Pay-as-you-go (PAYG)

Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) is a consumption-based billing model that charges a linked Azure subscription per message an agent consumes, instead of requiring a per-user Microsoft 365 Copilot license. Admins create a billing policy in the Microsoft 365 admin center, tie it to an Azure subscription, and scope it to chosen users or groups. The key exam distinction is the fixed monthly per-user Copilot license versus metered PAYG charges, which suit occasional or unlicensed users. Agents that query SharePoint or Graph connector content are off by default for non-licensed users until a policy enables them.