Copilot vs ChatGPT: Microsoft AI vs OpenAI Compared (2025)
Microsoft Copilot vs ChatGPT: Which AI Should You Use?
Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT share the same underlying technology (GPT-4o), but they serve different purposes. Here is a practical comparison.
TL;DR: Use Copilot if you live in the Microsoft ecosystem (Office 365, Edge, Windows). Use ChatGPT if you want the full AI experience with plugins, custom GPTs, and DALL-E image generation.
Key Differences
| Feature | Microsoft Copilot | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| AI Model | GPT-4o | GPT-4o |
| Best Integration | Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) | Standalone + plugins |
| Web Search | Bing (native) | Browse mode |
| Image Generation | DALL-E 3 | DALL-E 3 |
| Custom GPTs | No | Yes |
| Free Tier | Generous | Generous |
| Pro Price | $20/mo (or M365 $30/mo) | $20/mo |
When to Choose Copilot
- You already pay for Microsoft 365
- You write documents in Word, analyze data in Excel, or create presentations in PowerPoint
- You want AI integrated directly into your productivity apps
- Your company uses Microsoft Teams
When to Choose ChatGPT
- You want the most versatile standalone AI assistant
- You need custom GPTs for specific workflows
- You need Code Interpreter for data analysis
- You want the largest plugin ecosystem
What About Claude?
If writing quality is your priority, Claude outperforms both Copilot and ChatGPT. Claude also has a larger context window (200K vs 128K tokens).
See also: Best AI tools for students and AI tools for small business.
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