ChatGPTvsMicrosoft Copilot
Six criteria, two tools, one clear verdict to pick the assistants tool that truly fits your workflow.
At a glance
ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot are largely based on the same OpenAI GPT models, but target very different audiences. ChatGPT (OpenAI) is the consumer-grade and creative assistant par excellence, with access to the GPT store, DALL·E for images, Code Interpreter and plugins. Microsoft Copilot embeds the same models (GPT-5, GPT-4o) directly into Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) plus Windows, Edge and Bing. For a company already on Microsoft 365, Copilot becomes a transversal contextual assistant. For general or creative use, ChatGPT remains more versatile. Our comparison reveals the real differences beyond the shared model.
Scores by criterion
Average score
Summary table
| Criterion | ChatGPT | Microsoft Copilot | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Output quality | 9.8/10 | 9.3/10 | ChatGPT |
| Pricing | 8.0/10 | 8.0/10 | Tie |
| Ease of use | 9.8/10 | 9.5/10 | ChatGPT |
| Integrations | 9.0/10 | 9.5/10 | Microsoft Copilot |
| French support | 9.0/10 | 8.5/10 | ChatGPT |
| Accessibility | 9.0/10 | 8.5/10 | ChatGPT |
| Average score | 9.1/10 | 8.9/10 | ChatGPT |
Detailed breakdown
Output quality
On the output quality criterion, ChatGPT takes the lead (9.8/10 vs 9.3/10 for Microsoft Copilot). A factor to keep in mind if this criterion is critical to your decision.
Pricing
On the pricing criterion, ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot are neck and neck (8.0/10 each). The decision will come down to other criteria based on your use case.
Ease of use
On the ease of use criterion, ChatGPT takes the lead (9.8/10 vs 9.5/10 for Microsoft Copilot). A factor to keep in mind if this criterion is critical to your decision.
Integrations
On the integrations criterion, Microsoft Copilot takes the lead (9.5/10 vs 9.0/10 for ChatGPT). A factor to keep in mind if this criterion is critical to your decision.
French support
On the french support criterion, ChatGPT takes the lead (9.0/10 vs 8.5/10 for Microsoft Copilot). A factor to keep in mind if this criterion is critical to your decision.
Accessibility
On the accessibility criterion, ChatGPT takes the lead (9.0/10 vs 8.5/10 for Microsoft Copilot). A factor to keep in mind if this criterion is critical to your decision.
Tools overview
ChatGPT
ChatGPT is an AI tool for code generation and faster writing.
- Pricing
- Gratuit ou 20 $/mois (Plus)
- Starts at
- 20 USD/month
- Free trial
- Yes
- French
- Yes
- API
- No
Strengths
- Strong code generation workflows with quick i
- Useful presets and templates for repeatable r
- Good quality for common tasks with quick iter
- Helps reduce manual editing time with smart r
- Easy to adopt for teams and non-technical use
Weaknesses
- Output quality depends on inputs and needs hu
- Advanced exports and team features may requir
- Less suitable for highly regulated or sensiti
- Can feel generic without strong guidance and
Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft’s AI assistant for search, writing and summaries, with productivity integrations across the Microsoft ecosystem (depending on the plan).
- Pricing
- Gratuit, puis Copilot Pro env. 20 $/mois (selon offre et région).
- Starts at
- 20 USD/month
- Free trial
- Yes
- French
- Yes
- API
- No
Strengths
- Writing & summaries
- Microsoft integrations
- Research workflow
- Brief → output
- Web & mobile
Weaknesses
- Needs good context
- Plan/licensing dependent
- Workflow limits
- Security settings
Who are these tools for?
Choose ChatGPT if…
- Freelancers shipping content faster
- SMBs improving day-to-day productivity
- Marketing teams iterating on messaging
- Non-native writers improving clarity
Choose Microsoft Copilot if…
- Office teams focused on productivity
- SMBs already using Microsoft tools
- Managers needing fast summaries and decisions
- Freelancers for writing and organization
Our verdict
Tie — both tools deliver similar value
Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 is essential for Office 365 enterprises: native integration into Word (drafting a doc from a brief), Excel (natural-language data analysis), PowerPoint (generating slides from a Doc) and Outlook (email-thread summary, reply drafting) delivers immediate productivity gains. ChatGPT is more versatile: better for creative work (DALL·E images, conversational voice), more plugins, custom GPT store, more accessible consumer pricing ($20/month vs $30/user/month for Copilot M365 B2B). For a creative freelancer or developer, ChatGPT Plus is sufficient. For an SMB or enterprise with an existing Microsoft 365 license, Copilot for M365 maximizes ROI on existing assets. Many companies keep both: Copilot for office productivity, ChatGPT for R&D and creative marketing.
Frequently asked questions
Does Microsoft Copilot really use the same models as ChatGPT?
Yes, Copilot relies on OpenAI models (GPT-4o, GPT-5) hosted on Azure OpenAI. Microsoft is OpenAI's main investor and gets privileged model access. The difference isn't in the LLM but in integration (M365 vs standalone) and data grounding (Copilot accesses your M365 files — emails, OneDrive, SharePoint).
How much does Microsoft Copilot for M365 cost?
Copilot for Microsoft 365 costs $30/user/month on top of your existing M365 license. That's roughly $360/year per user, vs $240/year for ChatGPT Plus. For a 50-person team, that's $18,000/year — an investment to weigh against actual office-use ROI.
Is there a free Copilot version?
Yes, Copilot in Bing/Edge/Windows is free, with a reasonable quota and GPT-4o access. The paid Copilot Pro at $20/month gives priority access and Word/Excel/PowerPoint features for individual use. Copilot for Microsoft 365 (the $30/user B2B offer) is different and requires an active M365 license.
Is my data sent to Copilot used to train the models?
No, Microsoft guarantees that data processed by Copilot for Microsoft 365 is not used to train OpenAI models. It's a key advantage over consumer ChatGPT where conversations can be used for training (disableable in settings). For enterprises, Copilot offers stricter contractual guarantees.
Can Copilot replace ChatGPT for content creation?
For drafting a Word doc or Outlook email, yes — it's even superior because contextual to your file. For multimodal creation (DALL·E images, conversational voice, video) and standalone creation not tied to an M365 file, ChatGPT remains more complete. For a content creator, ChatGPT Plus is better suited.
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