AI agent workspace ('Super Agent') for research, slides, sheets, calls and content generation.
ChatGPT vs Microsoft Copilot
Features, pricing, strengths and trade-offs — and which one fits your situation.
The verdict
Editor’s verdict
ChatGPT is a standalone assistant with the broadest set of features, while Microsoft Copilot's main value is its integration with Windows, Edge and Microsoft 365 apps. Choose ChatGPT if you want custom GPTs and plugins, an agent mode that works across a browser and connected apps, a developer API, or the same experience regardless of which office suite you use. Choose Copilot if you already pay for Microsoft 365 and want AI inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, or if you want a free assistant built into your Windows PC and Edge browser. Both offer web search with citations, image generation, voice conversations, file analysis and deep research. Copilot's consumer and business versions differ, which can make it harder to know what you are getting. If your team works mainly in Google Workspace, neither is the most natural fit and Gemini may integrate better.
Both ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot offer a free plan, so you can try each before paying.
Which should you choose?
Choose ChatGPT if…
- You need an all-round assistant covering writing, coding, research, images and voice in one app
- Developer API matters to you
- You're one of: general consumers and students, knowledge workers, developers
- Broadest feature set of any consumer chatbot
Choose Microsoft Copilot if…
- You need windows and Microsoft 365 users who want AI inside Word, Excel, Outlook and Edge
- You're one of: windows pc users, microsoft 365 households, office-heavy students and professionals
- Built into Windows, Edge and Microsoft 365 apps people already use
At a glance
| ChatGPT | Microsoft Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | An all-round assistant covering writing, coding, research, images and voice in one app | Windows and Microsoft 365 users who want AI inside Word, Excel, Outlook and Edge |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | From $5 | From $19.99/mo |
| Learning curve | Low | Low |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome extension, API | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Ideal for | General consumers and students, Knowledge workers, Developers, Small businesses | Windows PC users, Microsoft 365 households, Office-heavy students and professionals |
Feature comparison
| ChatGPT | Microsoft Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Web search with sources | Yes | Yes |
| Image generation | Yes | Yes |
| Voice conversations | Yes | Yes |
| File & PDF analysis | Yes | Yes |
| Custom assistants / GPTs | Yes | Limited |
| Runs code / data analysis | Yes | Limited |
| Deep research mode | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile apps | Yes | Yes |
| Developer API | Yes | No |
IncludedLimited / higher plansNot available— Not confirmed
Security & enterprise
| ChatGPT | Microsoft Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Business / enterprise plan | Yes | Yes |
| SSO (SAML / OIDC) | Business & Enterprise | Via Microsoft Entra ID |
| SCIM user provisioning | Enterprise plan | Via Microsoft Entra ID |
| SOC 2 | Type II | — |
| ISO 27001 | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA (BAA available) | Enterprise (BAA) | Yes |
| GDPR DPA | Yes | Yes |
| Data residency options | US, EU, UK, JP, IN, AU +more | EU Data Boundary |
| No training on your data | Yes | Yes |
| Audit logs | Enterprise (Compliance API) | Via Microsoft Purview |
| Admin controls | Yes | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
From each vendor's security documentation. "—" = not confirmed. What to ask vendors · Compare all tools
What each tool does
ChatGPT
ChatGPT is OpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant, available on web, desktop and mobile. It combines chat with web search, file and data analysis, image generation, voice conversations, deep research and an agent mode that can use a browser and connected apps. It is the most widely used consumer chatbot and is used by individuals, students and businesses.
Key features- Web search with inline source citations
- Deep research that produces cited reports from the web, files and connected apps
- Native image generation and editing
- Advanced voice mode with real-time conversation
- Agent mode that operates a browser and connected apps
- Projects, memory and custom GPTs / plugins
Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot is Microsoft's AI assistant, available as a free app on Windows, macOS, mobile and the web, and built into Edge and Bing. Microsoft 365 Personal, Family and Premium subscribers also get Copilot inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote. It offers web-grounded answers, image generation, voice conversations, Deep Research and Copilot Pages.
Key features- Web answers with citations via Bing
- Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote (Microsoft 365 plans)
- Voice conversations and Copilot Vision
- Image generation and editing
- Deep Research and Think Deeper reasoning modes
- Copilot Pages and Notebooks for organizing work
Pricing
ChatGPT
Free plan: yes; Go ~$5-8/mo, Plus $20/mo, Pro $200/mo
Microsoft Copilot
Free plan: yes; paid via Microsoft 365 Personal/Family/Premium (Premium ~$19.99/mo; Copilot Pro folded into M365 Premium)
Prices last checked September 2026. Plans change often — confirm on each vendor's site.
Pros and cons
ChatGPT
Strengths- Broadest feature set of any consumer chatbot
- Free plan includes search, image generation and voice with limits
- Large ecosystem of connected apps and third-party plugins
- Polished apps on every major platform
- Best models and higher limits require paid plans; free tier hits caps quickly
- Free and low-cost tiers show ads in some regions
- Custom GPTs are being migrated to plugins, so older setups may need rework
- Can state incorrect facts confidently, so citations need checking
Not ideal for: Users who need strict data residency or want to avoid a US-based provider should consider alternatives such as Mistral Le Chat.
Microsoft Copilot
Strengths- Built into Windows, Edge and Microsoft 365 apps people already use
- Free tier includes web search, image generation and voice
- Microsoft 365 Premium bundles AI with Office apps and cloud storage
- Uses a mix of OpenAI, Anthropic and Microsoft models
- Copilot in Office apps requires a Microsoft 365 subscription
- Consumer and work versions (Microsoft 365 Copilot) differ, which is confusing
- No developer API for the consumer assistant
- Fewer custom-assistant options for consumers than ChatGPT GPTs or Gemini Gems
Not ideal for: People who work mainly in Google Workspace or want a developer API should look at Gemini or ChatGPT instead.
Integrations
ChatGPT
Microsoft Copilot
FAQ
What is the main difference between ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot?
ChatGPT is built for an all-round assistant covering writing, coding, research, images and voice in one app; Microsoft Copilot is built for windows and Microsoft 365 users who want AI inside Word, Excel, Outlook and Edge. Key differences: ChatGPT offers developer API.
Is ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot cheaper?
ChatGPT starts from $5 and Microsoft Copilot starts from $19.99/mo (as of September 2026). On entry price, ChatGPT is cheaper — but compare what each plan includes, since limits differ. Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site.
Do ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot have free plans?
Both ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot offer a free plan, so you can try each before paying.
Which is easier to use, ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot?
Both have a low learning curve.
What are good alternatives to ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot?
Other chat assistants tools worth comparing include Genspark, Perplexity and Consensus.
