WhichBot › Compare › Gemini vs Microsoft Copilot
Last checked Oct 28, 2026 · plain English · no paid picks
Gemini vs Microsoft Copilot
Short answer: neither wins at everything.
Pick Gemini if you live in Gmail, Docs and Android and want a generous free plan.
Pick Microsoft Copilot if you already pay for Microsoft 365 and want help inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
Gemini vs Microsoft Copilot side by side
| Gemini | Microsoft Copilot | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Chat app from Google | Chat app from Microsoft, also built into Microsoft 365 |
| Made by | Microsoft | |
| Price | Free; Google AI Plus $4.99/mo; Google AI Pro $19.99/mo; Ultra $99.99/mo (5x Pro limits) or $199.99/mo (20x). US prices on Google's plans page, checked Oct 17, 2026. Gemini 4 Argon is on Pro and Ultra | 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 | Built into Gmail, Docs, Drive, Android; generous free plan; Best for: Google Workspace, research, images, voice, homework | Works inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook; Best for: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook |
| Watch out for | Not listed in our data | On Family plans, AI features are only for the subscription owner |
| Privacy | Keep Activity is on by default (18+): chats may be used to train AI and a subset reviewed by humans (kept up to 3 years). Turning it off stops future training; chats kept up to 72 hours | Not listed in our data |
| Where it runs | web, Android, iOS | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, web |
| Status | Current | 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 | gemini.google · support.google.com | microsoft.com · microsoft.com (2) · mc.merill.net |
Related comparisons
- Alternatives to Gemini
- Alternatives to Microsoft Copilot
- ChatGPT vs Gemini
- Claude vs Gemini
- ChatGPT vs Microsoft Copilot
- Perplexity vs Gemini
- Grok vs Gemini
- Claude vs Microsoft Copilot
Questions people ask
Is Gemini or Microsoft Copilot better?
It depends on what you do. Pick Gemini if you live in Gmail, Docs and Android and want a generous free plan. Pick Microsoft Copilot if you already pay for Microsoft 365 and want help inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
Is Gemini free?
Yes. Gemini has a free plan. Plans: Free; Google AI Plus $4.99/mo; Google AI Pro $19.99/mo; Ultra $99.99/mo (5x Pro limits) or $199.99/mo (20x). US prices on Google's plans page, checked Oct 17, 2026. Gemini 4 Argon is on Pro and Ultra.
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 Gemini 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.