ChatGPT vs Microsoft Copilot

Short answer: neither wins at everything.

Pick ChatGPT if you want one app that does a bit of everything: chat, voice, images, files and deep research.

Pick Microsoft Copilot if you already pay for Microsoft 365 and want help inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

ChatGPT vs Microsoft Copilot side by side

	ChatGPT	Microsoft Copilot
What it is	Chat app from OpenAI	Chat app from Microsoft, also built into Microsoft 365
Made by	OpenAI	Microsoft
Price	Free $0; Go $8/mo (US); Plus $20/mo; Pro 100 $100, Pro 200 $200, Pro 500 $500 /mo	Microsoft 365 Personal $9.99/mo; Family $12.99/mo; Premium $19.99/mo; Pro $99.99/mo (monthly billing only; highest Copilot limits)
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Good at	Broadest feature set in one app: voice, images, files, deep research; Best for: all-rounder, data analysis, images, voice	Works inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook; Best for: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook
Watch out for	Go plan may include ads (OpenAI pricing page)	On Family plans, AI features are only for the subscription owner
Privacy	Personal accounts: chats may train models by default; turn off 'Improve the model for everyone' in Data Controls. Business/Enterprise: no training by default	Not listed in our data
Where it runs	web, iOS, Android	Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, web
Status	Current. Custom GPTs retire Dec 11, 2026 (Enterprise workspaces with an approved delay: Feb 11, 2027); OpenAI says move them to Plugins. Existing chats with GPTs stay accessible. New Oct 20, 2026: locked chats (hide a chat behind a 4-digit PIN or device unlock) rolling out to Free, Go, Plus and Pro	Current. Microsoft is retiring the Critique and Council preview features in Microsoft 365 Copilot Researcher (Frontier program users only) from late Oct to mid-Nov 2026; Researcher and Analyst stay (Message Center MC1515927, Oct 19, 2026)
Sources	chatgpt.com · openai.com · help.openai.com · help.openai.com (2) · help.openai.com (3) · help.openai.com (4)	microsoft.com · microsoft.com (2) · mc.merill.net

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Questions people ask

Is ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot better?

It depends on what you do. Pick ChatGPT if you want one app that does a bit of everything: chat, voice, images, files and deep research. Pick Microsoft Copilot if you already pay for Microsoft 365 and want help inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

Is ChatGPT free?

Yes. ChatGPT has a free plan. Plans: Free $0; Go $8/mo (US); Plus $20/mo; Pro 100 $100, Pro 200 $200, Pro 500 $500 /mo.

Is Microsoft Copilot free?

Yes. Microsoft Copilot has a free plan. Plans: Microsoft 365 Personal $9.99/mo; Family $12.99/mo; Premium $19.99/mo; Pro $99.99/mo (monthly billing only; highest Copilot limits).

Can I try both ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot?

Yes. Both have a free plan, so you can try each one on the same task and keep the one you like.

How does WhichBot decide?

Hector uses a written rubric: everyday usefulness, cost and free plans, privacy, reliability, ease of use, availability and safety. Rankings are one input, not the answer.

Facts come from the companies' own pages, linked above, and were last checked Oct 28, 2026. Prices are US and can change. Picks are Hector's: no paid picks, sponsors always labeled, and no sponsorship from AI labs. Our policy.