The Microsoft Copilot Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Microsoft Copilot in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Microsoft Copilot
The Insider’s Guide
Microsoft's AI assistant for chat, images and Microsoft 365 apps
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI assistants, read from Microsoft Copilot’s own pages.
Made by Microsoft · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02Insider tipsWhat most people miss: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches
- 03What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 04What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 05Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 06The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 07Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 08About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Microsoft Copilot’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Microsoft Copilot’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 39 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade
Microsoft Copilot is Microsoft's AI assistant for chat, web-grounded answers, image creation and voice conversations. It runs in a browser and in apps for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, and paid Microsoft 365 plans put it inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. A limited free version is available; the Researcher and Analyst agents need Microsoft 365 Premium or Pro.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Microsoft Copilot, taken from its own pages and our grades.
We have no App Store rating on record for it.
- 1
Best for people who live in Word, Excel and Outlook
Copilot is Microsoft's assistant, and $9.99 a month for Microsoft 365 Personal puts it inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook with 1 TB of storage.
- 2
Paid plans start at $8.33 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Microsoft 365 Personal).
- 3
There is a free plan
A limited free version of Copilot, subject to available capacity and usage limits. Signing in adds chat history, more image creation, longer conversations and longer voice use.
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
- 5
Chat with web-grounded answers
Helps with writing, brainstorming and summarizing in a chat, and gives real-time answers based on web search.
- 6
Voice and Vision
Spoken conversations, plus visual help from your screen or camera. Usage is standard on Personal and Family, higher on Premium and highest on Pro.
- 7
Image generation
Creates images inside Copilot. The allowance rises from standard usage on Personal and Family to extensive use on Premium and Pro.
- 8
A 3.0 GPA, above 39 of 57
That is against the other AI assistants we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Microsoft Copilot you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Microsoft Copilot at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Microsoft 365 Personal)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- One-month free trial of Microsoft 365 Personal, Family and Premium; terms vary by offer and region.
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Microsoft, since 2023
- Category
- AI Assistants
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for people who live in Word, Excel and Outlook
Copilot is Microsoft's assistant, and $9.99 a month for Microsoft 365 Personal puts it inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook with 1 TB of storage. The free version runs subject to capacity, with limits Microsoft doesn't spell out, the Researcher and Analyst agents need the $19.99 plan, and on Family only the subscription owner gets the AI.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Microsoft 365 Personal is $9.99 a month, or $99.99 a year, which works out at $8.33 a month, right at this category's cheapest quarter. And it isn't chat alone: Copilot inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, plus 1 TB of storage. Researcher and Analyst need Premium at $19.99. |
| Free plan and trial | C | There's a free version with chat, web answers, image creation and voice, and signing in adds chat history and longer conversations. But it runs subject to available capacity, with usage limits Microsoft won't put numbers on. |
| Features | B | Chat grounded in web search, voice, help from your screen or camera, image creation, and Copilot inside the Office apps, with Researcher and Analyst on Premium. The job's covered, though Microsoft says it will drop Mico, Deep Research and group chats when it merges the apps. |
| Ease of use | B | We have no App Store rating on record for it. It opens in a browser, and on a new Windows 11 PC the app is already installed, so there's nothing to set up before you start typing. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android. It also works inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, OneDrive and Edge, which is a long list if you're a Microsoft household. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Microsoft Copilot is for
- Fits if your day is already spent in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
- Works for households that want Office apps and cloud storage on one bill, with the AI for one person
Who it is not for
- Pricey if it's the Researcher and Analyst agents you want, as they need the $19.99 Premium plan
- Not for you if the whole family wants the AI, because on Family only the subscription owner gets it
- Tight if you're staying free and like to know your limits: free use depends on capacity, with no numbers given
- Watch out: Microsoft said it would merge the Copilot apps and remove Mico, Deep Research and group chats
- Pricey if you want the top limits, as Pro is $99.99 a month, billed monthly only
Good to know
Good for
- People who already work in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
- Windows 11 users: the Copilot app comes installed on new PCs
- Households that want Office apps and cloud storage in the same plan
Worth knowing
- The free version is subject to available capacity and limits, and the pricing page does not give the numbers.
- Researcher and Analyst are not available on Microsoft 365 Personal or Family; they need Premium at $19.99 a month or Pro.
- On Microsoft 365 Family, AI features are available only to the subscription owner and cannot be shared with other members.
- According to Wikipedia, Microsoft said in August 2026 it would merge the consumer and Microsoft 365 Copilot apps and remove Mico, Deep Research and group chats.
Part 02 · Tips
Insider tips
What most people miss: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches
6
Things most people miss, each from its own help pages
The things about Microsoft Copilot that are easy to miss until they cost you: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches at renewal or when you leave. Each one is from Microsoft Copilot’s own pages, linked beside it.
Read on Oct 17, 2026. Read from Microsoft's support pages on switching and refunding Microsoft 365 plans, turning off Copilot in Office apps, Copilot privacy controls and opening Copilot on Windows, on 17 October 2026. Not tried out: these tips are what its own pages say.
- 1
Pay less
Move up to Premium close to your renewal, not mid-year
When you upgrade, the time left on your old plan is converted, and you lose some. Microsoft's table says Personal's remaining time counts at 60% towards Premium, and Family's at 78%. Upgrade near the renewal date and there's less to lose.
support.microsoft.com - 2
Renewal
You get one refund on a renewal if you cancel within 30 days
Microsoft's refund policy says that if you cancel within 30 days after a renewal payment, you're refunded that charge, but only once per account per product. A first purchase is refundable within 30 days too. Bought through Apple or Google? The refund has to come from them.
support.microsoft.com - 3
Leaving
A smaller plan only starts at your next renewal
To step down, go to Services & subscriptions in your Microsoft account, choose Manage, then Cancel subscription and pick the plan you want. You keep the current plan until it renews, and you aren't charged for the new one until then.
support.microsoft.com - 4
Setting
Switch Copilot off in Word or Excel if you don't want it
On Windows, go to File, Options, Copilot and clear Enable Copilot. On a Mac, it's Preferences, Authoring and Proofing Tools, Copilot. It's one app and one device at a time, and the web, iPhone and Android versions can't turn it off.
support.microsoft.com - 5
Privacy
Turning off memory doesn't wipe what Copilot already saved
In the new app, Settings, Personalization has a Saved memories switch. Turning it off stops new memories but keeps the old ones, so click Manage and Delete all memories too. Web search has its own switch on the same page.
support.microsoft.com - 6
Shortcut
Windows + C opens Copilot, as a quick view if you like
On a Windows PC, the Copilot key or Windows + C opens Copilot from anywhere. Under Account, Settings, Copilot Keyboard Shortcuts you can make it open a small quick view instead of the full app, which is handy for a fast question.
support.microsoft.com
Part 03 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$8.33
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Microsoft Copilot has a free plan. Paid plans start at $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Microsoft 365 Personal).
There's a free version with chat, web answers, image creation and voice, and signing in adds chat history and longer conversations.
Free
$0
Chat, web-grounded answers, image creation and voice, subject to available capacity and usage limits.
Microsoft 365 Personal
$9.99
per month, or $99.99 per year
For 1 person: higher Copilot usage than free, Copilot in the Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook desktop apps, and 1 TB of cloud storage.
Microsoft 365 Family
$12.99
per month, or $129.99 per year
Everything in Personal for 1 to 6 people, with 1 TB of storage each. Copilot AI features are for the subscription owner only.
Microsoft 365 Premium
$19.99
per month, or $199.99 per year
Extensive Copilot usage, the Researcher and Analyst agents, and limited usage of agentic AI.
Microsoft 365 Pro
$99.99
per month, monthly billing only
Everything in Premium with the highest usage limits for chat, agentic AI, voice and vision.
The free plan
A limited free version of Copilot, subject to available capacity and usage limits. Signing in adds chat history, more image creation, longer conversations and longer voice use.
Trying it first
One-month free trial of Microsoft 365 Personal, Family and Premium; terms vary by offer and region.
Read from microsoft.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save up to 17% with yearly billing
Microsoft's pricing page lists Personal at $99.99, Family at $129.99 and Premium at $199.99 per year, a saving of up to 17% against paying monthly. Pro is monthly only.
Stated on microsoft.comEducation
Student offers on Microsoft 365
Microsoft says eligible college students may qualify for discounted Microsoft 365 subscriptions, and some get free access through their school. Offers vary by institution and region.
Stated on microsoft.comOther savings
Microsoft Workplace Discount Program
Microsoft offers savings on select Microsoft 365 subscriptions through eligible employers, using a valid work email address.
Stated on microsoft.com
Part 04 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
Microsoft's AI assistant for chat, images and Microsoft 365 apps. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, chat assistant, AI search, AI agents, research.
The job's covered, though Microsoft says it will drop Mico, Deep Research and group chats when it merges the apps.
- Chat with web-grounded answers
- Helps with writing, brainstorming and summarizing in a chat, and gives real-time answers based on web search.
- Voice and Vision
- Spoken conversations, plus visual help from your screen or camera. Usage is standard on Personal and Family, higher on Premium and highest on Pro.
- Image generation
- Creates images inside Copilot. The allowance rises from standard usage on Personal and Family to extensive use on Premium and Pro.
- Researcher and Analyst
- Researcher finds and synthesizes information, and Analyst works through raw data. Both are unavailable on Personal and Family and included with Premium and Pro.
- Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps
- Paid plans add Copilot to the Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook desktop apps to draft, edit and summarize documents and email.
- Cowork and model choice
- Cowork takes on a multi-step project and returns finished files, and you can switch between OpenAI and Anthropic models. Microsoft notes some capabilities need specific licenses.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Outlook
- Teams
- OneNote
- OneDrive
- Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Copilot is made by Microsoft, and has been around since 2023.
Part 05 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
39/57
Other AI assistants it is graded above
Microsoft Copilot's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 39 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (A, above 45 of 57) and worst on free plan and trial (C, above 5).
Its paid plans start at $8.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 13 of the 38 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.3 out of 4. 4 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 58 AI assistants we grade, cut by the letter each got. Microsoft Copilot’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 34 of 57
- CFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 57
- BFeaturesAbove 28 of 57
- BEase of useAbove 21 of 57
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 45 of 57
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 45 AI assistants. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Microsoft Copilot is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Microsoft Copilot you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 39 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade. It costs $99.99 a year.
What you could not
- An AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
- A search engine with an AI model behind it.
- An AI agent, with the models and the safeguards behind it.
- A library of papers and sources to search.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Word, Excel and PowerPoint among them.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Microsoft Copilot’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 06 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Grok and Meta AI
The 5 tools Microsoft Copilot is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.4GPA
ChatGPT
Free plan · from $8/mo
OpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant for chat, images and voice.
- Only ChatGPT lists a Linux app.
- Microsoft Copilot also covers AI agents and research.
- 3.8GPA
Gemini
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Google's AI assistant, tied into Gmail, Docs and other Google apps.
- Microsoft Copilot also covers AI agents and research.
- 3.0GPA
Claude
Free plan · from $17/mo
Anthropic's AI assistant for writing, analysis and coding.
- Only Claude lists a Linux app.
- Only Claude lists a browser extension.
- Microsoft Copilot also covers AI agents and research.
- 2.6GPA
Grok
Free plan · from $10.00
AI assistant with live X and web search, images, video and voice.
- Only Microsoft Copilot lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Microsoft Copilot also covers AI agents.
- 2.8GPA
Meta AI
Free plan · from $7.99/mo
Meta's free AI assistant across its apps, the web and AI glasses.
- Only Microsoft Copilot lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Microsoft Copilot also covers AI agents.
Part 07 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Microsoft Copilot free?
Microsoft Copilot has a free plan. A limited free version of Copilot, subject to available capacity and usage limits.
How much does Microsoft Copilot cost?
Microsoft Copilot lists 5 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Microsoft Copilot work on?
Microsoft Copilot is available on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
Does Microsoft Copilot offer any discounts?
Microsoft Copilot publicly lists the following: Save up to 17% with yearly billing; Student offers on Microsoft 365; Microsoft Workplace Discount Program.
Does Microsoft Copilot have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Microsoft Copilot is listed for Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
Is Microsoft Copilot open source?
Microsoft Copilot is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
What does Microsoft Copilot integrate with?
Microsoft Copilot's listing names Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, OneDrive and Microsoft Edge.
Does Microsoft Copilot have a student discount?
Student offers on Microsoft 365. Microsoft says eligible college students may qualify for discounted Microsoft 365 subscriptions, and some get free access through their school.
Does Microsoft Copilot have a free trial?
Yes. One-month free trial of Microsoft 365 Personal, Family and Premium; terms vary by offer and region.
Who makes Microsoft Copilot?
Microsoft Copilot is made by Microsoft. It dates from 2023.
What are the alternatives to Microsoft Copilot?
The closest alternatives to Microsoft Copilot in our directory are ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Grok and Meta AI.
How does Microsoft Copilot compare with other AI assistants?
Microsoft Copilot's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 39 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 8.
Is Microsoft Copilot good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Microsoft Copilot B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $8.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 13 of the 38 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Microsoft Copilot?
To replace Microsoft Copilot you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Microsoft Copilot’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Microsoft's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-05-25.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Microsoft. Prices change, so check copilot.microsoft.com before you buy.
- microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/pricing/individuals
- microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/solutions/individuals
- copilot.microsoft.com
- microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/download-copilot-app
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/getting-started-with-microsoft-copilot
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot/ai-credits-and-limits-for-microsoft-365-subscriptions
- support.microsoft.com/topic/understanding-the-different-microsoft-copilot-experiences-cfff4791-694a-4d90-9c9c-1eb3fb28e842
- apps.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-copilot/id541164041
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Copilot
Part 08 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Microsoft Copilot, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/microsoft-copilot
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Microsoft Copilot: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/microsoft-copilot
Know someone choosing between AI assistants?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/microsoft-copilot/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded AI assistants after Microsoft Copilot, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- AI Assistants Insider's GuideEvery one of the 58 AI assistants we grade, compared
- Gemini Insider's GuideGoogle's AI assistant, tied into Gmail, Docs and other Google apps3.8 GPA
- Chatbox Insider's GuideAI chat client for your own API keys or a hosted model plan3.4 GPA
- ChatGPT Insider's GuideOpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant for chat, images and voice3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Microsoft Copilot’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Microsoft Copilot is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Microsoft. Prices and plans change: check copilot.microsoft.com before you buy.