ChatGPT is the better standalone AI assistant, with the widest set of tools for writing, research, images, files and agent tasks. Microsoft Copilot is the better choice if you already pay for Microsoft 365, because it puts AI directly inside Word, Excel and PowerPoint. If you want the strongest chatbot on its own, choose ChatGPT; if you want AI inside the Office apps you use every day, choose Copilot.
Both assistants have strong free plans for chat, web answers, images and voice. The big difference is where they work and what you pay for. ChatGPT is a standalone app with its own subscriptions, while Copilot’s strongest features come bundled with Microsoft 365, alongside the Office apps and OneDrive storage.
This comparison covers features, Office integration, pricing and free plans side by side, explains what happened to Copilot Pro, and shows which tool to use for everyday tasks. Prices are US list prices from each company’s official pages.
Copilot vs ChatGPT at a glance
| Microsoft Copilot | ChatGPT | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Microsoft 365 users who want AI inside Office apps | Anyone who wants one powerful all-round assistant |
| Free plan | Chat with web answers, images and voice | Chat, files, images and limited Deep Research |
| Paid plans from | Microsoft 365 Personal $8.33/month (annual), $9.99 monthly | Go $8/month; Plus $20/month |
| Standout feature | Copilot in Word, Excel and PowerPoint | The widest toolset, custom GPTs and agent mode |
| Biggest catch | Best features need a Microsoft 365 plan | No AI inside Office apps |
| Cappy Score | 4.0/5 | 4.6/5 |
What’s the main difference between Copilot and ChatGPT?
The main difference is where the AI lives. ChatGPT is a destination: you open the app and do your work there. Copilot is spread across Microsoft’s products: a free chatbot on the web and Windows, plus AI built into Word, Excel and PowerPoint on paid Microsoft 365 plans.
That also changes what you pay for. A ChatGPT subscription pays only for AI. A Copilot subscription is really a Microsoft 365 subscription, so you also get the Office apps and OneDrive storage.
What happened to Copilot Pro?
Microsoft stopped selling the standalone Copilot Pro plan to new customers on October 1, 2025. Microsoft 365 Premium replaced it at $19.99 a month. Existing Copilot Pro subscribers may still see the old plan, but new buyers get Copilot through Microsoft 365 plans.
Feature-by-feature comparison
Everyday chat and writing
Both are strong for drafting, summarizing, brainstorming and explaining. ChatGPT offers more control, with custom GPTs, memory, scheduled tasks and a canvas for editing long documents.
Winner: ChatGPT.
Web answers and sources
Copilot answers with web results and clickable source links, even on the free plan. ChatGPT also searches the web and shows sources when it does.
Winner: Tie, with a slight edge to Copilot for showing links by default.
Office app integration
On paid Microsoft 365 plans, Copilot drafts in Word, analyzes data in Excel and builds slides in PowerPoint, right inside the apps. ChatGPT can read and create Office files, but you work in ChatGPT and download the result.
Winner: Copilot.
Images and voice
Both create images and offer voice conversations on their free plans, with higher limits on paid plans.
Winner: Tie.
Agents, research and coding
ChatGPT has Deep Research, agent mode for multi-step tasks on websites, and Codex for coding on higher plans. Copilot’s free version is focused on chat and search.
Winner: ChatGPT.
Personal data
Free Copilot can’t access your emails, files or meetings. On paid plans, Copilot works with your documents inside the Office apps. ChatGPT can connect to apps like Gmail and Google Drive through connectors, depending on your plan.
Winner: Depends on your apps. Copilot for Microsoft 365, ChatGPT for a wider range of apps.
Pricing: Copilot vs ChatGPT
| Plan level | Microsoft Copilot | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 |
| Entry | Microsoft 365 Personal $9.99/month, or $99.99/year (about $8.33/month) | Go $8/month (US; priced locally in some countries) |
| Family | Microsoft 365 Family $12.99/month, or $129.99/year, up to 6 people | None |
| Standard | Microsoft 365 Premium $19.99/month, or $199.99/year | Plus $20/month |
| Top tier | Microsoft 365 Pro $99.99/month (monthly only) | Pro $100, $200 or $500/month |
| Teams | Microsoft 365 business plans with Copilot | Business $20/user/month (annual), $25 monthly |
At the $20 level, Microsoft 365 Premium includes the Office apps and storage as well as Copilot, while ChatGPT Plus is AI only. Prices are US list prices; Microsoft notes that some plans differ or aren’t offered in other countries.
Free plan comparison
| Free plan | Microsoft Copilot | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Web answers with sources | Yes | Yes, when it searches |
| Image creation | Yes | Yes, with limits |
| Voice | Yes | Yes |
| File uploads | Limited | Yes, with limits |
| Access to your emails and files | No | Through connectors on some plans |
Cost over a year
| Plan | Microsoft Copilot | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 |
| Entry | Microsoft 365 Personal: $99.99 | Go: $96 |
| Family (up to 6 people) | Microsoft 365 Family: $129.99 | None |
| Standard | Microsoft 365 Premium: $199.99 | Plus: $240 |
Remember that the Microsoft 365 prices also include the Office apps and OneDrive storage. If you’d pay for Microsoft 365 anyway, Copilot costs little or nothing extra.
Copilot vs ChatGPT for everyday tasks
- Writing a report in Word or building slides in PowerPoint: Copilot, because it works inside the document.
- Analyzing a spreadsheet you already have in Excel: Copilot, inside Excel. For a one-off file, ChatGPT works well too.
- Drafting emails, posts and long articles from scratch: ChatGPT, with more writing tools and custom GPTs.
- Quick questions with source links: free Copilot, which shows links by default.
- Deep research on a topic: ChatGPT, with Deep Research on Plus.
- A family sharing one subscription: Microsoft 365 Family, for up to six people.
- People who use Google Docs and Gmail: ChatGPT, since Copilot’s best features live in Microsoft’s apps.
Using Copilot and ChatGPT together
You don’t have to choose just one. Many Microsoft 365 users keep Copilot for work inside Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and use ChatGPT’s free plan for brainstorming, research and longer writing.
If you only want to pay for one, start with the free versions of both for a week and see which one you open more often.
Privacy and security
Both tools process what you type to generate answers, so avoid sharing passwords, financial details or sensitive client information. For work, check your company’s rules on AI tools; many organizations use business plans with extra admin and data controls.
Free Copilot can’t see your emails, files or meetings. On paid Microsoft 365 plans, Copilot works with the documents you open in the Office apps.
How to get better results from either tool
- Give context. Tell the assistant who the text is for and what tone you want.
- In Word and PowerPoint, point Copilot at a source document, so it drafts from your own content instead of from scratch.
- In ChatGPT, upload the file you’re working on rather than pasting long text.
- Ask for a shorter or simpler version if the first draft is too long.
- Check facts and figures before sending anything to a client or publishing it.
Copilot vs ChatGPT for business teams
For teams, the choice usually follows the software you already pay for. If your company runs on Microsoft 365, adding Copilot to your business plan keeps AI inside the tools your team already uses, with your existing admin and security settings.
ChatGPT Business costs $20 per user per month on annual billing, or $25 monthly, with a 2-seat minimum. It suits teams that work across many apps, including Google Workspace, or that want shared custom GPTs and ChatGPT’s research and agent tools.
Many companies use both: Copilot for document work inside Office, and ChatGPT for research, brainstorming and longer writing. If you’re choosing one, run a two-week trial with a small group and compare how often each tool is actually used.
If you had Copilot Pro
Copilot Pro is no longer sold to new customers, and Microsoft 365 Premium replaced it at $19.99 a month. If you still have Copilot Pro, check your Microsoft account to see what your subscription includes and when it renews.
When it’s time to decide, compare three options: staying on your current plan while it’s available, moving to Microsoft 365 Premium if you use the Office apps, or switching to ChatGPT Plus if you mostly used Copilot as a chatbot.
Cappy’s verdict
For most people, the decision is simpler than it looks. If you already pay for Microsoft 365, start using the Copilot features in your plan before buying anything else. They may cover everything you need inside Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
If you don’t use Microsoft 365, or you want the most capable assistant on its own, ChatGPT is the stronger choice. Start on the free plan, try Go at $8 a month if you hit limits, and move to Plus when you need Deep Research and the full tool set.
Who should choose Microsoft Copilot?
- People who already pay for Microsoft 365 and want AI inside Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Windows and Edge users who want a built-in assistant.
- Families who want to share one plan across up to six people.
- Anyone who wants Office apps, storage and AI in a single subscription.
Who should choose ChatGPT?
- Anyone who wants the strongest standalone AI assistant.
- Writers, researchers and analysts who need Deep Research and file analysis.
- People who use Google apps or a mix of tools rather than Microsoft 365.
- Users who want agent mode, custom GPTs or coding tools.
Compare more AI chatbots in our Perplexity vs ChatGPT comparison and Poe review, or browse all AI chatbots.
Cappy’s pick
- Already on Microsoft 365: start with the Copilot features in your current plan before paying for anything else.
- Want the best AI assistant on its own: ChatGPT Plus.
- On a budget: ChatGPT Go at $8 a month, or free Copilot for web answers with sources.
- Family sharing: Microsoft 365 Family with Copilot.
Frequently asked questions
Is Copilot better than ChatGPT?
Copilot is better inside Word, Excel and PowerPoint. ChatGPT is the better standalone assistant, with more tools for writing, research, files and tasks.
Is Copilot free?
Yes. Free Copilot includes chat with web answers, image creation and voice. AI inside the Office apps needs a paid Microsoft 365 plan.
Is Copilot cheaper than ChatGPT?
At the entry level, Microsoft 365 Personal costs about $8.33 a month on annual billing, close to ChatGPT Go’s $8. At the $20 level, Microsoft 365 Premium includes Office apps and storage, while ChatGPT Plus is AI only.
Does Copilot use ChatGPT?
Copilot is built on OpenAI models together with Microsoft’s own technology, but it’s a separate product with its own features, plans and limits.
What replaced Copilot Pro?
Microsoft 365 Premium, at $19.99 a month, replaced Copilot Pro for new customers from October 1, 2025.
Can I use Copilot in Word for free?
No. The free Copilot chatbot works on the web, Windows and mobile, but Copilot inside Word, Excel and PowerPoint needs a paid Microsoft 365 plan, starting with Personal at $99.99 a year.
Which is better for students, Copilot or ChatGPT?
ChatGPT, for most students, because it’s stronger for explaining topics, planning essays and research. Copilot is useful if your school gives you Microsoft 365, since you can use it inside Word and PowerPoint.
Is ChatGPT Plus worth it if I already have Microsoft 365?
It depends on how you work. If most of your AI use happens inside Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Copilot in your Microsoft 365 plan may be enough. If you want Deep Research, agent mode and stronger standalone writing tools, ChatGPT Plus adds a lot on top.
Can I use Copilot and ChatGPT for free?
Yes. Both have free plans with chat, web answers, image creation and voice. The free plans have usage limits, and Copilot’s features inside the Office apps need a paid Microsoft 365 plan.
Which is better for writing, Copilot or ChatGPT?
ChatGPT, for most writing from scratch, such as emails, articles and scripts, because it offers more control with custom GPTs, memory and a canvas for long documents. Copilot is better when you’re editing a document that already lives in Word.