What Are They?
- ChatGPT is a powerful chatbot made by OpenAI. You use it in a browser or app to talk, brainstorm, get help with homework, write stories or code, or just learn new things.
- Microsoft Copilot is a set of AI tools built inside Microsoft products like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams. It helps you write documents, summarise meetings, build spreadsheets or manage emails.
Do They Use the Same Technology?
Yes! Both are powered by AI models created by OpenAI, so you’ll notice similar “smartness” in how they answer things. What’s different is where and how you use them.
Main Differences Table
ChatGPT | Microsoft Copilot | |
Type | Standalone chatbot or app | Built into Microsoft 365 apps |
Use Case | Creative brainstorming, Q&A, flexible | Task automation, productivity, MS Apps |
Where to Use | Website, mobile, desktop app | Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook |
Free Version? | Yes | Yes |
Paid Plans | Plus, Team, Enterprise | Pro, Copilot for Microsoft 365, others |
For Coding | Great for solving tricky problems, explanations, and code generation | GitHub Copilot: super helpful inside code editors like VS Code for auto-completing code |
Who It’s For | Anyone (students, teachers, devs, businesses) | People/teams using Microsoft software |
How ChatGPT Works
- Lets you chat in natural language.
- Answers questions, helps you write or debug code, write essays, make plans, translate languages and more.
- Free users get lots of features, now even with smart image and voice support.
- Paid versions (Plus, Team, Enterprise) allow more usage, custom chatbots and bigger/better AI models.
How Microsoft Copilot Works
- Lives inside Word, Excel, Teams etc.
- Suggests text, summarises emails and meetings, generates reports and helps with data analysis.
- GitHub Copilot (for coders) auto-completes code and explains errors right in your code editor.
- Special versions exist for power users, big companies, developers, and even sales/HR teams.
Which Should You Use?
- Use ChatGPT if you want super flexible AI for writing, asking questions, experimenting or coding anywhere.
- Use Microsoft Copilot if you work mostly in Microsoft apps and want AI to help with Office documents, emails, spreadsheets and tasks inside those apps.
- If you’re a programmer, you might want both: ChatGPT for tough code questions and Copilot in VS Code for super-fast code completion.
Microsoft & OpenAI: The Partnership
Microsoft invested a lot in OpenAI, so the tech that powers ChatGPT also powers Microsoft Copilot. That’s why you’ll notice some similarities, but the way you use them is really different.
Quick Recap
- ChatGPT: Flexible, creative, works anywhere. Standalone.
- Microsoft Copilot: Focused, highly productive, works inside Microsoft apps.
- Both use smart AI brains from OpenAI!
- Pick ChatGPT for flexibility. Pick Copilot for Office superpowers. Use both for max awesomeness.
If you work in Word, Excel, or just want the AI built into your school or work tools, go Copilot. If you want to chat, experiment, or create on your own, go ChatGPT!
ChatGPT vs. Microsoft Copilot: Your FAQ Answered
What is Microsoft Copilot?
Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant built into Microsoft apps like Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Teams. It helps users with writing, analysing data, summarising information and automating repetitive tasks – all inside the familiar Microsoft 365 environment. At its core, it uses advanced language models (like OpenAI’s GPT-4) to provide smart, context-aware suggestions and content.
Can I Use Both ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot Together?
Absolutely! Many people and businesses use ChatGPT and Copilot together to take advantage of their distinct strengths. For example, you might use ChatGPT for idea generation or creative tasks, then turn to Copilot to polish the content, analyse spreadsheets or automate tasks within Word, Excel or Teams.
Can Microsoft Copilot Generate Content Like ChatGPT?
Yes, especially within Microsoft 365 apps. Copilot can help you draft emails, generate summaries, create presentations and offer writing suggestions – much like ChatGPT. However, ChatGPT is often seen as more flexible and creative, while Copilot is more focused on productivity and business-oriented content, tightly integrated with Office apps.
Does Microsoft Copilot Require a Subscription?
- Copilot Free: Basic features available for everyone via the web and Microsoft Edge.
- Copilot Pro: Paid monthly plan, offering advanced features and deeper Microsoft 365 app integration.
- Copilot for Microsoft 365: Requires both a Microsoft 365 subscription and an add-on fee (used mainly by businesses and enterprises).
If you want Copilot inside desktop Office apps, you’ll likely need a Microsoft 365 plan plus the Copilot add-on.
Does Microsoft Copilot Use ChatGPT?
Copilot uses many of the same models as ChatGPT, since both are powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 technology (among others). While they’re not exactly the same service, the core AI engine underneath is very similar, which means their answers may sometimes feel alike.
Which is Better for Writing Assistance: Copilot or ChatGPT?
- ChatGPT: Better for general creativity, brainstorming, adapting to different writing styles and tasks outside the Microsoft ecosystem.
- Copilot: Best for structured, business-focused writing, like reports, proposals and emails, that live inside Microsoft apps. It excels at formal and professional documents and also cites sources automatically when needed.
If you want maximum flexibility, use ChatGPT; if you live inside Microsoft 365, you’ll benefit from Copilot’s deeper integration.
Which Tool is Better for Developers: GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT?
- GitHub Copilot: Specially designed for coding. It integrates with code editors (like Visual Studio Code), giving real-time code suggestions directly in your IDE and helps write functions, classes, and fix bugs on the fly.
- ChatGPT: Great for high-level explanation, brainstorming, debugging help or generating code snippets in natural language.
If you want live code completion and suggestions in your development environment, choose GitHub Copilot. For learning, discussing code, or generating larger code samples, ChatGPT can be more helpful.
Is ChatGPT Integrated into Microsoft Products?
Microsoft has brought ChatGPT’s technology into many products, including Copilot, Bing, Edge browser and Azure OpenAI Service. While the standalone ChatGPT chatbot isn’t directly inside Word or Teams, its underlying AI is deeply embedded throughout Microsoft’s services, and some features now allow direct access to ChatGPT APIs in business settings.141
What’s the Difference Between ChatGPT Free vs. Copilot Free?
Feature | ChatGPT Free | Copilot Free |
Tech Model | GPT-4o (chat, code, images) | GPT-4 (often GPT-4o soon) |
Where Used | ChatGPT app, web browser | Web, Edge, Windows |
Microsoft 365 Apps | No integration | Only in browser, not desktop |
Image Generation | Yes (with DALL-E) | Yes (Designer, web only) |
Writing Help | Any topic or format | Mostly focused on MS Docs |
Price | Free | Free |
ChatGPT Free is more flexible for general tasks/options, while Copilot Free is limited to browser- and web-based experiences (for Office app integration, Pro/paid is required).
Is Copilot Better Than ChatGPT?
“Better” depends on what you want:
- Copilot is superior for anyone already using Microsoft apps daily and needing an assistant inside those environments.
- ChatGPT is better for creative brainstorming, wide-ranging research, or flexible conversations.
Both use similar AI tech; choosing one depends on your needs. Many users benefit from using both together.
Microsoft Co-Pilot Training Workshop
AI Ireland now offers a hands-on Microsoft Copilot training workshop, designed to empower professionals across key business functions, such as Accounts, Procurement, Sales, Marketing and HR Administration. This 3-hour session will provide practical, real-world applications of Copilot to streamline workflows, enhance productivity and unlock the full potential of AI in the workplace. Learn More here.
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