The reign of Microsoft’s Github Copilot is facing a major billing upheaval. From June 1st, users will be charged based on token usage rather than a flat rate, which could lead to substantial increases in costs, particularly for smaller companies and individual developers.

Dev forums are abuzz with complaints. One redditor lamented that their costs might skyrocket from $29 per month to nearly $750, prompting them to cancel the service. Another shared a screenshot showing their bill jumping from approximately $50 to an alarming $3,000.

However, some Copilot users defend the new system, arguing that it’s expensive only for those who ‘vibe code’ without proper development skills. They suggest that experienced developers should not burn through tokens so quickly and that such high costs are understandable as a tool for more complex projects.

The economics behind this change remain murky. Critics point out that Microsoft encouraged indiscriminate use of Copilot, and now they seem to be reaping what they sowed by adjusting the billing model mid-stream.

For many developers, it’s not just about the money but also a sense of betrayal — having been encouraged to rely on the service in a certain way only to see the rug pulled out from under them.