AI chatbots and agents , by Microsoft , since 2023
Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft's AI chatbot built into Windows, Edge and Microsoft 365 apps
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What Microsoft Copilot does
Microsoft Copilot is a GPT-based conversational assistant embedded in Windows, Edge, Bing and Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel and Outlook. It answers questions, drafts documents, summarizes content and increasingly executes tasks inside Office files, aimed at users and businesses already on Microsoft's stack.
What you get: Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook integration, Windows and Edge system integration, Copilot Vision, Image generation via Designer, Enterprise data grounding (Copilot Chat), SharePoint/OneDrive file awareness.
Typical jobs: ai assistant inside excel and word; windows built in ai chatbot; microsoft copilot vs chatgpt; ai for office document drafting; enterprise ai assistant with sso.
Worth knowing: Standalone Copilot Pro subscription was retired for new signups in late 2025; consumer AI features now sold as part of Microsoft 365 Premium ($19.99/mo), which can confuse buyers checking older pricing pages.
What users complain about: A widely-upvoted post titled 'Microsoft's Copilot: A Frustrating Flop in AI-Powered Productivity' details regression instead of learning and repeated mistakes despite correction. (Microsoft Tech Community discussion)
Pricing and plan limits
Verified August 2026| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per mo) | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free | Basic chat, capped image generation via Designer |
| Microsoft 365 Premium | $19.99 | $19.99 | Consumer plan, replaced standalone Copilot Pro for new signups in late 2025 |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot (business) | $30 | $30 | Per user, add-on to existing Microsoft 365 business license |
Where it wins
- Deepest integration into Word/Excel/Outlook of any assistant on this list
- Free tier is usable for everyday chat without a subscription
- Built into Windows and Edge by default, no extra install
- Backed by GPT-model quality via OpenAI partnership
Where it falls short
- Standalone Copilot Pro was discontinued for new customers in late 2025, folded into Microsoft 365 Premium, causing confusion about what plan to buy
- Frequent complaints of arithmetic errors, table truncation and repeated mistakes despite correction
- "Copilot" branding covers dozens of different assistants across products with inconsistent capability
- Many users report it was auto-installed/enabled without clear consent, and enterprise adoption has reportedly lagged targets
How we scored it
Full methodology| Criterion | Weight | Score | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capability | 30% | 7.4 | 2.22 |
| Value for money | 25% | 6.5 | 1.63 |
| Ease of use | 15% | 7.0 | 1.05 |
| Maturity | 15% | 7.8 | 1.17 |
| Support & docs | 10% | 7.0 | 0.70 |
| Momentum | 5% | 6.8 | 0.34 |
| Weighted total | 100% | 7.1 | 7.10 |
Alternatives to Microsoft Copilot
Chosen by editors, not sponsors
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