Commercial software intelligenceEvidence checked · 8 September 2026
SkuTrace

Commercial product change, preserved as evidence.

SK-2026-159 · Licensing models & usage

Microsoft makes Work IQ API usage-based through Copilot Credits

Microsoft made the Work IQ API generally available on 16 June 2026 with usage-based consumption denominated in Copilot Credits rather than a separate Work IQ API subscription, SKU or per-user licence.

Usage-based licensing generally available

Commercial transition

Previous stateThe Work IQ API had not yet reached general availability with its published Copilot Credits consumption model for custom and third-party agent access to Microsoft 365 work data.
→
New stateFrom 16 June 2026, eligible Work IQ API usage is consumption-based in Copilot Credits. Microsoft states that there is no separate Work IQ API subscription, SKU or per-user licence; administrator enablement of consumptive billing is required for usage-based access.

Who is affected

Organizations and developers building custom or third-party agents that ground experiences in Microsoft 365 work data through the Work IQ API and therefore incur direct API consumption charges.

Action required

Enable and govern consumptive billing where Work IQ API access is required, monitor Copilot Credit usage, and model variable Chat or Context consumption separately from the static Tool API component.

Evidence boundary

Microsoft identifies Copilot Credits as the controlling consumption currency and states that the Tool API consumes 0.1 Copilot Credits per API call. Chat and Context consumption is variable, so illustrative scenario ranges must not be represented as fixed API prices. Microsoft 365 Copilot prebuilt-agent licensing treatment is distinct from custom or third-party Work IQ API consumption.

Timeline

  1. Work IQ API general-availability model announced

    Microsoft announced the Work IQ APIs and described the consumption-based access model ahead of general availability.

  2. Work IQ API reaches general availability

    The API became generally available with Copilot Credits as the usage-based licensing meter.

Official sources