Microsoft 365 Copilot: who it fits, what it costs, and the catch
Start here: Microsoft 365 Copilot
Small businesses already on Microsoft 365 who want Copilot in Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams
Who Microsoft 365 Copilot fits, and who it does not
- Checked 2026-10-16
- 2 sources
Scored against the other verified AI assistants tools. How we score tools. What we earn is not part of it.
- Good for
- Small businesses already on Microsoft 365 who want Copilot in Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams
- Not for
- Businesses not on Microsoft 365 (the add-on needs a qualifying plan)
- The catch
- Copilot sits inside the Office apps your team already uses, but the add-on needs a paid Microsoft 365 plan and its lower yearly price is a first-year promotion.
Data last verified: 2026-10-16
What Microsoft 365 Copilot costs over five years
Five years for a team of 5, paid yearly: $5,400
On the Microsoft 365 Copilot Business (add-on) plan, at today's price. We do not assume a rise.
- Paid monthly, one year
- $1,512
- Paid yearly, one year
- $1,080
Paying yearly saves $432 a year (29%).
Change the number to see your own total. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Vendor pricing page · checked 2026-10-18Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot is priced for up to 300 people; Microsoft 365 Business Premium with Copilot is priced for up to 300 people. We have tracked Microsoft 365 Copilot's prices since 2026-10-18; no change so far. All price changes
The free plan, as Microsoft 365 Copilot describes it.
What you risk by starting
Trial, refunds and getting your data out of Microsoft 365 Copilot.
What we verified Microsoft 365 Copilot can do
Open a row for the vendor's own wording and the page we read it on.
Chat interfaceYes
File uploadYes
Web browsingYes
Understands imagesNot verified
Not verified: the vendor gives no detail.
Not verifiedVoice modeYes
Follows your standing instructionsYes
Remembers your preferencesYes
Code executionNot verified
Not verified: the vendor gives no detail.
Not verifiedTeam workspaceYes
Connects to your other apps (API)Not verified
Not verified: the vendor gives no detail.
Not verifiedIf Microsoft 365 Copilot isn’t right for you
See every verified AI assistants tool
Rank 1
Google Gemini
People who already use Gmail, Docs and Drive
Our score83 / 100Five years for a team of 5: $1,497
Rank 2
Gemini Notebook
Students and researchers working from their own documents
Our score79 / 100Five years for a team of 5: $1,497
Rank 3
Claude
Beginner and working programmers needing code generation and debugging
Our score71.7 / 100Five years for a team of 5: $6,000
Show all 6 alternatives
Rank 4
ChatGPT
Writers, marketers and creatives drafting content
Our score70.9 / 100Five years for a team of 5: $6,000
Rank 5
Microsoft Copilot
People already paying for Microsoft 365 who want AI inside Word, Excel and Outlook
Our score69.8 / 100Five years for a team of 5: $649.95
Rank 6
Perplexity
People who want quick answers drawn from web searches
Our score47.3 / 100Five years for a team of 5: $10,000
Where these facts come from
What to do next
- Work out the cost for your own team size
- Compare the runner-up, Google Gemini
- See how we score, so you can check our work
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Data last verified: 2026-10-16