Descriptor decoded

What is the GITHUB charge?

Verified charge
08/05 GITHUB $4.00

The short answer

This is a legitimate charge from GitHub.

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What is the GitHub charge?

A statement descriptor reading GITHUB represents a payment processed by GitHub, the Microsoft-owned developer platform for code hosting and software collaboration. The line item indicates direct billing for developer services, user seat licenses, or AI programming assistance. Software engineers and technology companies maintain accounts on GitHub to store software repositories and automate application builds.

The charge generally stems from a recurring monthly or annual plan renewal. Common recurring products include personal subscriptions like GitHub Pro (typically $4 monthly) or GitHub Copilot individual licenses ($10 monthly). For organizations, monthly charges frequently combine Team tier subscriptions with metered usage fees for GitHub Actions build minutes and Large File Storage data packs. An unexpected dollar amount often occurs when automated continuous integration workflows exceed free monthly allowances.

To review your account billing, sign in to your profile at github.com and navigate to Settings > Billing and licensing > Overview. There you can view active subscriptions and adjust spending limits to cap metered usage. If you do not have an active developer account, confirm whether a family member or employee put work subscriptions on your payment card. If the charge appears completely unfamiliar and unauthorized, contact GitHub Support or notify your bank to initiate a dispute.

Metered Usage and Authorization Holds

You may see charges for using resources beyond your plan's included quota, such as GitHub Actions, Codespaces, or additional storage.

Sometimes, you may see a temporary 'pending' charge (often $1). This is a pre-authorization hold to verify your card and will typically disappear within a few business days.

  1. Step 1 Log in to your GitHub account and review to Settings > Billing and licensing > Overview to view your active plans and payment history.
  2. Step 2 If you cannot identify the charge, visit the official GitHub Support page and request to speak with Billing Support, providing the transaction ID.

Should I file a chargeback with my bank?

It is generally recommended to resolve issues directly with GitHub first. Filing a chargeback can sometimes lead to your GitHub account being frozen or restricted.

Dispute Rights & Fraud Prevention

Under federal cardholder protection laws, consumers have 60 days from the statement date to dispute unauthorized charges with their credit card issuer. If you verify that your card details were used fraudulently on GitHub, report the charge to your bank to cancel the compromised card.

Frequently asked questions

Is the GITHUB charge legitimate?

If you authorized a payment to GitHub, then yes. This is the statement descriptor used by GitHub. GitHub

Independent reference — not affiliated with GitHub. Billing names and policies change; verify with the merchant or your bank before acting.

Verified sources

Every claim on this page is checked against official sources — open them to confirm before you call your bank.

Reviewed Aug 5, 2026 · low · About UnknownCharges