Microsoft Copilot vs ChatGPT
Which AI chat & assistants should you pick in 2026? Pricing, agents, plans and use cases, side by side.
FSReviewed September 28, 2026 by Faisal Saleem · no paid placementsPick ChatGPT for most workflows in Chat & Assistants, it's our Editor's Pick. Pick Microsoft Copilot only if you specifically need Document drafting or its $20/mo pricing.
- You want our Editor's Pick in Chat & Assistants.
- You need GPT-6 Astra + GPT-5.6 tiers or Advanced Voice Mode, which Microsoft Copilot doesn't offer.
- You mostly do brainstorming or writing.
- You need Microsoft 365 integration or Copilot Pages, which ChatGPT doesn't offer.
- You mostly do document drafting or email.
By the numbers
Side by side
| SPEC | ||
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $20/mo | $20/mo |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| AI agent | Yes | Yes |
| Editor's Pick | No | Yes |
| Key features | Microsoft 365 integrationCopilot PagesImage generationVoice mode | GPT-6 Astra + GPT-5.6 tiersAdvanced Voice ModeCode interpreterCustom GPTs |
| Best for | Document draftingEmailSlide creationWeb search | BrainstormingWritingResearchData analysis |
| Works with | #chatbot#microsoft#productivity | #chatbot#reasoning#assistant |
Plan by plan
- Chat with GPT-powered Copilot
- Image generation with Designer
- Voice conversations
- Access to GPT-5 with limits
- Standard voice mode
- Limited file uploads & analysis
- Priority access to latest models
- Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Faster image generation
- Extended messaging and uploads
- Advanced voice and video
- Limited Deep Research access
- Copilot in M365 apps
- Business chat across data
- Enterprise-grade security
- Unlimited GPT-5 and o3
- Unlimited advanced voice
- Extended Deep Research
- Everything in Plus
- Higher message limits
- Admin console
- Custom data retention
- SSO/SAML, SCIM
- Domain verification
What each is best for
| USE CASE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Document drafting | ||
| Slide creation | ||
| Web search | ||
| Brainstorming | ||
| Writing | ||
| Research | ||
| Data analysis |
Strengths and trade-offs
- Free tier available; paid plans from $20/mo
- Includes an autonomous AI agent for multi-step tasks
- Microsoft 365 integration
- Copilot Pages
- Image generation
- Competition is strong in this space, see ChatGPT for comparison
- Free tier available; paid plans from $20/mo
- Includes an autonomous AI agent for multi-step tasks
- Hand-picked as an editor's choice in its category
- GPT-6 Astra + GPT-5.6 tiers
- Advanced Voice Mode
- Code interpreter
- Competition is strong in this space, see Microsoft Copilot for comparison
Microsoft Copilot vs ChatGPT FAQ
Short answers to what people ask most before choosing between these two.
Is Microsoft Copilot better than ChatGPT?
It depends on your workflow. Microsoft Copilot ships with autonomous-agent capability, while ChatGPT also includes an AI agent. ChatGPT is our Editor's Pick in Chat & Assistants. See the side-by-side table above for specifics.
Is Microsoft Copilot cheaper than ChatGPT?
Both tools have similar entry pricing, Microsoft Copilot $20/mo and ChatGPT $20/mo. Pricing at higher tiers varies; check the pricing breakdown above.
Does Microsoft Copilot have an AI agent?
Yes, Microsoft Copilot ships with autonomous-agent capability (it can plan and execute multi-step tasks, not just answer a single prompt).
Does ChatGPT have an AI agent?
Yes, ChatGPT includes autonomous-agent capability.
What's the difference between Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT?
Both are chat & assistants tools. The key differences come down to pricing (Microsoft Copilot: Freemium, from $20/mo; ChatGPT: Freemium, from $20/mo), agent capability (Microsoft Copilot: yes, ChatGPT: yes), and feature focus. Use the comparison table above to weigh which axis matters most for your work.
What's a good alternative to Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT?
Beyond Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT, the strongest alternatives in Chat & Assistants depend on whether you prioritise price, agent capability, or specific features. See our "Microsoft Copilot alternatives" and "ChatGPT alternatives" pages for a hand-picked ranking of each.