ChatGPT vs Microsoft Copilot: Which AI Assistant Wins?
Microsoft Copilot is built on the same GPT-4 technology as ChatGPT. So why would you pay $20/month for ChatGPT when Copilot is free in Windows? We explain the real differences.
Key Differences
| Feature | ChatGPT | Microsoft Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Base Model | GPT-4o | GPT-4 (via Microsoft) |
| Free Access | Limited (GPT-4o mini) | Yes (GPT-4 Turbo) |
| Paid Price | $20/mo (Plus) | $20/mo (Microsoft 365) |
| Web Search | Plus only | Yes (free) |
| Image Generation | DALL-E 3 (Plus) | DALL-E 3 (free) |
| Office Integration | No | Yes (M365 apps) |
When Copilot Wins
- You’re already paying for Microsoft 365
- You need real-time web search (free)
- You work primarily in Word/Excel/PowerPoint
- You want free DALL-E 3 image generation
When ChatGPT Wins
- You need GPTs marketplace (custom AI assistants)
- You want more creative writing freedom
- You need advanced data analysis (Code Interpreter)
- You prefer OpenAI’s safety approach
Is Microsoft Copilot the same as ChatGPT?
Copilot uses OpenAI’s GPT-4 model (licensed by Microsoft) but is not identical to ChatGPT. Microsoft has added web search, Bing integration, and Office app integration. ChatGPT offers more features for paying users (GPTs, Code Interpreter, DALL-E). The free versions are actually quite similar in capability.
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