30 days GitHubs free

[wjassjsa]

🏷️ Discussion Type

Bug

💬 Feature/Topic Area

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Body

I bought GitHub Pro, but it said I had a 30-day free trial. After doing that, I refreshed the page and it still didn't work, saying I didn't have Pro. So I tried again, and it still shows that I have 30 free days, but when I subscribe again, it says they'll charge me $10 today.

[github-actions[bot]]

💬 Your Product Feedback Has Been Submitted 🎉

Thank you for taking the time to share your insights with us! Your feedback is invaluable as we build a better GitHub experience for all our users.

Here's what you can expect moving forward ⏩

• Your input will be carefully reviewed and cataloged by members of our product teams. 
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[queenofcorgis]

Hey there! 👋

Thanks for posting in the GitHub Community, @wjassjsa ! We're happy you're here. You are more likely to get a useful response if you are posting in the applicable category. The Accessibility category is a place for our community to discuss and provide feedback on the digital accessibility of GitHub products. Digital accessibility means that GitHub tools, and technologies, are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them.

I've gone ahead and moved this to the correct category for you, Other. Good luck!

[shinybrightstar]

Hi @wjassjsa

Unfortunately we do not have a way to reinstate the Copilot Pro trial once it has been converted into a paid subscription.

If you upgraded your Copilot Pro trial to a paid subscription due to an issue and are hoping to receive a refund, we recommend creating a Support ticket here. The form has an automated refund flow that is triggered when users with qualifying subscriptions submit a request using specific keywords.

For example, "Copilot trial cancel" should kick off that virtual assistant to walk you through the process of receiving an automated refund.

Best of luck!

[itxashancode]

Resolving GitHub Pro Trial and Billing Discrepancy

This issue typically occurs due to one of three scenarios: an incomplete trial activation, a billing system delay, or confusion between GitHub Pro and a different plan (like GitHub Team, which costs $10/month). Here’s how to diagnose and fix it.

1. Verify Your Current Plan & Billing Status

First, confirm exactly what GitHub thinks your account status is.

1. Go to your account settings:
   • Click your profile photo (top-right) → Settings.
2. Navigate to Billing and plans in the left sidebar.
3. On the Plans tab, you will see your current plan and its status (e.g., "Active," "Free," "Trial").
   • Important: GitHub Pro for individuals costs $4/month (or $48/year). If you see a reference to $10, you are likely looking at the GitHub Team plan pricing.

Action: Take a screenshot of the "Plans" page showing your current plan name and status.

2. Check Your Billing History

Look for evidence of a successful trial activation or a pending/charged payment.

1. In Settings → Billing and plans, click the Billing history tab.
2. Review the list of invoices/charges.
   • A successful 30-day trial for a paid plan will show an invoice with $0.00 and a description like "GitHub Pro - Trial."
   • If you see a charge for $10.00 (or $4.00), that means a paid subscription was successfully activated.
   • If you see a "Payment failed" or a pending authorization for $10, your payment method was declined or the trial conversion failed.

Action: Note the date, amount, and status of the most recent billing entries.

3. Common Causes & Fixes

Cause	How to Identify	Fix
Incomplete Checkout	You clicked "Start trial" but didn't complete the payment setup (entering card details). The system may show a "30-day free" banner but the plan isn't active.	Go back to the GitHub Pro plan page and ensure you complete the full checkout flow, including payment method verification.
Billing System Delay	Your payment was processed, but the plan status hasn't updated in the UI yet (rare, but possible).	Wait 15-30 minutes, then fully refresh your browser (Ctrl+F5 / Cmd+Shift+R) and re-check Settings → Billing and plans.
Wrong Plan Selected	You intended to buy GitHub Pro ($4) but accidentally selected GitHub Team ($10/user/month). The "30 free days" message is a standard trial offer for any new paid plan.	In Billing and plans → Plans, if your plan says "Team," you are on the wrong plan. You must downgrade to the "Pro" plan.
Not Eligible for Trial	You (or your organization) have previously had a paid GitHub plan. Trials are typically for new customers who have never had a paid subscription.	If you had a past paid plan, you are not eligible for a new trial. You must pay for the plan immediately. The $10 charge is correct.

4. Downgrading from GitHub Team to Pro (If Applicable)

If you accidentally subscribed to the Team plan:

1. In Settings → Billing and plans → Plans, click Edit plan.
2. Select GitHub Pro from the list of individual plans.
3. Confirm the change. The price should update to $4/month.
4. Your billing cycle and any prepaid amount may be prorated.

5. Contact GitHub Support

If the above steps don't resolve the discrepancy (e.g., your billing history shows no charge, but the UI says you'll be charged $10 upon re-subscribing), you need direct support.

What to provide in your ticket:

• Your GitHub account username.
• Screenshots of:
  • The Plans page showing the incorrect status/message.
  • The Billing history page.
  • The exact error message or warning you see when trying to subscribe.
• The approximate time and date when you first attempted to start the trial/subscribe.

How to contact:

• Go to GitHub Support Contact.
• Select "Billing, payments, and plans" → "Change, upgrade, or cancel my plan" → "I'm having an issue with my current plan".
• Submit the form with the details above.

Official Documentation Reference

• GitHub Pro Plan & Pricing: https://docs.github.com/en/billing/managing-billing-for-your-github-account/about-billing-for-github
• Understanding Trials: Trials are offered for new paid subscriptions. Your first invoice after the trial period will be for the full plan amount. See "Trials" in the billing docs.
• Downgrading Plans: https://docs.github.com/en/billing/managing-billing-for-your-github-account/changing-your-plan

Summary: The core issue is a mismatch between your expected plan (Pro/$4) and what your account is configured for (likely Team/$10). Start by verifying your current plan name in Settings. If it's Team, downgrade. If the status is still unclear after checking billing history, contact Support with the documented evidence.