to the service until I do.

Approximately 2 years ago Microsoft told me that I could have CoPilot for free and have it integrated into my Visual Studio IDE. I said OK. I didn't use it but tried to get used to its suggestions. Now I use it semi-regularly.

Now it sounds like they want me to pay for it.

Thank God I don't depend upon it.