Head to head
ChatGPT vs Microsoft Copilot
ChatGPT is a standalone assistant you subscribe to on its own. Copilot is increasingly sold as part of Microsoft 365, so its value depends on whether you already use Microsoft's apps, where it works inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams.
For businesses, both offer per-seat plans: ChatGPT Business seats and Microsoft 365 Copilot, which is added to a Microsoft 365 business plan.
Facts read from each vendor’s own site: ChatGPT on 16 October 2026, Microsoft Copilot on 16 October 2026.
Should I choose ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot?
ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot both have free versions. ChatGPT Plus is $20 a month as a standalone subscription. Microsoft now sells consumer Copilot inside Microsoft 365 plans, from Microsoft 365 Personal at $9.99 a month, and Microsoft 365 Copilot for businesses is $30 per user a month paid yearly. Copilot suits people already working in Word, Excel and Outlook.
At a glance
ChatGPT
General-purpose AI chat assistant from OpenAI for writing, research, coding, image creation and voice chat, with individual tiers and Business and Enterprise workspaces.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Starts at
- From $8/month per user
- Billing
- per seat
Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft's AI assistant, available as a free Copilot app and built into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams through Microsoft 365 consumer plans and Microsoft 365 Copilot business licences.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Starts at
- From $9.99/month per user
- Billing
- per seat + subscription
Features
Confirmed on the vendor’s site Vendor says it is not offered Not verified (not the same as no)
| Feature | ChatGPT | Microsoft Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Learns from your content | Yes | Yes |
| Document upload | Yes | Yes |
| Voice conversation | Yes | Yes |
| Takes actions on its own | Yes | Yes |
| Developer API | Yes | Not verified |
| Enterprise controls | Yes | Yes |
Plans and prices
ChatGPT
Free
Unlimited text chats with GPT-6 · Limited messages with uploads · Limited voice chats · Limited deep research
Free
Go
More messages with tools · More uploads · More voice chats · This plan may include ads.
$8/month per user
Plus
Advanced reasoning models with GPT-6 · Projects, scheduled tasks, and custom GPTs · Expanded deep research · Expanded Codex usage
$20/month per user
Pro 100
Pro reasoning powered by GPT-6 Astra · Ultrafast not included
$100/month per user
Pro 200
Pro 200 includes more usage than Pro 100 · Ultrafast not included
$200/month per user
Pro 500
Highest included usage of the three Pro plans · Includes GPT-6 Astra Ultrafast and GPT-6.1 Sol Ultrafast
$500/month per user
Business, Standard seat (annual)
For teams of 2-200 employees · All ChatGPT, ChatGPT Work, and Codex features · Workspace agents for customized workflows
$20/month per seat, billed yearly
Business, Standard seat (monthly)
For teams of 2-200 employees
$25/month per seat
Business, Premium seat (annual)
5x more usage than standard, with no 5-hour limit
$100/month per seat, billed yearly
Business, Premium seat (monthly)
5x more usage than standard, with no 5-hour limit
$125/month per seat
Enterprise
SCIM, EKM, user analytics, domain verification, role-based access controls · Data residency in ten regions · Credit-based and token-based pricing available
Contact sales
Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft 365 Personal (monthly)
For 1 person · 1 TB of secure cloud storage · Advanced Copilot chat with higher usage than free
$9.99/month per user
Microsoft 365 Personal (yearly)
For 1 person
$99.99/year per user
Microsoft 365 Family (monthly)
For 1 to 6 people (AI for subscription owner only) · 2 TB of shared, secure cloud storage
$12.99/month per account
Microsoft 365 Family (yearly)
For 1 to 6 people (AI for subscription owner only)
$129.99/year per account
Microsoft 365 Premium (monthly)
Advanced Copilot chat with extensive usage · Limited usage for agentic AI that gets things done for you including advanced research and analytics
$19.99/month per account
Microsoft 365 Premium (yearly)
Advanced Copilot chat with extensive usage
$199.99/year per account
Microsoft 365 Pro
Advanced Copilot chat with highest usage · 5 TB of shared, secure cloud storage · Monthly billing only
$99.99/month per account
Microsoft 365 Copilot Business add-on (annual)
Requires a qualifying Microsoft 365 Business plan · Pre-built Microsoft agents, including Researcher, Analyst, and Facilitator · Promotional $18.00 for first year, existing eligible customers, 1 Jul to 31 Dec 2026
$21/month per user, billed yearly
Microsoft 365 Copilot Business add-on (monthly)
Requires a qualifying Microsoft 365 Business plan
$25.20/month per user
Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot (annual)
Up to 300 users · 1 TB of cloud storage per user
$23.50/month per user, billed yearly
Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot (monthly)
Up to 300 users
$28.20/month per user
Microsoft 365 Business Premium with Copilot (annual)
Advanced identity and access management for up to 300 users · 1 TB of cloud storage per user
$32/month per user, billed yearly
Microsoft 365 Business Premium with Copilot (monthly)
Up to 300 users
$38.40/month per user
Microsoft 365 Copilot (enterprise, paid yearly)
A separate license for a qualifying Microsoft 365 plan is required
$30/month per user, billed yearly
Microsoft 365 Copilot (enterprise, paid monthly)
Annual commitment required
$31.50/month per user
Which to choose
Editorial opinion, based on the facts above.
- Choose ChatGPT if
- You want a standalone assistant regardless of which office apps you use, with a broad set of built-in tools.
- Choose Microsoft Copilot if
- You already pay for Microsoft 365 and want the assistant working inside your documents, email and meetings.
Questions
Is Copilot free?
There is a free Copilot app. Fuller access comes with Microsoft 365 consumer plans, and businesses add Microsoft 365 Copilot per user.
Related comparisons
Sources and method
Both products were read on their vendors’ own websites. Features are marked confirmed only with a quote from an official page; anything we could not find is shown as not verified.
- ChatGPT, checked 16 October 2026: pricing page, pricing page (Business and Enterprise), docs, docs
- Microsoft Copilot, checked 16 October 2026: pricing page (individuals), pricing page (consumer), pricing page (business), pricing page (enterprise)
SpideyChat makes a website chat assistant and is listed in this directory alongside other products. We are not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any other company named here, and their names and trademarks belong to them. Facts are read from each vendor’s own pages on the date shown and can change; check the vendor’s site before you buy. Spotted something out of date? Email support@spideychat.com.