Microsoft Copilot is helping businesses work more efficiently, whether that’s drafting emails, preparing documents, summarising meetings or finding information.
But changes are coming to how certain Copilot features are charged.
Microsoft is introducing wider use of Copilot Credits, allowing eligible AI services to be charged according to how much they’re used rather than solely through a fixed subscription.
The changes were originally planned to happen sooner but have now been delayed until January – March 2027, with the exact date still to be confirmed.
If you purchase your Microsoft 365 services through Digicomm 360, you may be wondering what this means for your existing subscription and whether you’ll need to pay more.
The good news is that everyday Copilot use doesn’t automatically mean additional charges. However, some advanced features may incur extra costs.
Here’s what you need to know.
What Are Microsoft Copilot Credits?
Copilot Credits are a way for Microsoft to measure the use of certain AI-powered features and services.
Think of them a little like mobile phone data. Your existing plan provides access to particular services, but some additional activities may be charged according to how much you use them.
With Copilot, this depends on the feature you’re using.
For example, using Copilot to help draft an email may already be included in your existing subscription. However, asking a specialised AI agent to carry out a more complex business process could involve credit-based charges.
The important thing to remember is that not every Copilot prompt uses billable credits.
Your existing Microsoft 365 licence, the features you use and the type of AI activity all affect whether additional charges apply.
Will Everyday Copilot Tasks Cost More?
For most businesses, the first question is whether familiar tasks will suddenly become more expensive.
Let’s look at some examples.
Example 1: Using Copilot for Everyday Office Work
Imagine you’re an office administrator who uses Microsoft 365 Copilot throughout the working day.
You might:
- Ask Copilot to draft ten emails.
- Summarise a Teams meeting.
- Find information in a document.
- Prepare an outline for a report.
- Ask what’s coming up in your calendar.
That’s a fairly typical working day, and it could involve 10–20 interactions with Copilot.
Will you need to purchase extra Copilot Credits?
Not necessarily.
If these tasks are covered by your existing Microsoft 365 Copilot licence, they do not automatically create additional credit-based charges.
You could use Copilot regularly without needing to change your subscription.
The number of prompts alone is not a reliable way to calculate credit consumption.
Example 2: A Salesperson Using Copilot Every Day
A salesperson might use Copilot to prepare customer communications and organise their workload.
For example:
- Summarising a customer meeting.
- Drafting follow-up emails.
- Preparing a sales presentation.
- Reviewing information in Excel.
- Finding previous customer correspondence.
Again, many of these activities may be covered by an existing Copilot subscription.
However, if the salesperson begins using a specialised AI agent that automatically processes enquiries, updates systems or carries out additional workflows, that particular service may use Copilot Credits.
The difference isn’t necessarily how often Copilot is used, but which features are being used.
Example 3: A Marketing Team Creating Content
Now imagine a marketing team using AI to help produce campaign materials.
They might use Copilot to:
- Suggest social media ideas.
- Draft promotional emails.
- Prepare blog outlines.
- Create presentation content.
- Generate images for marketing campaigns.
This is where understanding the particular tools becomes important.
Creating images doesn’t automatically mean additional Copilot Credit charges. Some image-generation capabilities may be included within the user’s existing entitlement, while other advanced AI services can have different usage rules.
For example, a marketing employee generating five images using an included feature may not incur additional credit-based charges.
But if the team uses a separately billed AI service or agent to automate more complex creative workflows, additional charges may apply.
It’s worth checking which service is being used before assuming that more images mean more credits.
Example 4: Using AI Agents to Automate Business Processes
This is where usage-based billing becomes particularly relevant.
Imagine a business introduces an AI agent to help manage customer enquiries.
The agent might:
- Read incoming enquiries.
- Identify what customers need.
- Retrieve information from approved business systems.
- Prepare responses.
- Carry out additional steps in an automated workflow.
Depending on the service, these activities may consume Copilot Credits.
A simple task might require relatively little processing, while a complex workflow involving multiple actions could consume more.
If the agent handles hundreds of enquiries each month, the total consumption could become significant.
This is why businesses using advanced AI agents should monitor usage and understand the associated charges.
How Many Copilot Credits Will You Need?
There isn’t one simple answer.
Microsoft doesn’t charge every Copilot activity at the same rate, and many familiar features are already covered by existing licences.
The amount of billable credit consumption depends on factors such as the particular service, the activity performed and the number of times it runs.
Here’s a practical comparison:
| Business activity | Will additional credits be needed? |
|---|---|
| Drafting emails in Outlook with licensed Copilot | Normally included in the applicable licence |
| Summarising Teams meetings with licensed Copilot | Normally included in the applicable licence |
| Asking Copilot questions about your calendar | Depends on the Copilot experience and licence |
| Generating marketing images | Depends on the image-generation service and entitlement |
| Using an advanced AI agent to complete business tasks | May consume billable Copilot Credits |
| Running automated AI workflows throughout the day | May consume credits depending on the service |
These are examples rather than a fixed charging schedule. Microsoft publishes the applicable licensing and consumption rules for each supported service.
How Will Copilot Credits Be Charged?
Microsoft’s usage-based billing arrangements mean that charges can be linked to actual consumption of eligible AI services.
For customers who purchase their Microsoft 365 services through Digicomm 360, any applicable usage-based charges billed to Digicomm 360 will be passed on to the customer.
We’re currently reviewing the changes and how these additional charges will be administered.
The precise billing arrangements have not yet been finalised, and we’ll communicate further details once they’re confirmed.
Our aim is to make sure customers understand which services may generate additional charges and what those charges relate to.
Can You Control How Many Credits You Use?
Yes. Microsoft provides tools to help administrators monitor and manage usage-based AI services.
These include spending policies, consumption reporting and notifications.
Depending on the service, administrators can:
- Review how many Copilot Credits have been consumed.
- Identify which users or AI services are consuming credits.
- Set monthly spending limits for supported services.
- Receive notifications when usage approaches a defined threshold.
- Control which employees can access particular credit-consuming features.
These controls are important because they help businesses make informed decisions about additional AI spending.
For example, if a business introduces an AI agent for a small team, it may be sensible to monitor usage before making the service available across the entire organisation.
Microsoft’s controls can also help prevent a single user or automated process from consuming more credits than intended.
Do You Need to Upgrade Your Microsoft 365 Subscription?
Not automatically.
If you’re already using Microsoft 365 Copilot for everyday tasks, you may find that your current licence continues to meet your needs.
The introduction of usage-based billing doesn’t mean every customer needs a more expensive subscription.
Additional charges become relevant when you use eligible services that consume billable credits.
For some businesses, existing licences will provide everything they need.
Others may decide to introduce advanced AI agents or additional services, in which case understanding credit consumption will become more important.
The best approach is to review what your business actually uses rather than paying for features you don’t need.
When Are the Changes Happening?
Microsoft has delayed the planned introduction of automatic usage-based billing for new Microsoft 365 Copilot Business purchases.
The changes are now expected between January and March 2027, although the exact date has not yet been announced.
Microsoft is also planning changes to its Copilot subscription offers during the same period.
Existing customers are expected to be able to continue renewing their subscriptions and adjusting user numbers.
For now, there is no need to make changes simply because of the announcement.
However, it’s a good opportunity to become familiar with Copilot Credits and the types of services that may involve additional charges.
What Should Digicomm 360 Customers Do Now?
If you’re already using Microsoft Copilot, we’d recommend three simple steps.
First, review how you use Copilot. Are you mainly drafting emails, summarising meetings and preparing documents, or are you using more advanced AI agents and automated workflows?
Second, understand your existing licence. Many everyday Copilot features may already be included, so don’t assume that additional credits will be necessary.
Third, keep an eye out for further updates. As Microsoft confirms its timetable and charging arrangements, we’ll provide more information about how the changes will affect customers purchasing Microsoft 365 through Digicomm 360.
You don’t need to become an expert in Copilot billing. The important thing is knowing that different AI features can have different charging arrangements.
Digicomm 360 Will Keep You Updated
Artificial intelligence is developing quickly, and Microsoft continues to introduce new features designed to help businesses work more efficiently.
Copilot Credits are part of that development, offering another way to access eligible AI services.
For many businesses, existing Copilot subscriptions may continue to cover their everyday needs. For others, advanced AI features could introduce additional usage-based charges.
At Digicomm 360, we’ll continue monitoring Microsoft’s announcements and reviewing what the changes mean for our customers.
We’ll explain any additional charging arrangements once they’re confirmed, so you can make informed decisions about the Copilot services your business uses.
If you have questions about Microsoft 365 Copilot or would like to understand whether it’s suitable for your business, our team is here to help.
Contact Digicomm 360 to discuss your Microsoft 365 requirements.
More Information Coming Soon
As Microsoft confirms the changes, we’ll be sharing further updates specifically covering how Copilot Credits are calculated, which activities may incur additional charges, how much those credits will cost and how Digicomm 360 will pass on any usage-based charges to customers.
We’ll also explain how you can monitor your usage and manage spending, so you know what to expect before the changes take effect.
Further Reading
- Microsoft 365 Copilot: How AI Can Help Your Business
- Business IT Support: Keeping Your Technology Working for You
