On November 27, 2025, Microsoft introduced the Agent Pre-Purchase Plan – a new Azure reservation model that allows organizations to prepay for AI-related services using Agent Commit Units (ACUs). This plan provides a single pool of prepaid credits to cover both Microsoft Copilot Credits and Microsoft Foundry usage over a one-year term, offering cost predictability and tiered discounts.
What is the Agent Pre-Purchase Plan?
The Agent Pre-Purchase Plan is a one-year, upfront Azure reservation that enables organizations to manage AI-related costs more effectively. By purchasing Agent Commit Units (ACUs), customers receive a prepaid pool of credits that can be used to pay for:
- Microsoft Copilot Credits: Used for AI-powered agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Studio, and Dynamics 365.
- Microsoft Foundry: Used for deploying and running AI models via Provisioned Throughput Units (PTUs).
The plan is designed to simplify billing and budgeting by consolidating these services under a single prepaid commitment.
Key Features
- Unified Credit Pool
ACUs can be used interchangeably across eligible Copilot and Foundry services, eliminating the need for separate billing. - Tiered Discounts
ACUs are available in three tiers, each offering increasing discounts based on the volume of the purchase. - Automatic Application
Eligible usage is automatically deducted from the ACU balance without requiring manual allocation or service redeployment. - One-Year Validity with Auto-Renewal
The plan is valid for 12 months and is configured to renew automatically unless changed. - Flexible Scope
The reservation discount can be applied at various levels, including resource group, subscription, management group, or shared billing context.
Licensing
The Agent Pre-Purchase Plan is obtained through the Azure portal under Azure Reservations, meaning you’ll need an appropriate Azure subscription to purchase it (for example a Cloud Solution Provider subscription with reservation purchasing enabled).
Licensing note: The specifics of how this plan applies to your organization’s licenses and Azure commitments can vary, so it’s wise to get expert guidance. For tailored licensing advice and to ensure you maximize the benefits of the plan, contact SCHNEIDER IT MANAGEMENT. Our licensing experts provide detailed guidance on how the Agent Pre-Purchase Plan fits into your overall Microsoft licensing strategy.
More Information
For further details and examples, please refer to the official Microsoft resources below. These sources provide deeper technical information, including the tier structures and scenarios for using the Agent Pre-Purchase Plan.
- Microsoft announcement: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/azure-ai-foundry-blog/introducing-microsoft-agent-factory/4470732
- Microsoft documentation: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/agent-pre-purchase
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