Multiple GitHub Copilot licenses can be handled in different ways depending on whether they are for individual users, teams, or enterprise organizations. Here’s an overview of how Copilot licenses are managed for different types of users and setups:
- Individual Licenses
Purchased Per Account: Each individual user needs their own GitHub Copilot subscription tied to their GitHub account. The license is managed through the user’s GitHub billing settings.
No Device Limit: Users can use their individual license on multiple devices as long as they are signed in with the same GitHub account.
Personal vs. Professional Use: An individual might have both a personal and a work account, each requiring separate Copilot subscriptions if they want to use Copilot across both accounts.
- Team Licenses
GitHub Teams Subscription: GitHub Copilot for Teams allows organizations to purchase Copilot licenses and assign them to members in a GitHub Team. This is ideal for small to medium-sized teams working collaboratively on repositories within the same organization.
Centralized Billing: The team’s Copilot licenses are billed and managed under the organization’s billing account.
License Allocation: Team administrators assign licenses to specific members within the team, so each member can use Copilot without needing an individual subscription.
- Enterprise Licenses
GitHub Enterprise Subscription: GitHub Copilot for Business or Enterprise allows large organizations to purchase licenses in bulk and provide Copilot to any member in the organization.
Flexible License Management: Enterprise admins can manage, add, or remove licenses for users as needed. This includes scaling up as teams grow or adjusting user assignments as employees change roles.
Centralized Management and Security: Enterprises can control settings, permissions, and security protocols around Copilot usage, aligning with their broader security policies.
Enhanced Compliance: GitHub Enterprise allows for customization, auditing, and compliance features, which is often a requirement in large organizations.
- License Portability
Flexible License Usage: Licenses for Teams and Enterprise accounts can often be reassigned to different users, so if a team member leaves or changes roles, the license can be reallocated without extra cost.
Personal vs. Organization License: When an individual with an organization-issued Copilot license also has a personal Copilot account, the licenses remain separate. The organization license applies only to work-related repositories or the organization’s team environment, while the personal license applies to individual projects.
- Mixed License Environments
Combination of Individual and Team Licenses: If some users in an organization have individual licenses and others have team licenses, each user will rely on the subscription tied to the GitHub account they’re using.
Multiple Copilot Accounts: Users with both personal and team accounts can switch between accounts in their IDE to access the appropriate license.
By choosing the right structure—whether individual, team, or enterprise—organizations can manage multiple GitHub Copilot licenses effectively to meet their needs, scaling as required.