diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-dashboard.ts b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-dashboard.ts
index da90e8a19..91672ef6d 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-dashboard.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-dashboard.ts
@@ -460,6 +460,7 @@ export function updateProgressWidget(
             sp.push(`\u26A1${hitRate}%`);
           }
           if (cumulativeCost) sp.push(`$${cumulativeCost.toFixed(3)}`);
+          else if (autoTotals?.apiRequests) sp.push(`${autoTotals.apiRequests} reqs`);
 
           const cxDisplay = cxPct === "?"
             ? `?/${formatWidgetTokens(cxWindow)}`
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/dashboard-overlay.ts b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/dashboard-overlay.ts
index 48917f941..7399b4a0b 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/dashboard-overlay.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/dashboard-overlay.ts
@@ -479,8 +479,12 @@ export class GSDDashboardOverlay {
       lines.push(row(th.fg("text", th.bold("Cost & Usage"))));
       lines.push(blank());
 
+      // Show cost or request count (for copilot/subscription users where cost is 0)
+      const costOrReqs = totals.cost > 0
+        ? `${th.fg("warning", formatCost(totals.cost))} total`
+        : `${th.fg("text", String(totals.apiRequests))} requests`;
       lines.push(row(fitColumns([
-        `${th.fg("warning", formatCost(totals.cost))} total`,
+        costOrReqs,
         `${th.fg("text", formatTokenCount(totals.tokens.total))} tokens`,
         `${th.fg("text", String(totals.toolCalls))} tools`,
         `${th.fg("text", String(totals.units))} units`,
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/metrics.ts b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/metrics.ts
index 85dc89f38..805c8df71 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/metrics.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/metrics.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ export interface UnitMetrics {
   toolCalls: number;
   assistantMessages: number;
   userMessages: number;
+  apiRequests?: number;    // total API requests made (useful for copilot users where cost is always 0)
   // Budget fields (optional — absent in pre-M009 metrics data)
   contextWindowTokens?: number;
   truncationSections?: number;
@@ -179,6 +180,7 @@ export function snapshotUnitMetrics(
     toolCalls,
     assistantMessages,
     userMessages,
+    apiRequests: assistantMessages, // each assistant message = one API request
     ...(opts?.tier ? { tier: opts.tier } : {}),
     ...(opts?.modelDowngraded !== undefined ? { modelDowngraded: opts.modelDowngraded } : {}),
     ...(opts?.contextWindowTokens !== undefined ? { contextWindowTokens: opts.contextWindowTokens } : {}),
@@ -247,6 +249,7 @@ export interface ProjectTotals {
   toolCalls: number;
   assistantMessages: number;
   userMessages: number;
+  apiRequests: number;
   totalTruncationSections: number;
   continueHereFiredCount: number;
 }
@@ -330,6 +333,7 @@ export function getProjectTotals(units: UnitMetrics[]): ProjectTotals {
     toolCalls: 0,
     assistantMessages: 0,
     userMessages: 0,
+    apiRequests: 0,
     totalTruncationSections: 0,
     continueHereFiredCount: 0,
   };
@@ -340,6 +344,7 @@ export function getProjectTotals(units: UnitMetrics[]): ProjectTotals {
     totals.toolCalls += u.toolCalls;
     totals.assistantMessages += u.assistantMessages;
     totals.userMessages += u.userMessages;
+    totals.apiRequests += u.apiRequests ?? u.assistantMessages; // fallback for pre-existing data
     totals.totalTruncationSections += u.truncationSections ?? 0;
     if (u.continueHereFired) totals.continueHereFiredCount++;
   }
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/tests/export-html-enhancements.test.ts b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/tests/export-html-enhancements.test.ts
index b475c46be..b4bea28a8 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/tests/export-html-enhancements.test.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/tests/export-html-enhancements.test.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ function mockData(overrides: Partial<VisualizerData> = {}): VisualizerData {
       userMessages: 12,
       totalTruncationSections: 2,
       continueHereFiredCount: 1,
+      apiRequests: 20,
     },
     byPhase: [
       { phase: "execution", units: 4, tokens: mockTokens(), cost: 2.50, duration: 3_600_000 },
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/tests/visualizer-views.test.ts b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/tests/visualizer-views.test.ts
index 55ae77622..6d7ff4698 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/tests/visualizer-views.test.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/tests/visualizer-views.test.ts
@@ -387,6 +387,7 @@ console.log("\n=== renderMetricsView ===");
       userMessages: 5,
       totalTruncationSections: 0,
       continueHereFiredCount: 0,
+      apiRequests: 5,
     },
     byPhase: [
       {
@@ -653,7 +654,7 @@ console.log("\n=== renderHealthView ===");
       units: 10, tokens: { input: 5000, output: 2000, cacheRead: 1000, cacheWrite: 500, total: 8500 },
       cost: 5.00, duration: 120000, toolCalls: 50,
       assistantMessages: 30, userMessages: 15,
-      totalTruncationSections: 3, continueHereFiredCount: 1,
+      totalTruncationSections: 3, continueHereFiredCount: 1, apiRequests: 30,
     },
     health: {
       budgetCeiling: 20.00,