What Microsoft Copilot does
Microsoft Copilot is Microsoft's AI assistant for everyday and work tasks. You chat with it to get answers, search the web with grounded results, draft text, create images and get help with schoolwork through a Guided Learning study mode. It runs on the web, in Windows and Mac apps, in Edge and on phones, and paid Microsoft 365 plans connect it to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. A free version is available with a Microsoft account, with usage limits.
Best for
- People who already pay for Microsoft 365
- Students who want step-by-step study help
- Quick web answers and image creation on Windows
- Families sharing one subscription
Key features
Chat and answers
Ask questions, get summaries and work through a project in one conversation.
Grounded search
Answers draw on the web and can help you find files and information.
Writing and images
Draft content and generate images from a prompt.
Guided Learning
A study mode that walks through concepts and assignments instead of just giving the answer.
Office integration
With an eligible Microsoft 365 plan, Copilot works inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
Researcher and Cowork
Deep Research is now called Researcher and Tasks is now Cowork; higher plans add agent-style work.
Microsoft Copilot pricing
Microsoft Copilot has a free plan. A limited free version with a signed-in Microsoft account, subject to capacity and usage limits. Paid plans start at $9.99/month. One-month free trial on Personal, Family and Premium (varies by region). Paid Copilot comes bundled with Microsoft 365 plans. AI usage limits apply on every plan, and some features are limited to the subscription owner. Business plans are priced separately. Prices checked on the official site on Nov 9, 2026.
| Free | $0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $9.99/month | 1 person; $99.99/year |
| Microsoft 365 Family | $12.99/month | Up to 6 people, AI for the owner only; $129.99/year |
| Microsoft 365 Premium | $19.99/month | Up to 6 people, highest consumer Copilot usage; $199.99/year |
| Microsoft 365 Pro | $99.99/month | Monthly only; highest usage including agentic AI, 5 TB storage |
Source: Microsoft Copilot pricing page
Pros and cons
What it does well
- Free to start with just a Microsoft account.
- Paid plans also include the Office apps and cloud storage, not only the assistant.
- Available on almost every device: web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Edge.
Know before you sign up
- Copilot inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook needs an eligible Microsoft 365 subscription.
- The free version has usage limits and depends on available capacity.
- The iOS app needs iOS 26 or later and the Android app needs Android 13 or later.
Alternatives to Microsoft Copilot
Meta AIAsk Meta AI questions and create across Meta surfaces.
GrokChat, search, reason, and create with Grok.
Opera AIGet in-browser AI help while reading the web.
ChatGPTAsk questions, create, and work with files in ChatGPT.
ClaudeWork through research, writing, files, and projects with Claude.
DeepSeekUse DeepSeek’s chat service and model platform.
Questions about Microsoft Copilot
What is Microsoft Copilot?
Microsoft Copilot is Microsoft's AI assistant for everyday and work tasks. You chat with it to get answers, search the web with grounded results, draft text, create images and get help with schoolwork through a Guided Learning study mode. It runs on the web, in Windows and Mac apps, in Edge and on phones, and paid Microsoft 365 plans connect it to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. A free version is available with a Microsoft account, with usage limits.
Is Microsoft Copilot free?
Microsoft Copilot has a free plan. A limited free version with a signed-in Microsoft account, subject to capacity and usage limits. Paid plans start at $9.99/month. One-month free trial on Personal, Family and Premium (varies by region). Paid Copilot comes bundled with Microsoft 365 plans. AI usage limits apply on every plan, and some features are limited to the subscription owner. Business plans are priced separately. Prices checked on the official site on Nov 9, 2026.
How much does Microsoft Copilot cost?
Paid plans start at $9.99/month; plans listed on the official pricing page: Free ($0), Microsoft 365 Personal ($9.99/month), Microsoft 365 Family ($12.99/month), Microsoft 365 Premium ($19.99/month), Microsoft 365 Pro ($99.99/month). Paid Copilot comes bundled with Microsoft 365 plans. AI usage limits apply on every plan, and some features are limited to the subscription owner. Business plans are priced separately.
Who is Microsoft Copilot best for?
People who already pay for Microsoft 365, Students who want step-by-step study help, Quick web answers and image creation on Windows and Families sharing one subscription.
Where can I use Microsoft Copilot?
Microsoft Copilot is available on Web, Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, according to its official site.
What are some alternatives to Microsoft Copilot?
Similar ai assistants tools include Meta AI, Grok, Opera AI and ChatGPT. Compare them on the AI assistants page.