In this community discussion, ogpterodactyl explores the nuances of GitHub Copilot’s request quotas, the impact of using Agent Mode, and how new AI models and actions like co-pilot edits affect billing.

Understanding GitHub Copilot Usage Quotas and Agent Mode Requests

Author: ogpterodactyl

This post discusses GitHub Copilot request limits—especially in Agent Mode—and clarifies how different actions, edits, and models like GPT-4.1 and Sonnet 4 affect quotas for developers and organizations.

Key Questions and Points Raised

  • Unlimited Chat with GPT-4.1?
    • Inquiry into whether GPT-4.1 chat is unlimited in Copilot, compared to quota-restricted scenarios with other models.
  • Do Copilot Edits Count as Agent Mode?
    • The user asks whether edits made via Copilot are billed as Agent Mode requests or counted differently.
    • Curiosity about the impact of context (number of files, @workspace or #codebase tags).
  • How are Prompts Counted?
    • Quoting from Copilot’s official documentation:

      Each prompt you make in Agent Mode is counted as a premium request when using premium models, regardless of how many tools it calls, how many edits it makes, or the size of the context you provide.

  • Examples for Request Counting:
    • A single instruction—even if it covers multiple tasks—counts as one request.
    • e.g., “Add unit tests for X, Y, and Z modules” = 1 request, despite the workload.
    • Multiple prompts result in multiple requests.
  • Exploring Limits
    • The author plans to reach quota limits experimentally to observe the behavior when limits are hit, and wonders about subscription options and upgrades.
  • Aspirations for Free Model Upgrades
    • Hopes for improvements in the free-tier model in the future.

References

Community & Moderation Note

  • Automated bot notifies that solutions should be marked, and moderation contact information is provided.

Summary

This post helps clarify Copilot’s quota system:

  • Premium Agent Mode requests are counted per prompt, not by the number of tools or code edits invoked.
  • Context size and tags (@workspace, #codebase) do not influence the request count.
  • Latest model (GPT-4.1) may allow unlimited chat, but premium actions use quota.
  • Quantitative testing and further exploration by users may reveal additional behaviors.

This post appeared first on “Reddit Github Copilot”. Read the entire article here