TL;DR: Microsoft Copilot is a free AI assistant built into Windows, Edge, and the web — powered by GPT-4, it handles search, writing, coding, image generation, and productivity tasks across the Microsoft ecosystem.
Official Website: Visit Copilot | Tool Page: Copilot details & alternatives
What is Microsoft Copilot?
Microsoft Copilot is Microsoft's AI assistant available across Windows, Microsoft Edge, Bing, and as a standalone web app. Powered by OpenAI's GPT-4 and DALL-E 3, it can answer questions, summarise web pages, write emails, generate images, help with coding, and integrate deeply with Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The base version is completely free.
Getting Started
Step 1: Access Copilot
- Visit Copilot on the web, or open it in Microsoft Edge's sidebar
- On Windows 11, press the Copilot key or Win+C to launch
- Sign in with a Microsoft account for personalised features
Step 2: Start a Conversation
- Type a question, request, or creative prompt
- Choose conversation style: Creative, Balanced, or Precise
- Copilot provides sourced answers with links for verification
- Upload images or documents for analysis
Core Features
Capabilities Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Web search | Real-time answers with source citations |
| Writing assistance | Emails, essays, summaries, translations |
| Image generation | DALL-E 3 powered, free to use |
| Code help | Write, debug, and explain code in any language |
| Document analysis | Upload PDFs, images, or files for AI analysis |
| Microsoft 365 | Deep integration with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook |
Microsoft 365 Copilot Integration
- Draft documents in Word from a brief description
- Analyse data and create charts in Excel with natural language
- Generate presentation slides in PowerPoint from an outline
- Summarise email threads and draft replies in Outlook
Tips for Best Results
- Use "Precise" mode for factual research and "Creative" mode for brainstorming
- Upload documents directly for summarisation instead of pasting text
- For image generation, be specific about style, composition, and mood
- Use Copilot in Edge to summarise and chat about the current webpage
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | GPT-4, image generation, web search, basic features |
| Copilot Pro | $20/month | Priority access, Microsoft 365 integration, advanced features |
| Copilot for Microsoft 365 | $30/user/month | Enterprise features, Teams integration, admin controls |
Try Copilot
Ready to boost your productivity with AI? Visit Copilot to start for free, or explore Copilot details, alternatives & reviews for ratings, alternatives, and user reviews.
FAQs
Is Microsoft Copilot free?
Yes. The base Copilot experience is free and includes GPT-4, image generation with DALL-E 3, and web search. Copilot Pro ($20/month) adds priority access and Microsoft 365 integration.
How does Copilot differ from ChatGPT?
Copilot is built on the same GPT-4 model but adds real-time web search, source citations, image generation, and deep Microsoft ecosystem integration. ChatGPT focuses on conversational AI with its own plugin ecosystem.
Do I need Windows 11 to use Copilot?
No. Copilot is available on the web and in Microsoft Edge on any operating system. Windows 11 adds the dedicated Copilot sidebar and keyboard shortcut.
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Last updated: February 2026
