What is Microsoft Copilot?
Microsoft Copilot is a free web and Windows assistant built on OpenAI's models, with web search, image generation and image understanding included at no cost. It is also the consumer face of AI inside Windows, Edge and Microsoft 365, where paid Copilot plans add deeper app integration.
What can you do with Microsoft Copilot?
- Ask web-grounded questions with cited sources, no subscription required.
- Generate and edit images from text prompts inside the same chat.
- Use it on Windows to summarize, rewrite or explain content from the clipboard.
- Get AI help inside Edge while reading articles or comparing purchases.
Pricing
Microsoft Copilot is completely free to use, with no subscription required to access its core features. You can start using it immediately without entering payment details.
Who is Microsoft Copilot best for?
Microsoft Copilot is best suited for anyone who wants a capable AI assistant for daily writing, learning and problem-solving.
Pros and cons
✓ Pros
- Free access to GPT-class chat plus image generation
- Built directly into Windows and Edge — nothing extra to install
- Web search grounding and image input included on the free tier
✗ Cons
- Deeper Microsoft 365 app integration requires paid plans
- Experience and interface change fairly often between versions
- Peak-time limits on the strongest models
Verdict
Copilot is an easy, free way to get GPT-level chat and image creation — especially if you already use Windows or Edge. For heavy writing or document analysis, compare it directly with ChatGPT and Claude before committing to a paid plan.
Try Microsoft Copilot ↗Top alternatives to Microsoft Copilot
- ChatGPT Freemium
The leading AI chatbot by OpenAI for conversation, writing, analysis, image generation and everyday tasks.
- Claude Freemium
Anthropic’s AI assistant known for long-context understanding, nuanced writing and safe, thoughtful answers.
- Google Gemini Free
Google’s multimodal AI assistant integrated with Gmail, Docs and YouTube, available free on web and mobile.
- DeepSeek Free
Powerful open-weight AI model offering strong reasoning and coding performance completely free.
- Grok Freemium
xAI’s witty AI assistant with real-time access to X (Twitter) data and image generation.
See all Microsoft Copilot alternatives →Microsoft Copilot vs ChatGPT compared →
Microsoft Copilot FAQ
Is Microsoft Copilot free?
Yes — Microsoft Copilot is free to use. Its core features are available at no cost, with no subscription required.
What is Microsoft Copilot used for?
Free AI assistant powered by GPT and DALL·E, built into Windows, Edge and Microsoft 365. It is listed in our Chat & Assistants category alongside similar AI tools.
What are the best alternatives to Microsoft Copilot?
Popular alternatives in the Chat & Assistants category include ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini and DeepSeek. Compare their free tiers and features in our Chat & Assistants category — see the alternatives list on this page.
Microsoft Copilot vs ChatGPT — which should I pick?
Both are chat & assistants tools. Microsoft Copilot is listed as "Free" and focuses on: Free AI assistant powered by GPT and DALL·E, built into Windows, Edge and Microsoft 365. ChatGPT is listed as "Freemium" and focuses on: The leading AI chatbot by OpenAI for conversation, writing, analysis, image generation and everyday tasks. Try the free tier that matches your workflow first.
Is Microsoft Copilot worth trying in 2026?
If chat and AI assistants is part of your workflow, Microsoft Copilot is worth adding to your shortlist — evaluate its free tier against the popular picks in our Chat & Assistants category.